When it comes to storing precious metals like fine silver jewelry, some are not familiar with proper storage procedures, which can cause trouble later down the road. With that said, let's take a look at some frequently asked questions about proper jewelry packaging and answer them one-by-one!

CAN I JUST USE THE PACKAGING THE JEWELRY CAME IN?

It's not recommended. The sole purpose of the original jewelry packaging was just to make it easy to transport from the store to your home. The packaging wasn't designed to protect your jewelry from the elements and more than likely is just made of cardboard. However, you should store your jewelry in packaging that is equipped with anti-tarnish materials, whether you place an anti-tarnish tab in the original box or you place your jewelry in a sealed anti-tarnish zipper bag.

HOW DOES ANTI-TARNISH PACKAGING WORK?

When you create a microenvironment that contains special anti-tarnish materials, it will absorb the corrosive gases that contribute to jewelry tarnish. They react with and permanently neutralize the corrosive gases while eliminating the hazardous atmospheric conditions within the storage container.

ARE ANTI-TARNISH PRODUCTS ABRASIVE?

While the properties of the anti-tarnish material sound harsh, they do not damage jewelry because they are non-abrasive. Tabs, strips and other anti-tarnish materials can come in direct contract with the surfaces of your jewelry and leave no harm. Additionally, the anti-tarnish products do not leave behind any kind of residue, so your jewelry will look just as good from the day you placed it in storage to the day you take it out to wear it.

HOW LONG WILL THE PROTECTION LAST?

Depending on the storage container size and the amount of anti-tarnish materials placed with them, protection from tarnish and corrosion can last anywhere between 12+ months to 30 years of continuous safekeeping. On average, our anti-tarnish products last 1 to 3 years.

CAN I USE ANTI-TARNISH STRIPS, TABS OR PAPER IN MY JEWELRY BOX?

Yes! Anti-tarnish products can protect more than just one piece of jewelry and you can keep multiple pieces of silver jewelry tarnish-free by placing anti-tarnish products in your jewelry box. While the microenvironment won't be completely sealed because of the design of most jewelry boxes, it can provide many months of continuous protection.

WHEN SHOULD I REPLACE THE ANTI-TARNISH PRODUCTS?

When it's time to replace the Intercept^TM anti-tarnish product, it'll change to a dark gray or black when it begins to loose effectiveness, but if you swap it out with a new replacement, your precious metals will continue to be protected.

Protecting your jewelry from tarnish will help it maintain its' bright shine and reduces the likelihood of the metal weakening because corrosion can take a serious toll. 

In our last blog we discussed how packaging can cause silver to tarnish and what to look our for with your packaging so it does not create tarnishing issues. This brings us to the next subject in this seriesm anti tarnish plating and coating for tarnish prevention.

One of the most common issues that retailers and manufacturers of silver and silver jewelry experience, is tarnishing of their silver when stored and/or shipped in their boxes. Many of these companies find out after the fact, that their packaging, be it ring boxes, bracelet boxes, etc., is causing the silver to tarnish rapidly.

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.

Stock Up On Your Anti Tarnish Packaging