WHAT CAUSES SOLID SILVER AND SILVER PLATED ARTICLES TO BECOME WORN AND DULL LOOKING ?

Silver articles become worn through use and from polishing with traditional abrasive cleaners.

Most 'silver' articles are made with solid silver, or, a base metal of copper or brass which is then silver plated. But some 'silver' articles are made with a mixture of other metals, sometimes known as German Silver, Indian Silver, Britannia Metal or the like.

SOLID SILVER is usually a mixture of pure silver and a smaller portion of copper to increase strength and malleability. The quality of Solid Silver depends on the silver content of the mixture, which can vary from 80% (known as second grade silver) to 92,5% (known as Sterling Silver).

The silver and copper elements in Solid Silver are more or less evenly spread throughout the item. But the copper molecules on the surface of the metal, depending on the quality, will appear brownish and will be more susceptible to tarnishing.

For this reason, and for sales purposes, when they are new, Solid Silver articles often have a 'flash plating' of pure silver applied, to give them that enviable original shine and sparkling appearance.

However, whilst cleaning Solid Silver articles, the 'flash plating' is soon worn off, thus exposing the copper molecules on the surface of the article. Hence the dull appearance of new silver items which have been polished only a few times with traditional abrasive polishes.

SILVER PLATED articles usually have a base metal of copper or brass, onto which a thin layer of silver has been plated. When cleaning Silver Plated articles, especially when using traditional abrasive cleaners, the silver is continuously worn away, eventually exposing the base metal of copper or brass.

Silver and Silver Plated ornamental items are some of the most desirable home decorations. Cutlery, center pieces, photo frames, vases, trays, candle sticks etc.

The attraction of this silverware is the beautifully warm luster of pure silver, which reflects gloriously in the flickering of a fire or in a soft light. How to successfully maintain the luster and shine of silver and silver plated articles is one of the world's best kept secrets.

Silver is, by definition, a soft metal and is therefore prone to wear. With solid silver, the objects will go thin over the years, and with silver plate, the 'loving care' which has been lavished on the item by polishing it with abrasive polishes, will in time completely wear away the layer of silver, so that the base metal will show through

This candle stick above is a good example of worn silver plate on copper. 
The left picture shows you the worn candle stick, before use of the Silver Plater. The right picture after treatment with Holland Hallmark Silver Plater.

In time and with regular cleaning (whether this is with abrasive polish, foam dip or even with an impregnated silver cleaning cloth) both solid silver and silver plated items will become dull, and the worst for wear. 

Solid Silver will virtually immediately, loose it's 'flash plating' of pure silver when polished traditionally, and then the copper molecules which appear on the surface, make the silver look dull and permanently tarnished. Polishing by traditional means will never recover the pure silver luster which the 'flash plating' provided.

A Silver Plated article will, in time, completely loose it's layer of silver and will show it's base metal of say copper or brass. A traditional polish cannot help here. It may polish the copper or brass that has appeared on the surface, to a shiny surface again, but it will never re-plate the worn patches, so after polishing, the item will still show it's red or yellow base metal. 

Now only Holland Hallmark Silver Plater can remedy this.

Holland Hallmark Silver Plater, containing pure silver, is a water-based, non-toxic, non-abrasive, safe and easy to use cleaning and PLATING polish. It is specially formulated to restore the silver to both new and antique Solid Silver and Silver Plated articles at home. Also, any copper or copper-based article can be silver plated this way.

By simply polishing the worn Solid Silver and Silver Plated articles with Holland Hallmark Silver Plater, a new layer of fine silver will be deposited on those areas where the silver was worn away and where the base metal was showing through.

READ ABOUT SILVER PLATER AND SILVER ENHANCER AND FIND THE SOLUTIONS TO YOUR DULL AND WORN SILVERWARE !!