Set up jewelry boxes and tarnish

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hello,

Me again with another question:

When I sell jewelry, I like to include a gift box. To keep sterling
from tarnishing I am placing a 1"x1" anti-tarnish tab in each box.
Hydrogen sulfides cause silver to tarnish. My question is: does the
paper used in set-up jewelry boxes emit hydrogen sulfides? If it
does I’m thinking about selling the silver jewelry with some sort of
small pouch instead.

I would like my customers to keep the jewelry in its box because of
the free advertising!

Just wondering what you all think.

Dan
DanielBe Jewelry

2

Dan;

Don’t know specifically about paper in jewelry boxes, but many
papers have sulfur compound residues in them from the manufacturing
process. That is what turns newspaper yellow and brittle as they
"age".

The sulfur compounds can be washed out as is done in archival
processing of photographs using other chemicals to bind to the sulfur
compounds and extended washing times.

For matting and other papers coming into contact with the print
there are special papers made that have no sulfur compounds in them
and are referred to as archival paper.

So, yes, your paper may have sulfur in them, but you maybe able to
find a substitute. Do you have any old Boxes (several years)? I the
paper turning yellow?

Ask the company if their paper is sulfur free and ask them to put
sulfur free paper into the boxes or find a company that will.

Eric

3 
My question is: does the paper used in set-up jewelry boxes emit
hydrogen sulfides?

Hi Dan,

Sulfur is commonly used in paper processing. Unless something
specifically states that the paper product is created in a special
way, I would assume it contains sulfur. To me, this means it can
contribute to tarnishing.

One solution I’ve used, which may strike some as tacky, is to place
the jewelry in a little jewelry style Ziploc bag inside the box. I’ve
never had any complaints or comments, but still strikes me as less
than ideal presentation.

Several months ago I bought some “silver cloth” from a local fabric
supplier. It is treated with tarnish resistant chemicals, and used
to line silverware chests. My intent was to make little drawstring
pouches with my logo either silk-screened or embroidered on them.
Another project sitting idle in the wings. I discovered the little
portable sewing machine we received as a gift doesn’t work! :frowning:

All the best,

Dave

Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio and
Carolina Artisans’ Gallery
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave@sebaste.com
http://www.CarolinaArtisans.com