The use of pure silver is unwarranted since it would be too soft for the manufacturing of jewellery, so they are mostly alloyed with other metals to improve durability and appearance. The most popular variety is Sterling Silver, which is 92.5% pure silver with copper as the other component. Also known as the 925, there are some other companies producing it with other metals mixed in to reduce tarnishing. This has been a recent innovation in silver jewellery UK for quite some time.

Silver jewellery UK cannot be called so without being at least 92.5% pure, even though it doesn't require a hallmark if it is heavier than 7.78g according to British law. With smaller ones, it's usually inconvenient to have them hallmarked even though they'd carry the '925' label anyway that is used overseas in the making of Sterling Silver.

The chemical properties
of silver lets it tarnish after prolonged exposure to air or to most substances found on human skin. This tarnish is usually removed with gentle polishing with either a cloth or commercial silver dip that can be acquired from most jewellery stores and supermarkets. But if the silver jewellery UK has an inset stone or is a composite jewellery, they are not very suitable and you'll have to abide by whatever proper procedures there may be.

Despite the claims of abrasive cleaners or even toothpaste for silver jewellery UK being effective for the job, it'll just dull the shine over time by leaving scratches on the surface.

A better option other than having specialists do the cleaning for you occasionally is to clean it more regularly with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge. After cleaning, the silver jewellery UK should be dried or it may get tarnished again due to the water.