Sterling silver jewelry is bound to tarnish over time if it is exposed to air. Sterling silver is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% hardening alloys such as copper. These other metals react to moisture and sulfur in the air, causing the sterling silver tarnish. For this reason, sterling silver tarnishes faster in areas with a lot of air pollution and high humidity. Chemicals such as hairspray, perfume, and body lotion can also speed up the tarnishing process.
If you own any jewelry, it is important to learn about removing and preventing tarnish on sterling silver jewelry in order to enjoy them for a long time.