Intercept Jewelry Care Blog
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Tarnish & Corrosion - A Historical Flashback
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.
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The Beautiful Basics of Sterling Silver
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.
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What is Corrosion? (aka "Tarnish")
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:
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How to Keep Your Silverware and Flatware Free of Tarnish
Mostly everyone who is engaged in maintaining the quality of their home, their furniture and appliances take careful consideration into home improvement. You might be content with the quality of your interior, but are you concerned about the condition of your flatware? How would you like to have dinnerware that is both clean and tarnish-free? After all, tarnish is not necessarily the most attractive image you’d wish to see on your flatware. Have you ever found a spoon in your drawer which you had to switch for a new one since there was a bit of a tarnish overload? You’re not alone.
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Ways to Avoid Silver Tarnish
Many of us out there appreciate fine silver. Whether it’s a necklace, an ornament, or even silverware, we enjoy its striking aesthetic. After spending a good deal of money on silver, the last thing you would want would be for it to tarnish. After all, many of us appreciate silver for its beautiful luster and sheen.
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Anti tarnish coatings for silver
In our last blog, we discussed some of the various types of anti tarnish coatings. Now we will take a more in depth look as to the effectiveness of these coatings.
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Does Water Cause Silver to Tarnish?
Have you ever heard that silver tarnish is caused by water? This is a common misconception when it comes to understanding what exactly triggers the corrosion of your metal valuables. Do not be fooled! -
Prevent Contact with Corrosive Gases, Prevent Tarnish
Corrosion of your precious metal valuables can occur in a number of ways. In order to efficiently prevent tarnish, you need to understand the causes behind the corrosion process and what is really going on.
Metals can be classified as either noble or non-noble. As far as corrosion goes, we are more concerned with non-noble metals, which require refining to be useful. However, nature is always seeking to return these metals back to their original existence as ores, oxides, etc. which is where the corrosion kicks in.
As we know from our previous newsletters, air polluted with tarnish-causing (H2S, NOX, SO2, HCl, O3) is the main cause of corrosion. Atmospheric corrosion occurs when such air pollution chemically reacts with the metal surface of your silver jewelry or other valuables in an attempt to return the metal back to the way it normally exists in nature. So, it is nature and chemistry that causes corrosion, not water and temperature as you may have been misinformed. It is worth noting, however, that water and temperature can accelerate the rate of corrosion so be sure your metal valuables are in a cool, dry place during storage.
In order to properly protect your silver and jewelry, you must use anti-tarnish packaging that not only prevents contact between corrosive gases in the air and the surfaces of your metal valuables but eliminates these gases entirely. No gases, no contact, no corrosion!
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Air Pollution In Asia and its Effect on Jewelry Tarnish
As we already know, silver tarnishes when it is exposed to corrosive gases in the air. Our surrounding environment, however, is becoming increasingly more polluted. Increased pollution leads to greater amounts of tarnish. So, what effect will this have on your jewelry and metal valuables? -
Does Humidity Cause Silver to Tarnish?
So far, it has been one HOT summer! With the season’s muggy temperatures, comes increased humidity. So, what effect does the summer weather have on your jewelry? Does humidity cause your silver to tarnish? The answer might surprise you. -
Silver Tarnish & Corrosion Explained
In our previous post "Keep Silver From Tarnishing", we identified some of the common causes of tarnish and discoloration on your silver jewelry and metal valuables. Now let’s take a closer look at the corrosion process. What exactly is going on here? Corrosion is the wearing away of a metal as the exterior interacts with the environment around it: oxygen, water, and atmospheric gases. The 3 types of corrosion are explained below:
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