HMH Religious Guarantee and Care

HMH Guarantee and Care of Sterling Silver

HMH stands behind the quality of our products and we guarantee the American craftsmanship put into every piece we manufacture. We will replace or refinish all of our products that have any type of defect from the manufacturing process. (Breaking, pulling, scratching, stretching, etc. of the product voids the guarantee.)

Tarnishing of sterling silver is a natural process that can never be stopped. It can only be slowed down by coating with a protective layer of lacquer. (HMH double lacquers all of the medals.)

Over time, any sterling silver jewelry findings exposed to air will tannish. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other medals. It is the other metals, primarily copper, that makes sterling silver tarnish. The copper reacts to the moisture and sulfur in the air, causing sterling silver to tarnish. Silver tarnishes faster in areas with high humidity and air pollution. Chemical (hairspray, perfume, deodorant, body lotion, bleach, soaps, etc.) as well as acidic foods can speed up the tarnishing process. Some people can wear silver with no effect, while others, with a high acidity level in their body can tarnish silver almost immediately. Like all other silver products ever made, they need to be cleaned and polished to remove the tarnish.

The best way to prevent tarnishing is to store clean, dry sterling silver in a dry airtight container, like a ziplock bag.

An anti-tarnish strip with the sterling silver jewelry in a ziplock bag will help fight against tarnish.

Don’t leave silver jewelry in the bathroom, and do not wear it in the shower, swimming pool or hot tub. Humidity can speed up the oxidation process that produces tarnish.

Minimize sterling silver’s contact to chemicals (hairspray, perfume, body lotion, bleach, etc.)

After taking off silver jewelry, clean it with a dry soft cloth before putting it back into an airtight container.

Do not use rubber bands to bundle jewelry because when rubber bands age, they release sulfur the causes tarnishing.

A general rule of thumb for silver jewelry; it should be the last thing put on before leaving the house, and the first thing removed when returning home.

Cleaning Sterling Silver

If an item does begin to tarnish, cleaning it right away will make it easier to restore the shine. Use a silver polishing cloth to remove oxidation from silver. If the polishing cloth doesn’t work, was silver jewelry (without Gemstones or Pearls) in warm water containing a few drops of mild dish-washing liquid. Immerse the silver in the water and gently hand wash. Use a cotton swab of tight corners. A soft baby toothbrush can be used for abrasive cleaning when needed.

If the jewelry contains gemstones or pearls, do not submerge the entire piece into water. Instead, use a cotton swab with mild dishwashing liquid to wash only the silver. Thoroughly rinse and completely dry the sterling silver before storing, as moisture is one of the factors that contribute to tarnishing!

We do not recommend using toothpaste or baking soda for cleaning as it may scratch the surface of the silver.

The most effective approach to managing tarnish is to properly store clean, dry sterling silver to prevent the tarnish in the first place.

If your item(s) is engraved and/or personalized, the order is considered a final sale and is nonrefundable. All 14kt gold jewelry and rosaries are shipped from the manufacture and are nonrefundable.
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