Frequently Asked Questions
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Jewelry
In 1851, Tiffany was the first American company to institute the .925 sterling silver standard that is now used around the world. Tiffany only uses sterling silver, one of the most beautiful and lustrous of all metals. Sterling silver is a precious metal and may require cleaning from time to time. With proper care, your silver will retain its beauty and character for many generations to come.
The First Rule of Silver Care Sterling silver tarnishes, especially when exposed to salt air and products containing sulfur, such as rubber bands and some papers. However, silver that is regularly used typically needs less care, so Tiffany strongly encourages you to wear your silver every day.
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Care Using a small amount of Tiffany’s silver jewelry cleaner on a soft cloth, gently rub the silver several times. Then rinse the silver thoroughly in warm water and carefully dry. This will remove the tarnish and dullness, keeping your sterling silver beautiful. Please note: chlorine and bleach accelerate tarnishing and should be avoided.
Once cleaned and polished, silver must be kept dry and properly stored. Our Tiffany Blue flannel bags will protect it from abrasion and offer a degree of tarnish prevention.
Special Considerations An oxidized finish is the deliberate blackening of crevices in the ornamentation of a silver object to make its decorative details stand out more clearly. Take care as this finish can be removed by overzealous cleaning and polishing.
Tiffany & Co. Flatware and Hollowware We recommend that you use your silver often. Frequently used silver requires the least amount of care and special attention and best develops the desired patina. Most silver, except for knives, may be placed in the dishwasher for cleaning only, but must be removed before the drying cycle begins. It is better to wash your silver by hand in hot, sudsy water as soon as possible after use. Rinse well in clear hot water and hand dry immediately and thoroughly. For silver that is tarnished, clean with a good quality silver polish and avoid “dip” polishes.
Storing Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Products Silver should be kept absolutely dry. If your silver is used frequently, keep it away from excessive exposure to air and store it in a tarnish-proof cloth such as the flannel pouch provided with your Tiffany & Co. silver or a silver storage box.
Good storage boxes are lined with tarnish-proof fabric and have a separate space for each individual piece. If your climate is humid, place a small packet of desiccant crystals inside your storage area, whether it is a closed box or a flannel roll. Avoid contact with rubber bands or other rubber products as the sulfur in rubber causes tarnishing and corrosion.
Click here to view our range of product care items.
For inquiries regarding professional polishing of Tiffany & Co. merchandise, we invite you to visit one of our stores or contact a Client Care expert at 800 843 3269. Our team is available Monday to Friday 8:00AM–10:00PM and Saturday to Sunday 10:00AM–5:00PM.
The First Rule of Silver Care Sterling silver tarnishes, especially when exposed to salt air and products containing sulfur, such as rubber bands and some papers. However, silver that is regularly used typically needs less care, so Tiffany strongly encourages you to wear your silver every day.
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Care Using a small amount of Tiffany’s silver jewelry cleaner on a soft cloth, gently rub the silver several times. Then rinse the silver thoroughly in warm water and carefully dry. This will remove the tarnish and dullness, keeping your sterling silver beautiful. Please note: chlorine and bleach accelerate tarnishing and should be avoided.
Once cleaned and polished, silver must be kept dry and properly stored. Our Tiffany Blue flannel bags will protect it from abrasion and offer a degree of tarnish prevention.
Special Considerations An oxidized finish is the deliberate blackening of crevices in the ornamentation of a silver object to make its decorative details stand out more clearly. Take care as this finish can be removed by overzealous cleaning and polishing.
Tiffany & Co. Flatware and Hollowware We recommend that you use your silver often. Frequently used silver requires the least amount of care and special attention and best develops the desired patina. Most silver, except for knives, may be placed in the dishwasher for cleaning only, but must be removed before the drying cycle begins. It is better to wash your silver by hand in hot, sudsy water as soon as possible after use. Rinse well in clear hot water and hand dry immediately and thoroughly. For silver that is tarnished, clean with a good quality silver polish and avoid “dip” polishes.
