925 silver pendant tarnished after less than a day?!

[JLCooper]

I recently bought a rather expensive sterling silver anchor pendant from a trusted online retailer. After wearing it out for less than a day, I took it off in the evening to find that the back was suddenly quite badly tarnished which it definitely wasn't when I first put it on that morning.

I have been assured by both the shop and a professional jeweller that the metal is 100% what it says it is, so it doesn't seem to be a matter or being misled.

On top of this, I looked up solutions to cleaning tarnished silver online and found several pages discussing a recipe for a homemade silver dip using baking soda, tin foil, salt and hot water. I tried this and it only seemed to have made it worse!

Just looking to see if anyone has any suggestions on both what could have caused it and how to get it looking like new again (minus tarnish!).

[karenmac60]

Dunno what could've caused it, but buy a silver polishing cloth - they're not expensive and they work a treat.

[scotman]

perhaps you were wearing something on your skin that accelerated the tarnishing. I take it the item is not hallmarked.

[DTCwordfan]

you have been plated......not real, its a thin rip off.

[DTCwordfan]

of course it isnt hall marked, scotsman; it may have some kitchen marks though from the attempted "polishing"

[ladybirder]

Drop it in some lavatory cleaner and it will sparkle. Honestly.

[scotman]

can you post a picture of it?

[DTCwordfan]

and it might just be a royal flush ^^^^ otherwise flush it down the khazi.

[JLCooper]

It does have a hallmark on the back of the pendant. The only thing I can think may have caused it was the fact it was quite a hot day, so perhaps something in my sweat?

[DTCwordfan]

can you post a pic of the hallmarks....it would seriously help.....

[JLCooper]

I can post a picture, but I don't know how well the hallmark will show up. Give me 2 minutes and I will take one now.

[gingejbee]

When you HAVE cleaned it off, perhaps you should coat the back with a clear lacquer to prevent it happening again?

[DTCwordfan]

a good photo and we can zoom in....

[ladybirder]

or coat the back with clear nail polish.

[JLCooper]

This is the best I can do I'm afraid, crappy camera won't autofocus when I zoom any closer: http://i53.tinypic.com/35mldtu.jpg

[scotman]

Is that marking all that is on it?

[JLCooper]

The one on the top of the loop? Yep that's the only sort of stamp/hallmark I can see. The chain it came with has one too but the chain's fine, it just seems to be the pendant itself.

[DTCwordfan]

I must say that is rather odd if it is sterling silver.....one would expect to see a quality mark, an assay and a creators mark...

[DTCwordfan]

like this

http://www.google.com...,s:0&biw=1366&bih=589

[scotman]

If that is all then it looks like a continental piece. I don't think it should be described as Sterling silver in the UK with out the appropriate set of hallmarks.

http://www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html

see above for some

[DTCwordfan]

You need to go back to them.....and if expensive, assuming you bought by a credit card, then notify your CC company that this could be a fraud.......

get it checked by a local jeweller....it looks like a scam from here (as things stand)