A silver polishing cloth is the least glamorous tool on any jeweller's bench, and probably the most used. It is a soft cloth impregnated with a fine polishing compound, and it is what turns a dull piece of silver into one that catches the light. If you make your own jewellery from silver clay, a polishing cloth is not optional — it is the tool that finishes the job.
What a silver polishing cloth actually is
Most polishing cloths have two layers. The inner layer carries a micro-abrasive compound that lifts tarnish and smooths the surface; the outer layer buffs the piece to a shine. You do not add any polish yourself — the cloth does the work. When it turns grey or black, that is not dirt but removed tarnish, and the cloth keeps working long after it looks spent.
Why silver clay needs a polishing cloth
Silver clay is fine silver powder held in an organic binder. After firing — a butane torch is enough — the binder burns away and you are left with 99.9% fine silver. Fresh from the torch, though, the piece looks matte and white rather than shiny. That surface is pure silver with a slightly open texture, and it needs burnishing and polishing before it looks like jewellery. A steel brush brings up the first shine, and a polishing cloth takes it the rest of the way. If you are new to the material, our guide on how to use silver clay walks through the whole process, from soft clay to finished piece.
How to use one on a finished piece
Work the cloth over the silver in small, firm strokes, turning the piece as you go. Flat surfaces shine quickly; textured areas are often best left slightly matte, because the contrast makes the design read better. A few minutes is usually enough. Avoid rubbing deliberately darkened, oxidised details, as the cloth will lift the patina from the high points — sometimes that contrast is exactly what you want, but it should be a choice rather than an accident.
Keeping handmade silver bright
Fine silver tarnishes more slowly than sterling because it contains no copper, but any silver dulls with time and wear. A quick pass with the cloth before wearing a piece is normally all it takes to bring it back. Store jewellery dry and away from open air, and you will only need the cloth occasionally.
And if you would like to make the piece as well as polish it, the silver clay starter kit contains clay, a torch, tools, a cubic zirconia and instructions — everything a first project needs, with worldwide shipping and duties covered. Remember that silver clay shrinks by 8–10% during firing, so pieces are designed a touch larger; the polishing stage is where they earn their final finish.