Storing Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Products Silver should be kept absolutely dry. If your silver is used frequently, keep it away from excessive exposure to air and store it in a tarnish-proof cloth such as the flannel pouch provided with your Tiffany & Co. silver or a silver storage box.
Good storage boxes are lined with tarnish-proof fabric and have a separate space for each individual piece. If your climate is humid, place a small packet of desiccant crystals inside your storage area, whether it is a closed box or a flannel roll. Avoid contact with rubber bands or other rubber products as the sulfur in rubber causes tarnishing and corrosion.
Click here to view our range of product care items.
For inquiries regarding professional polishing of Tiffany & Co. merchandise, we invite you to visit one of our stores or contact a Client Care expert at 800 843 3269. Our team is available Monday to Friday 8:00AM–10:00PM and Saturday to Sunday 10:00AM–5:00PM.
Sterling silver tarnishes when exposed to salty air, chlorine, sulfur, humidity, perspiration, cosmetics, household bleach and other strong chemicals. To prevent tarnish as much as possible, we recommend that you store your fine jewelry in a safe, dry place when engaging in the following activities:
Performing household and outdoor chores
Showering, bathing or swimming in pools, hot tubs, hot springs and the ocean
Using lotion, hair products, fragrances and other cosmetics
Exercising at the gym or during contact sports
Preparing meals
Storing sterling silver in the Tiffany Blue flannel pouch provided with your purchase will help prevent tarnish.
Storing sterling silver in the Tiffany Blue flannel pouch provided with your purchase will help prevent tarnish.
Keep silver absolutely dry when storing. If your silver is used frequently, keep it away from excessive exposure to air and store it in a tarnish-proof cloth, such as the flannel pouch provided with your Tiffany & Co. silver or a silver storage box. Good storage boxes are lined with tarnish-proof fabric and have a separate space for each individual piece. If your climate is humid, place a small packet of desiccant crystals inside your storage area, whether it is a closed box or a flannel roll. Avoid contact with rubber bands or other rubber products. The sulfur in rubber causes tarnishing and corrosion.
Oxidized silver is deliberately tarnished, which creates a black sheen for an antique or discolored appearance. Due to its tarnished nature, caring instructions for oxidized silver differs from traditional, non-oxidized silver materials.
You should avoid using a silver polish as this will strip the oxidized finish from the silver. Instead, we recommend cleaning your oxidized silver by using a dry, clean cloth to avoid scratching. Only clean oxidized silver when necessary.
You should avoid using a silver polish as this will strip the oxidized finish from the silver. Instead, we recommend cleaning your oxidized silver by using a dry, clean cloth to avoid scratching. Only clean oxidized silver when necessary.
Tiffany & Co. offers a range of care services and resources to help you care for your most adored pieces.
Cleaning and care services include:
Cleaning services are offered at Tiffany & Co. stores
Complimentary resizing for all solitaire diamond ring purchases
Diamond valuations
Engagement ring and diamond consultations
Engraving
Jewelry polishing
Watch maintenance, battery changes, strap replacement and bracelet shortening
Prong checks
Repairs
Resizing
Cleaning and care services include:
Polishing silver is done to remove tarnish and shine silver pieces and should only be done a few times in the lifetime of a piece. This is because every time silver is polished, metal is removed from the piece.
Tiffany & Co. provides professional polishing services to clients for a fee. Polishing services are not done in store and take up to two weeks to complete.
Clients can drop items off at a nearby Tiffany location or mail it in for polishing. If mailing in your silver to be polished, please follow the instructions listed below:
Download our Repair Form
Print form and complete all information.
Enclose form with item to be repaired.
Send item and form, via an insured shipping method, to:
TCO
Client Service Department
75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Third Floor
East Elmhurst, NY 11370
Tiffany & Co. provides professional polishing services to clients for a fee. Polishing services are not done in store and take up to two weeks to complete.
Clients can drop items off at a nearby Tiffany location or mail it in for polishing. If mailing in your silver to be polished, please follow the instructions listed below:
TCO
Client Service Department
75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Third Floor
East Elmhurst, NY 11370
