Polishing Bunad Silver – Three Finishes, Three Different Rules

Three finishes – three different rules

The biggest error is treating all silver the same. Recognise the finish first, because it decides everything:

• Bright (blankt): a shiny, all-over polished silver surface. It tarnishes (grey/yellow/black) over time and can be gently polished back.
• Oxidised (oksidert): the recesses are deliberately darkened to contrast the filigree. The dark is design, not dirt – and must not be polished away.
• Gilded (forgylt): silver with a thin gold layer. It wears straight through under polishes and silver dips, so it should only be wiped gently.
• If you are unsure what you have, treat it as oxidised/gilded: wipe softly, do not polish.

How to polish bright silver gently

Bright silver that has tarnished you can gently refresh. Most bunad silver is filigree – fine, twisted wirework – so avoid abrasive paste that lodges in the pattern, and polish sparingly.

1. Use a proper silver polishing cloth (an impregnated cloth) and buff the silver gently bright.
2. On filigree: use a soft cloth or a soft brush, not abrasive paste that lodges in the wirework.
3. If you use a mild silver polish, wipe and buff afterwards so no residue is left behind.
4. Polish as rarely as possible – every polish removes a trace of metal, and over time over-polishing wears down the fine detail.

Oxidised and gilded: wipe, do not polish

This is the most important warning in all silver care. Oxidised and gilded silver take neither polish nor a silver dip – and the damage happens in seconds.

• Oxidised: never use a silver dip (an immersion remover) – it strips the dark oxidation and ruins the intended look. Wipe softly with a dry cloth; at most lightly refresh the bright highlights and leave the dark recesses alone.
• Gilded: never use abrasive polish or a silver dip – abrasives wear straight through the thin gold layer. Only a very gentle dry cloth, no polishing compounds.
• Real cleaning of oxidised or gilded silver is a jeweller's job, not a home task.

How to keep the silver from tarnishing

Good care is as much about preventing tarnish as about polishing. What blackens silver is sulphur, humidity and skin contact – and a little discipline in handling and storage means you almost never need to polish.

• Handle the silver with clean hands and hold it by the edges – skin oils, salt and sweat speed up tarnish.
• Put the silver on last, after perfume, hairspray and lotion, which tarnish and can pit the silver.
• Store the silver clean, dry and separate from the fabric, in a sealed bag or box with an anti-tarnish strip.
• Never rubber bands or rubber nearby – rubber contains sulphur and leaves black marks exactly where it touches. Avoid newspaper too.

When the silver should go to a professional

Deep tarnish, real cleaning of oxidised or gilded silver, bent or broken parts, loose filigree, a broken pin or catch, missing løv or re-oxidising – all of this is a job for a goldsmith or silversmith who knows bunad silver. If you would rather not risk the polishing yourself either, we can polish the bunad silver on request: send it to us and describe your wish, for example silver polishing, in the comment field. You see the price before you order. Be early – dry-cleaners fill up before 17 May.

Frequently asked questions