Cheap Jewelry

I sometimes use Tarn-X on my sterling silver - both jewelry and other items. The good thing about it is that it does its work fast and is about the only thing workable if you have very tiny items. The downside is that it smells like rotten eggs when the bottle is open, and, if you use it on sterling or plate, you're taking off a bit of the silver, so you need to use a silver polish when you're done with the Tarn-X. This is NOT difficult or expensive, but it is an extra step that you need to know about. With silverplated jewelry, you want to keep it clean and not let it tarnish too badly. I find I have to clean silver more in the winter, because of our gas furnace.

It can be a great idea to keep jewelry in zip-lock bags. Craft stores have little plastic zip bags that jewelry crafters use, and they come in better sizes. Sandwich or even snack bags can be way too big! I know that from experience.

I have never tried the clear polish. I don't think I ever would. Ewww.

By the way, if you use silver polish on a piece of jewelry and its appearance doesn't improve, then the jewelry isn't sterling.

Oh, something else: you can look in your store for a jar of jewelry cleaner. It's an ammonia solution. You drop your piece in the jar, swish it around, use the little brush that comes with it if you need to, and rinse it off. It's inexpensive and sometimes it does a good job - definitely worth a try.

I have a zip up jewelry organizer, so keeping it out of the air doesn't work. I have lately starting buying jewelry on ebay. The rings are sterling silver and the stones are "gemstones" and they are pretty cheap. Of course the "gemstones" aren't really worth anything. There are a lot of sellers out there and you can usually get a ring for $15 or less, depending on how high the bidding goes.

Nickle is the worst for 'tarnish'. It isn't actually tarnish, it is the wearing off of the finish that makes it look bad. I apparently have acidic skin and I cant wear most of the jewelry I like, such as Premier Jewelry. I bought a beautiful ring and it turned in no time. I found a similar sterling ring at Kmart for half the money. Silver plate will eventually come off, but it comes off slower if you clean it with a silver polishing cloth and NOT dip it in liquid cleaner.
Also, if your skin (whole body) is acidic it will take the finish off faster. Eating lots of fruits and veggies helps you stay alkaline, meat and sugar cause acidity.

Tarn X removes the tarnish from silver. It won't protect the finish. I've used clear nail police on cheap jewelry and it helps bit I've discovered that for just a few dollars more I can have better jewelry that doesn't need to be coated.

I don't buy silver or gold plated jewelry. I buy jewelry from Fred Meyer and Kohl's when it's on sale. I rarely pay more than $20 for jewelry and most often it's around $10 or less. I've several small drawers and a rack with gorgeous jewelry that holds up well without coating it with clear nail polish.

I suggest that keeping jewelry in a plastic bag is not helpful. That is what I've believed. But.....I googled it and several sites suggest doing just that. One can even buy plastic bags for just that purpose. One site, however said not to do it. Don’t store jewelry in plastic bags.

http://studiojewelerswi.com/Jewelry%20Care/Jewelry%20Care...
"Some plastics emit vapors that can pit and discolor metal and corrode the surface of pearls and certain other gems."