Guide to Cleaning Silver .925 Jewelry

.925 Silver, also known as Sterling Silver, is the jewelry quality standard around the world. The alloy consists of 92.5% silver, hence Silver 925, with the remaining 7.5% as copper.

Each piece is solid .925 sterling silver, cast in Toronto by a trusted local jewelry house. The dark tones in the grooves are a hand-applied patina. They are part of the design, and they will soften slowly with wear while the raised surfaces stay bright.

General Maintenance

Wear it. Skin oils and washing your hands keep silver clean, so pieces worn daily need little maintenance.

If you wear a piece only occasionally, store it properly. Refer to Cleaning and Storing below.

What you (should) avoid

  • It is not recommended to wear your jewelry in the swimming pool, sauna or jacuzzi.
  • Remove while working with harsh chemicals as they can damage the surface and cause discolouration; until restored.
  • Apply beauty products or sunscreen prior to wearing your jewelry to minimize contact with the silver. Give it a good wash at the end of the day.
  • It's best to remove your jewelry during physical activity as sweat contains acid and salts that can tarnish the silver. Additionally, rough handing can scratch or dent the silver.

Cleaning and Storing

This is the safest way to clean your oxidized .925 silver jewelry without removing its patina.

Materials Needed:
- Soft or microfiber cloth
- Mild dish soap
- Silver polishing cloth (optional)

Steps:

  1. Wipe the piece with a dry, soft cloth.
  2. For more, dampen a cloth with warm water and a drop of mild dish soap, and wipe gently.
  3. Rinse under cool water to remove soap residue.
  4. Dry thoroughly with a soft or microfiber cloth.
  5. Optional: buff the bright surfaces with a silver polishing cloth. Keep it off the dark recesses, since polishing removes the patina.

Avoid soaking, scrubbing and silver dips. They strip the hand-applied patina.

Storage:

When not in use, keep the piece dry and sealed in an airtight bag with an anti-tarnish strip (the black square tab included in every purchase). Keep it away from salt water and sweat.

If you're a Toronto local, reach out via IG dm for free re-polishing.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my silver jewelry turning into different colours?

When you see discolouration, that is tarnish: silver reacting to oxygen. It is normal and reversible. Humid or exposed storage speeds it up. If a bright surface dulls, buff it with a silver polishing cloth.
What is the return policy?

You have 30 days from delivery to return a piece for a full refund, as long as it is unworn and in its original packaging. Refunds are not available if the piece has been physically altered from its original state, for example scratched.

Made-to-order pieces are non-refundable once cast; exceptions are considered case by case.
When will I get my order?

One of a kind pieces are ready to ship. You can expect it to arrive promptly once shipped. Made to order pieces will have a lead time (time to actually create, cast and polish the piece), plus the shipping time. So typically made to order will have a 1-2 week lead time BEFORE the item is shipped.

I ship mainly within Canada and the US. International orders are handled as personal cases; message me on Instagram @madeby_willldo to arrange one.
Where are your products made?

I am a one person team that works with local casting houses in Toronto. Every piece at every part of the process is made in Toronto. The material is sourced by the casting house.