Every day we are exposed to toxic chemicals that are within our atmosphere and the unfortunate reality of it is that our environment doesn't seem to be getting any better. With noxious fumes, harsh pollutants and other contaminates being released from manmade equipment and products, it's no doubt that these airborne toxins can affect the quality of the air. Even with the notable and globally observed Earth Day, an effort to reduce our impact on the environment needs to be greatly increased to lower the amounts of pollutants that enter the atmosphere.

Historical Flashback - 1795 Boston Time Capsule Opened

We go through life collecting memories, of times of people, sometimes all it takes is a part of a song, or the sight of some long forgotten trinket to allow memories to come cascading back into our conscience minds.  Times capsules are nothing new, but what they do give us is a glimpse of a time gone by, insight into what the people who so tenderly put away their memorabilia considered important or worthy of being saved for later generations.  We do not have them here to let us know why they saved particular items, but we are allowed new insights. 

There are many types of silver storage and jewelry packaging items available today. While their purpose may be the same, quality and efficiency are what separate the best from the rest. But do we really need tarnish prevention packaging? Retailers say yes, and they require it from their vendors! The trusted storage that retailers prefer is based on proven long-term, non-toxic protection that successfully prevents tarnish.

So how important is the tarnish prevention component of your jewelry packaging? It's extremely important because environmental corrosion is ever increasing and so are the challenges of keeping silver and other metal valuables from tarnishing under these worsening conditions. The rising amounts of H2S and other tarnish causing gases in the air affect all levels of the retail supply chain from jewelry manufacturing plants overseas to warehouses, safes, and display cases here in the U.S., right down to customers at home. For retailers, tarnished merchandise costs them money through vendor and customer returns and lost sales, especially in highly polluted regions like Asia and India where a lot of silver jewelry is manufactured. Retailers simply cannot afford to lose potential sales because their merchandise is not up to par.

So you've decided it is time to add sterling silver jewelry to your ever-growing collection but what is the best way to begin this journey? To start off, sterling silver jewelry offers you timeless elegance and with the proper care, it'll last for many generations to come. Before you head to a local jewelry store, there are some things to know before you're blinded by all those gorgeous pieces.

Over the years, the popularity and value of silver jewelry has risen greatly. Silver is a precious, versatile metal that has a soft luster, making it a great addition to any wardrobe. However, silver is also fragile in comparison to other metals and can quickly develop tarnish. As a person who owns some silver jewelry that is valuable, sentimental or both, you may be wondering what the best methods for keeping your items shiny and untarnished are. Here are some useful tips and information to that end.

Sterling silver can make some of the finest jewelry and family heirlooms and, if properly cared for, it will last generations. Improperly stored, however, silver is fragile and can tarnish and corrode. Sadly, not all storage bags are designed in a way that will keep your silver safe and prevent harm. So how do you know if your storage bag will do more harm than good? To ensure safe storage, look for bags that:

Corrosion comes in many forms and as we approach the holiday season, silver is as popular as ever and with that, corrosion (aka tarnish) remains an important issue. But do you really know what corrosion is? If you spent an evening browsing the web for corrosion definitions, you would find some are specific, some are in the middle with regard to complexity, and some are broader and more profound. Here are two of our favorites:

Do you know the truth about jewelry tarnish? Check out this reference guide to learn more about jewelry care and protection.

When working with silver jewelry, one of the biggest challenges is getting products, tarnish free, to their final destination while conforming to strict quality assurance guidelines set by retailers, and demanded by consumers. Whether that destination is the distributor, the retailer, or the consumer, there are certain precautions that should be followed to avoid customer returns, delays, and related fees that some retailers may charge their vendors. 

Whether you make, sell or collect jewelry, tarnish is a major problem. This is especially true on silver jewelry but affects other metals as well. Many companies attempt to provide a solution with a wide array of anti tarnish products, but not all are created equal. So what should you look for? Here are our tips:

Silver jewelry is timeless. People love it because it goes with virtually anything, is a cheaper alternative to other metals like gold, and is extremely durable, allowing it to last for a long time. However, if silver jewelry is not properly cared for, it can easily become dull or worse yet – tarnished. Here are some tips on how to keep your silver jewelry looking good as new for many years to come.

With the recent passing of what is known as "engagement season" – the time around Christmas and Valentine's Day when people tend to propose to their significant others – many of you have probably gotten started on a gift registry or received some lovely anniversary gifts. If you received silver dinnerware, of course you want to keep it looking shiny and new.