How would you treat your silver pens?

[Eeyore]

I have a sterling silver Parker Sonnet, with the cisele pattern. It's very often in my rotation, so the parts of the barrel and cap that I handle frequently are shiny. However, both ends of the pen have darkened over the years. I'm talking about the surface, not the engraved pattern.

It's a long time ago since I treated that pen with silver polish, but I clean it with a soft cloth regularly. What would you do? Cleaning up the silver to make it shiny and new again? Or would you let the pen age naturally, and accept the darkening of the cap and barrel ends?

 

[Snargle]

I can't give you a long term report, but I've given my Parker 75 Cisele a light coating of Renaissance Wax after a light polishing. I didn't try to remove the darker areas in the pattern, as I like the contrast. The Renaissance Wax is supposed to be extremely good for protecting metal surfaces (I also use it on plastic/celluloid pens) from corrosion. It's not really noticeable once it's applied and buffed dry.

 

[Shutterbug57]

Use a jewelers rouge cloth and it will shine like a new penny.

 

[Eeyore]

Use a jewelers rouge cloth and it will shine like a new penny.

But that is what I don't want!

I don't want to polish away the whole patina.

 

[nemo]

Using the pen regularly as you are is the best, with a quick wipe down occasionally with a jeweler's silver polishing cloth. It won't hurt it or make it like a new penny (I imagine shutterbug was using that rhetorically). I don't do anything to mine and it does have some blotches of tarnish -- I need to buy another jeweler's cloth or use a little rouge.

Check the FAQ on parker75.com

 

[Eeyore]

I'll try the jeweller's cloth then ... my vermeil (gold over silver) pen could use some cleaning as well.

 

[Shutterbug57]

Using the pen regularly as you are is the best, with a quick wipe down occasionally with a jeweler's silver polishing cloth. It won't hurt it or make it like a new penny (I imagine shutterbug was using that rhetorically). I don't do anything to mine and it does have some blotches of tarnish -- I need to buy another jeweler's cloth or use a little rouge.

Check the FAQ on parker75.com

Yes, new penny was a bit of an overstatement. The high points will get cleaned and the low spots will retain their patina.

 

[Eeyore]

I'll try the jeweller's cloth then ... my vermeil (gold over silver) pen could use some cleaning as well.

Done ... with satisfying results