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NightWindWhisper -> RE: Polishing silver chain (1/12/2007 1:10:56 PM)
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Mymasterssub69 I shall address your object which you define as a chain. This is significant because there are collars that are made of sheet Sterling silver without any decorative or linked parts.
For instance a one might make a collar out of a half-inch wide strip of Sterling without links or much in the way of decoration. In this case if a very shiny finish is not desired either dipping, using toothpaste or using baking soda or baking powder might work fine. The finish is apt to be whiter and softer looking than a true polishing method and shinier is not necessarily better, it depends on the look that you want. Most dips do not remove appreciable amounts of silver. However if the item was made of extremely thin material (such as a finely chased, or embossed item) I’d avoid these methods.
You state that you have a chain. Consider in your memory seeing an antique or old Sterling piece of jewelry. What makes this type of item so luscious if it is decorative or linked, or embossed is that there is contrast between the bright silver polished surfaces and the darker oxidized recessed area.
Craftpeople that want an “antiqued” look soak the item in potassium hydrosulfide solution that creates a shiny, jet black color on the surface within minutes. Then the manufacturer or craftsperson uses a buff with an extremely fine abrasive to remove the black layer showing the now shiny silver with the recessed area still black. Next they use a buff with an even finer abrasive, sometimes jeweler’s rouge, to bring up a mirror-like silver finish. Lastly they wash it in detergent and voila, the decorative item has an antiqued, sweetly dimensional appearance.
So if you want your chain to “age” properly I recommend that you simply go to a jewelry store. You can buy a polishing cloth for $2-$7. It will last for many years. I prefer one that is double sided, meaning that one side has a coarser polish (though not anywhere as coarse as toothpaste)(sometimes it’s called Tripoli) and the other side, often reddish in appearance has the much finer polish that will bring up a mirror-like finish. It will only take a minute with the coarser side, but it might be worth spending five or ten with the finer polishing compound to bring up a finish which is more likely better than it appeared originally. Craftsmen rarely finish Sterling as finely as it can be because the item may be handled a lot in a store and would require too much work keeping it bright. As the years go by, usually within a few years, the recessed areas of the link will naturally oxidize to black, and create that luscious depth that an antique piece has.
Though usually not necessary with a hand held polishing cloth, if you wish you can use a new toothbrush (never one exposed to toothpaste) and ordinary dish detergent to wash it after polishing. The plastic bristles will not mar even a mirror finish.
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