Rob. Can’t really help with the display “storage” of sterling silver. I stopped working with Sterling Silver and have been working with Argentium Sterling Silver pretty much since I started metalsmithing 14 years ago. Argentium doesn’t tarnish, especially if it is heat treated following the polishing stage. If and when it does tarnish, it looks like 10k gold, which is kind of a bonus. My mom keeps all her Argentium silver jewelry that I made her on a display stand much like your wife’s stand, it is out in the open and exposed to all the sulfur smells one might find in a bedroom (lol). Have you tried Goddard’s Silver Dip? You literally just dip the jewelry into the container and then rinse. Tarnish disappears like magic, no rubbing or polishing. iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud
Goddard’s also has an archival polish, which imparts a barrier against oxidization, but I’m thinking wearing the piece will cause that surface treatment to wear off. I wear the first piece of Argentium Silver I ever made, 24/7 and it has yet to tarnish. Otherwise the 3M anti-tarnish tabs are great for storing in a jewelry box, but that doesn’t address the display issue. I bought some display stands from Cool Tools which will prevent tarnish but still allow the jewelry to shine in the spotlight. Search: 7 results found for “acyrlic frame” – Cool Tools
But I can’t imagine a greater nuisance than having to take things out of there when I need to. But I do like using them to display gemstones and the like. Hope this helps!
My wife found an acyrlic set of drawers with felt type sections that she likes. The earrings will now be each enclosed in a cell and not directly exposed to room air. If they still tarnish quickly, I will add anti tarnish strips. Thanks all for the help and the very in-depth discussions of how anti tarnish strips work, don’t work and why. The one retail store that I have my jewelry in is also a restaurant. The cooking gases will very quickly tarnish and just make my jewelry dirty. I have to clean and polish it about every two months. For the earrings, I do the same routine described at the beginning of this discussions. I just repolish the bracelets. I have learned to use my ultrasonic and steamer more in this process. Thanks again…Rob
I learned a lot as well. This thread was filled with helpful info!! Thanks for bringing it up Rob.
Jeff
I know this may sound weird…but what about making a wooden 5-sided cube that would slide over the whole thing…carve/burn a pretty or meaningful picture on the outsides and top, or, even paint/decoupage it, but then use Elmer’s wood glue to line the inside with charcoal chalk sticks…and cover those with anti-tarnish paper to prevent charcoal rub-off? Wouldn’t all that absorb enough oxy to prevent the “dation” part?
I think that she is happy with the look as it is and me cleaning and polishing them once in a while. It is in my best interest for her jewelry to look good. I think of the time and material as indirect selling and administrative cost…Rob