Tarnished silver jewellery can be restored to gleaming brilliance by soaking it in bicarbonate of soda and boiling water in a bowl lined with tinfoil, a mother has revealed. After her sterling silver pieces from Tiffany & Co. became so stained that she stopped wearing them, the New South Wales mum began researching how to reverse the discolouration. The magic lies in how the tarnished coating reacts with the aluminium in tinfoil. Another said she tried bicarbonate of soda on tarnished cutlery and it ‘worked amazingly’. Others said they’ve spent years polishing their jewellery with bicarb, salt and dishwashing liquid, all mixed in a tinfoil-lined bowl. But what makes the combination of tinfoil and the generic baking powder found in millions of Australian kitchens so effective at cleaning silver? Sulfur atoms, which cling to silver to create silver sulfide – the rusty, tarnished look – are seized by the bicarb and water solution and transferred to the aluminium, lifting marks from the silver and leaving it sparkling. The mother said the jewellery should be placed inside a bowl lined with tinfoil – shiny side up – then sprinkled with a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda and doused in boiling water. Photos of the restored jewellery have gone viral since they were shared on Tuesday, with one woman calling the trick a ‘life-saver’. Posting in a parenting group on Facebook, she said she tried an ultrasonic jewellery cleaner to no avail before reading about the bicarb trick which turned her blackened earrings and necklaces sparkling almost instantly. Not only is the trick quick and affordable – it’s also environmentally friendly, without the noxious fumes associated with chemical polishes. Watch the magic of chemistry happen in seconds, right before your eyes,’ she wrote, branding the hack the ‘best-kept secret’ she has stumbled across.
If you’re as magpie-like about jewellery as I am, you’ll always be on the lookout for new brands and original pieces to add to your collection. All Grove & Vae jewellery is designed in London, and created using 14k gold vermeil and rhodium-plated sterling silver. This British brand was launched in the autumn of 2024 by Tofi Caroline Adedoyin, a former investment banking director. Her signature T-bar necklaces have been worn by the likes of Taylor Swift. Tilly Sveaas founded her eponymous brand in 2016. Born in Hong Kong to British-Norwegian parents, London-based Tilly has been a jewellery designer for over 25 years, creating her first pieces during an extended trip to Bali, where she still produces to this day. The brand’s founders, sisters Christie and Rosanna Wollenberg, believe you shouldn’t just save beautiful jewellery for best, so the sculptural rings and earrings are as practical as they are elegant. There are so many amazing affordable and mid-range jewellery brands out there today, with a plethora of choice no matter what your style. Otiumberg positions itself as a demi-fine jewellery brand. Their goal is to make pieces that ‘will be your go-to for years to come’. But along with the prominent brands we all know and love, there are a load of under-the-radar gems (no pun intended) out there just waiting to be discovered. If you love keeping things unique and prefer to shop independent, these jewellery brands are worth checking out and keeping in mind for your next purchase.
Think timeless glamour meets modern minimalism, without the unattainable price tag.
The brand focuses on creating timeless, versatile pieces tailored to the modern woman’s everyday wardrobe. So she decided to make her own. It always came with lengthy care instructions and still tarnished after only a few wears or turned my skin green’ she says. Catherine ‘Catch’ Rhys Jones started her label out of a frustration with the jewellery she was buying. Made by small workshops all over the world, each piece holds a story. With Love Darling believes in changing the world one piece of jewellery at a time. The brand uses solid metals – not plated or vermeil, and promises no green fingers or brass rash. I was tired of sacrificing style for quality, or my bank account for both’ says Neima Row founder Naomi Genes. After working in the jewellery industry for 10 years, Amelia Bainbridge saw a gap in the market for jewellery that was both beautiful and affordable – and Auree was born in 2014. All Auree pieces are made with the highest quality solid gold, sterling silver or gold vermeil and natural gemstones. It specialises in bright, colourful jewellery. The pieces are gorgeous too – from delicate pendants to eye-catching hoops, available in either 18ct gold vermeil or sterling silver. Crystals & Co. founders (and best friends) Emily Mackeogh and Leah O’Reilly aim to accessorise peoples lives with fun, high quality affordable jewellery. Items are produced in developing countries, giving the artisans income to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. Think timeless glamour meets modern minimalism, without the unattainable price tag. Prior to starting Bijoux De Mimi, Amelia attended Central Saint Martins. Founded by Amelia Hitchcock-Merritt in the middle of lockdown at just eighteen, Bijoux De Mimi became one of the fastest growing jewellery brands in the UK.
At last, The key To Silver Is Revealed
