Silver plated jewellery means that the bass metal (which can be copper, brass, steel, pewter, among others) has a thin coating of silver on top of this. This coating wears off over time, but there are ways to slow how quickly it's wearing! Also it's important to remember that all metal tarnishes over time. There are ways to prevent the speed that it happens at and also ways to correct it.
Preventing Fade and Tarnishing
Firstly try to avoid your jewellery coming in contact with moisturisers or perfumes. The chemicals will react with the plating and will cause it to tarnish quicker. Apply the moisturiser or perfume before putting the jewellery on to limit contact.
Keep the jewellery dry. Don't wear the piece if you're going swimming and definitely don't wear it in the shower!
Store the jewellery in a resealable bag, preferably with an anti-tarnish tab, to significantly slow tarnishing time. The bag will limit contact with air the piece of jewellery has. You can buy anti-tarnish tabs online and they're quite inexpensive!
Try not to sleep in it! The tossing and turning in the night will not only add stress to delicate pieces of jewellery, possibly causing them to break, but it may also cause the plating to wear off quicker. We also tend to sweat at night, which will also cause a reaction.
Cleaning Your Jewellery
If your piece of jewellery is tarnished, be sure not to use harsh chemicals to clean it. It is important to clean them often to keep them looking nice and shiny, but the chemicals are designed for "pure" metals instead of the more-delicate plated metal. The chemicals will cause the item to fade!
Instead of chemicals, use a damp cloth, such as a hand towel, and wipe gently. Use a clean towel to dry off the dampness and this should restore its shine.
If you think I've missed anything off, please let me know in the comments!!
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