Ask the Experts Cleaning and Polishing Q&A

I have trouble with gold/silver filled findings darkening over time. What can I use on them to keep them shiny as if new?

- Shirley

For tarnish, a great way to bring these components back to their shiny best is to use a suitable metal cleaner or polishing cloth. There are liquid dips and polishing cloths charged with abrasives. Your choice depends on the piece to be cleaned and polished. 

For example, a pearl necklace strung on thread and hand-knotted should not be dipped in a metal cleaner to clean and polish its tarnished clasp. In this case, a polishing cloth will do far less damage to the strand while at the same time tackle the darkening.

Both gold-filled and silver-filled findings are made up of sheets of gold or silver that are bonded to a core of a base metal (usually brass or copper). You may experience a level of tarnish (darkening) more so with the silver-filled findings than the gold-filled. Perfumes, soaps and other contaminants can darken either metal. Gently wiping down jewelry after it is used is the easiest way to keep metals looking fresh. Storing in tarnish resistant cloth bags, anti-tarnish Tite-Lip™ bags or clear plastic bags with anti-tarnish strips keeps the pieces clean for the next use.

Ultrasonic cleaning machines are professional cleaning systems for some fine jewelry but caution should be used when cleaning beaded jewelry for the sake of cleaning the metal components. The beads could be porous stones which would be affected by the chemicals often used with ultrasonic cleaners could adversely affect beads that might have glue associated with their makeup. Also, if beaded jewelry is strung on silk, cotton or other natural fibers, wetting or immersing the entire strand might cause the threads to stretch, and the knots (if any) to weaken or have frayed ends.

Review the Gemstone Cleaning Chart or explore the Gem Notes section to determine the best way to clean stone, shell and other gemstone materials.

- Sandra Lupo, Metalsmith, Jewelry Artist and Instructor