Proper jewellery care is very important, especially for metals like silver and brass which are susceptible to tarnish. From chatting to customers, l've noticed that there's some confusion over what tarnishing is. Customers will often ask me if my jewellery tarnishes, when what they actually mean to ask is whether the jewellery is plated, and will the colour wear off.
All my pieces are solid sterling silver and brass. Unlike plated jewellery, the colour of which will chip away over time to reveal the base metal beneath, they will always look like silver and brass. However, they will tarnish - tarnishing can make jewellery appear dirty or dulled and the speed at which this happens varies on a case by case basis depending on factors such as your skin chemistry, the way the jewellery is stored, and how often it is worn. The GOOD news is that this is a totally natural and reversible process. The original shine and colour of the piece can be easily restored with silver polish (I recommend Silvo Tarnish Guard!) or with natural solutions such as a solution of baking soda and water for silver, and baking soda and lemon juice for brass.
I'm still trying to figure out how to communicate this succinctly to customers at markets, as they will often be scared off by the word "tarnish", which I totally blame on online jewellery brands focused on mass production who misuse the word. Tarnish isn't something to be scared of, and all of my pieces can be quickly and easily restored.
Hopefully these instructions will allow you to care effectively for your jewellery, and I'm always happy to answer any questions - just reach out to me through my website contact form.