Most all of my pieces of jewelry are made from sterling silver, with the exception on some solid gold.  With time, any sterling silver jewelry piece that is exposed to air will tarnish. Sterling silver is a mixture of metals with at least 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals.  And it is the other metals, usually copper, that oxidize in the air resulting in the build up of a tarnished layer on sterling silver jewelry.  Silver tarnishes faster in areas with high humidity and air pollution. Additionally contact with materials like cosmetics, hairspray, perfume, deodorant, body lotion, bleach, etc., can speed up the tarnishing process. The silver in your ring may also become oxidized by reacting with acids in your skin, the moisture in perspiration, or by reacting with some other lotion or chemical on your skin. The best 

way to prevent tarnishing is by caring for your jewelry properly and following these

jewelry care tips.

Here are some standard jewelry care and cleaning tips for your silver jewelry:

• DO NOT ever use silver cleaner. This will remove the added patina that creates added detail.
• To polish your silver jewelry, use a silver polishing cloth only.
• Remove your jewelry when performing tasks that may cause physical damage. i.e. cleaning, gardening, swimming, working out etc.
• Avoid exposure to chemicals such as chlorine, bleach, ammonia etc.
• Put all jewelry on after you have applied all cosmetics, perfumes, lotions and hairspray. These products can contain chemicals that can damage your jewelry.
• Remove all jewelry when bathing

Here are some standard jewelry care and cleaning tips for your gold filled jewelry:

• If handled properly, gold filled jewelry should only require buffing.
• Buff with a polishing cloth, or flannel
• Store in a dry place.
• Remove your jewelry when performing tasks that may cause physical damage. i.e. cleaning, gardening, swimming, working out etc.
• Avoid exposure to chemicals such as chlorine, bleach, ammonia etc.
• Put all jewelry on after you have applied all cosmetics, perfumes, lotions and hairspray. These products can contain chemicals that can damage your jewelry.
• Remove all jewelry when bathing