@imastawka wrote:
They tarnish because of the wear and tear factor. If you're not wearing them,
then the 'silver' won't wear off and leave the brass showing.
That's not tarnish, though, that's just plating flaking off... Tarnish is oxidisation, which occurs due to exposure to air and moisture, or chemicals (all of which are pretty unavoidable) and in most metals it causes discolouration on the surface that can easily be removed to restore the original colour of the metal.
Genuine sterling silver should tarnish sooner or later, because the most common metal that silver is alloyed with to make sterling, is copper, and copper is one of those metals that oxidises practically just by looking at it. Some metals can be treated to help guard against tarnish, but it's a surface treatment that should eventually wear off.
Some people can't actually wear sterling silver without it oxidising pretty much straight away due to natural oils or pH levels of their skin, or other chemicals they expose it to (perfumes etc), but for most people, and on average, it's pretty easy to keep it looking shiny and new. (Pandora also plate some of their charms with rhodium, which doesn't tarnish, but would wear off before too long).
