How to Care for Your Sterling Silver Bracelet
A sterling silver bracelet is meant to be worn, and with a little routine care it can look good for years. Every piece in our Functional Jewelry collection is handmade in small batches in California, and the sterling silver designs, such as the Faith cross bracelet and the Equus horse bracelet, are made to be worn every day. This guide covers simple habits that help sterling silver keep its shine. It is general jewelry care advice rather than a guarantee for any single piece, so if you have a question about your bracelet, write to us at sales@modernmedusa.com.
Why sterling silver changes over time
Sterling silver is silver blended with other metals for strength. Like all silver, it slowly darkens, which is called tarnish, when it reacts with air, moisture and everyday products such as lotion and perfume. Tarnish is a normal part of owning silver, and in most cases it is easy to remove with the right cloth and a little patience.
Wipe it after you wear it
The easiest habit is also the most effective. When you take your bracelet off at the end of the day, wipe the silver with a soft, dry cloth to remove skin oils, sweat and product residue. A plain microfiber cloth or a jewelry polishing cloth is gentle enough for regular use. Wiping takes a few seconds and keeps tarnish from building up.
Put it on last, take it off first
Apply perfume, hairspray, sunscreen and lotion before you put your bracelet on, and let them dry. Take the bracelet off before you swim in a pool or hot tub, clean with household products, or do heavy workouts. Chemicals and long exposure to moisture are what dull silver fastest.
Take care of the cord, beads and stones
Many of our bracelets pair sterling silver with other materials. The Faith bracelet, for example, sets a 12mm sterling silver cross on a deep blue cord with hand-embroidered accents, and the Little Owl bracelet combines a sterling silver owl with African turquoise. Cord and stones are more delicate than metal, so keep them away from harsh cleaners and polish only the silver parts with your cloth instead of dipping the whole bracelet in a cleaning solution.
Cleaning light tarnish
For light tarnish, a silver polishing cloth is usually all you need. If your bracelet needs more than that, you can gently wash the silver parts with a drop of mild soap and warm water, rinse, and dry completely with a soft cloth. Avoid abrasive pastes and rough scrubbing, which can scratch the surface. If you are unsure how to clean a piece with stones or cord, contact us before trying anything stronger.
Store it well
Keep your bracelet in a dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity. A small pouch or box works well, and storing each piece separately stops bracelets from scratching one another. Keeping the original packaging is also useful, since our 30-day return policy applies to unworn items in their original packaging.
Layering and stacking
A lot of our bracelets are designed to be stacked, like the Halloween Owl Stack or the Starry Nights stack. Layered bracelets rub against each other as you move, so give a stack a quick wipe when you take it off, and check from time to time that nothing has snagged.
If something is not right
Please inspect your order when it arrives. If an item is defective, damaged or not what you ordered, contact us right away at sales@modernmedusa.com so we can make it right. Our refund policy explains how returns and exchanges work.
Ready to find your next piece?
Browse the Functional Jewelry collection or see what other customers love in our Best Sellers. Each bracelet is handmade in California, and a portion of every purchase supports victims of abuse.
