Storing Sterling Silver Pens Properly

[Pen2009]

I would like to ask your recommendations on how sterling silver pens should be stored when not in use. I have quite a few sterling silver pens and each of them has its own distinct appearance and design.

 

Also, I am interested in how many days, weeks or months brand new silver pens are in the warehouse at the manufacturers or retailers before an end user consumer gets his/her pen. If a new sterling silver pen is in storage before sales for too long, I am guessing the pen could be tarnished when a customer opens the box for the first time. To date, none of my new silver pens did not arrive at my door with tarnish. So, I am guessing the silver pens I purchased moved through the supply chain relatively quickly from the factory to my hands.

 

In addition to the above general question on the storage method, is there any particular care for different types of pens?

 

For example, Pilot Silvern pens seem to be very sturdy and can be wiped with the cleaning cloth freqently without any noticeable wear on the pen.

But, Platinum's sterling silver pens could be more delicate as one of them has a special chemical treatment for antique-look and others have a mirror-like finish.

MB's silver barley seems to be right in between the above 2 brands in terms of ease of maintenance.

My soon to arrive Sailor 1911 Profit Sterling Silver could be similar to my take on Platinum's silver pens, as it has a mirror like finish without any etching designs.

 

Where I live, the humidity is on the rise and I can see the reading of 60 on my hygrometer in my room.

 

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_3729.jpg

[jar]

While silver tarnishes, it does not do so quickly. I have some silverware that has been sitting unused for decades with minimal patina developing.

[professionaldilettante]

Just take a look at silver coins... if they have been sealed in plastic, they won't tarnish. Take one out, touch it, and put it away for a year, and it it will be tarnished. I would just rotate them around, if you don't want them to tarnish.

[Ghost Plane]

Much depends on your air quality where you are. Sulfer compounds will blacken silver quickly. I'd love to be able to leave silver exposed to the air here, but I've found sealing silver in air tight bags one of the most reliable ways. I can pull out freshly polished candlesticks and find them turning black in 3 days or less.

[Freddy]

"I would like to ask your recommendations on how sterling silver pens should be stored when not in use."

 

If tarnish is an annoyance..Consider..putting Anti Tarnish strips inside storage box/original box/whatever you use to store your pens..

 

Fred

[paolino_paperino]

Living near thermal baths famous for their sulfuric water, I have quickly found that I cannot keep my silver pens at home. Otherwise they'll tarnish to black in a day.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I must live in good air.

I do not because of the cisele in my P-75 polish i; or I lose the distinct cross hatching. I prefer the silver gray patina to having a pen that looks chrome.

I made for me a mistake of thinking I could polish the top of the silver with out ruining the dark lines of the hatching. 1/3 of the polish later. I stopped. It took a good three months before the pen returned to 'looking good'.

 

So, I'm odd man out.

 

some of your pens have a coating preventing tarnish/patina. Those you can just leave alone.You know which ones they are.

 

The others where you fear tarnish, are the natural silver pens.

Edited June 9, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[agentdaffy007]

I read many articles about silver tarnishing and i've concluded that if it has limited air circulation, it will help your pen not to tarnish. Also, use silica beads to absorb any humidity in your storage box/bag. It will help greatly!

[Pen2009]

I decided to get one of those silver storage bag for my pens. I wanted to be careful of what type of plastic bag I need to use as well. So, this product seems to serve the purposes I am seeking.

http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/j-parts/cabinet/5c-00-910.jpg?_ex=360x360&s=2&r=1

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/j-parts/suzu-4l-00-915/

Edited June 10, 2012 by Pen2009

[professionaldilettante]

Also, your air quality will differ in the city than the country. Sulfur in the air, from cars and such, is what makes acid rain and silver tarnish. I think the plastic anti tarnish bags are your best choice.

[Pen2009]

Also, your air quality will differ in the city than the country. Sulfur in the air, from cars and such, is what makes acid rain and silver tarnish. I think the plastic anti tarnish bags are your best choice.

I have to agree; for a peace of mind, storing a pen in a sealed bag with anti-tarnish sheet would be an easiest way.

 

By the way, what is the difference between "tarnish" and "patina" on a sterline silver pen? I believe well-cared-for silver pens with patina are good in their own right. Can "patina" be cleaned off if you want to keep the sterling silver pen looking like new?

[inkstainedruth]

I don't have a sterling pen but I do have a silverplate pitcher (wedding gift) and some inherited flatware. If you have a fabric store near you, check and see whether they carry (or can order for not too much money) some silvercloth, which is designed to protect against tarnish. Silvercloth is impregnated with silver, so it will tarnish before the contents of a bag (or roll).

I bought a roll years ago and at the time it was $6 or $8/yard, IIRC.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[professionaldilettante]

Also, your air quality will differ in the city than the country. Sulfur in the air, from cars and such, is what makes acid rain and silver tarnish. I think the plastic anti tarnish bags are your best choice.

I have to agree; for a peace of mind, storing a pen in a sealed bag with anti-tarnish sheet would be an easiest way.

 

By the way, what is the difference between "tarnish" and "patina" on a sterline silver pen? I believe well-cared-for silver pens with patina are good in their own right. Can "patina" be cleaned off if you want to keep the sterling silver pen looking like new?

Patina is I think, best illustrated with high carbon steel used in knives. If it's well cared for, there will be a dark gray subdued look to it. However, if it's mistreated, the steel will rust bright orange and pit, and the resulting oxidation shows the care that went into looking after the knife. Same with sterling and other metals that oxidize. Patina, and oxidation is essentially the same process. However, one is shaped and influenced by lots of TLC, and the other appears sporadically. You can clean off the patina, but you can't rush the patina. It will develop with use, time and love. That's why it's of some value to collectors. It can't be replicated by other means.

[jkingrph]

I grew up near a paper mill back in the 50's and 60's. Anything silver tarnished very quickly within a couple of days. Brass also tarnished very fast. Now the nearest mill is almost 100 miles and things tarnish very slowly.

 

I understand back home since a lot of EPA regulations and clean up by the mills, things are much better. We hardly ever smell the mill now, back in the old day it absolutly stank.

[Pen2009]

I just got the bags and here is how my 2 pens are nicely preserved.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/YS2003/IMG_3735.jpg

[inkstainedruth]

Is there a source for these bags in the US? Or should I just (assuming I could ever afford a sterling pen) just make myself some silvercloth bags or pen wraps?

@ Pen2009 -- I'd be interested to know how these plastic bags work over the long term. Could you post status updates in six months or a year? Thanks.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Pen2009]

Is there a source for these bags in the US? Or should I just (assuming I could ever afford a sterling pen) just make myself some silvercloth bags or pen wraps?

@ Pen2009 -- I'd be interested to know how these plastic bags work over the long term. Could you post status updates in six months or a year? Thanks.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

I bought this 10-bag pack from this e-retailer. They ship overseas.

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/j-parts/suzu-4l-00-915/

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/j-parts/c/0000000766/

 

Sure, I will post the update on how my silver pens are faring in one of those bags. These bags are suitable for storing silver ware and jewelry; so, I don't need to worry if the plastic bag itself is good for silver or not.

[Classics]

I use the snack size zip lock bags. They work Great!

 

John

[SamCapote]

Use your own ziplock or resealable FoodSaver bags/containers, and stick a 3M strip inside.