Last Updated: April 2026
TL;DR:
- Baking soda paste (1 part water to 2-3 parts baking soda) removes light surface scratches on sterling silver in under 10 minutes — it’s mildly abrasive at roughly 7 on the Mohs scale, just below sterling silver’s 2.5-3, so it buffs without gouging.
- Toothpaste works in a pinch but only the non-gel, non-whitening kind — whitening formulas contain harsher abrasives that can dull polished finishes.
- Deep scratches or gouges need a jeweler’s buffing wheel or a Tiffany & Co. repair counter — trying to sand them out at home usually makes the scratch wider, not shallower.
Tiffany & Co. sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver alloyed with 7.5% copper, which is exactly what makes it soft enough to scratch during normal wear — keys, other jewelry, and even fabric fibers can leave marks over time. If you’re dealing with a scratched Tiffany bracelet, ring, or necklace, the fix is usually a kitchen-cabinet job, not a trip to the store. I’ve restored plenty of sterling silver pieces that looked ready for the trash, and most of it comes down to the right abrasive and a little patience. This guide walks through the methods that actually work, from mildest to most aggressive, so you can pick the one that matches your damage. For background on why silver behaves this way, see our piece on whether pure silver tarnishes.
Why Does Tiffany Sterling Silver Scratch So Easily?
Tiffany sterling silver scratches easily because it’s 92.5% pure silver, a metal that rates just 2.5-3 on the Mohs hardness scale — softer than a fingernail (2.5) and far softer than stainless steel (5.5) or 14k gold (3.5-4). The copper alloy added for strength still can’t compete with keys, sand, or other jewelry.
Since Tiffany & Co. was founded in 1837, the brand has kept its sterling silver formula close to the traditional 92.5/7.5 silver-copper ratio because it’s what gives the metal its bright white luster. The tradeoff is durability. Every scratch you see is the surface metal being physically displaced, not removed — which is exactly why polishing (redistributing that metal back into a smooth surface) works so well to erase it.
Daily wear, pocket lint, and even hand lotion residue all contribute to the dulling you’ll notice after a few months. It’s not a manufacturing flaw; it’s just what soft precious metal does. The good news, per Tiffany & Co.’s own care guide, is that regular wear and gentle cleaning actually keeps silver looking better than storing it untouched in a drawer.
1. Baking Soda Paste — Best for Light Surface Scratches
Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with just enough water to form a toothpaste-thick paste — too watery and it won’t buff, too dry and it’ll scratch further. Load a small amount onto a 100% cotton rag or a dedicated polishing cloth.
Work in small circular motions with light-to-moderate pressure, checking every 20-30 seconds. You’re looking for the scratch line to fade and the surrounding metal to regain its mirror shine. This typically takes 3-5 minutes per piece for surface-level marks.
Rinse under warm water to clear residue, then buff dry immediately with a clean cotton or microfiber cloth — leaving moisture on silver invites tarnish within hours. If a stubborn scratch remains after one round, repeat once more, but avoid doing this more than twice a week; repeated abrasive polishing does wear down the surface layer over years. For gemstone-set pieces, check our guide on cleaning sterling silver with gemstones first, since baking soda can be too rough for softer stones like opal or pearl.
Does Toothpaste Really Remove Silver Scratches?
Yes, plain white (non-gel, non-whitening) toothpaste removes light scratches because it contains mild silica or calcium carbonate abrasives similar to jewelry polish. Apply a pea-sized amount with a soft cloth, let it sit 2-3 minutes, then buff off — never use whitening formulas, which contain harsher peroxide-based abrasives.
This is a backup method, not a primary one — the abrasive grit in toothpaste isn’t calibrated for jewelry the way baking soda or a rouge cloth is. It works fine as an emergency fix before a night out, but I’d stick to the methods below for anything you plan to wear long-term.
2. Warm Water and Mild Detergent Soak — Best for Cleaning Before Polishing
Before tackling any scratch, clean the piece first. Soak your Tiffany jewelry in warm water with a few drops of a fragrance-free dish soap for about 5 minutes to lift dirt and skin oils that can hide the true depth of a scratch — the American Gem Society recommends this same mild soap-and-water soak for delicate jewelry across metal types.
Use a soft-bristled brush (a baby toothbrush works well) to gently loosen grime from settings and crevices — never scrub the flat polished surfaces aggressively, since a stiff brush can add micro-scratches of its own. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry with microfiber before moving to a polishing step.
Store the cleaned piece in an anti-tarnish pouch or the original Tiffany Blue® flannel bag rather than loose in a drawer — proper storage cuts new tarnish and scratch exposure dramatically, since loose pieces knock against each other constantly.
3. Silver Polishing Cloth — Best for Restoring Shine After Scratch Removal
A two-sided polishing cloth (inner layer treated with jeweler’s rouge, outer layer for buffing) is the fastest way to bring back shine once the actual scratch has been reduced. Rub gently in straight lines rather than circles for the final pass — it hides fine polish lines better under light.
Brands like Connoisseurs and Hagerty are widely recommended by jewelers because the rouge is fine enough (well under 1 micron of grit) not to remove healthy metal, just the tarnished top layer. Our deep-dive on how polishing cloths work breaks down exactly what’s in the fabric and how long one cloth lasts before it’s spent.
Never use a polishing cloth on top of rhodium-plated silver or oxidized (black) finishes, since it will strip the intentional dark patina Tiffany uses on some designs.
Can You Remove Deep Scratches From Tiffany Silver Yourself?
No, deep scratches or gouges should not be sanded out at home. Home abrasives only smooth surface-level marks; anything you can catch a fingernail on needs a jeweler’s buffing wheel, which removes a controlled, even layer of metal across the whole surface instead of just the scratch.
Trying to file or sand a deep scratch yourself almost always widens it instead of erasing it, because it’s nearly impossible to match the surrounding curve and shine by hand. Tiffany & Co. offers in-store silver polishing services at its boutiques, and independent jewelers can do the same for a fraction of the cost — usually $15-40 depending on the piece.
For very deep gouges, a repair specialist may add a thin layer of new sterling silver to the worn area before re-polishing, which restores both the look and the structural thickness of the metal.
4. Aluminum Foil, Baking Soda, and Hot Water — Best for Tarnish Alongside Light Scratches
Line a bowl or baking tray with aluminum foil, shiny side up, then add hot water, a few tablespoons of baking soda, and (optional) a splash of white vinegar. Submerge the jewelry so it touches the foil directly — this triggers an ion-exchange reaction that pulls tarnish off chemically rather than by abrasion.
Let it sit for 5-10 minutes; you’ll see faint bubbling as the reaction works, and the water may develop a faint sulfur smell — that’s the tarnish being lifted off, not damage happening. This method is excellent for tarnish but won’t touch a physical scratch on its own, so pair it with the baking soda paste method above for pieces that have both problems.
Rinse, dry immediately, and finish with a polishing cloth pass for the best shine.
How Often Should You Clean Tiffany Sterling Silver to Prevent New Scratches?
Clean Tiffany sterling silver every 2-4 weeks with a soft cloth, and do a full wash-and-polish every 2-3 months. Wearing the piece regularly actually slows tarnish buildup because skin oils create a light protective barrier, while pieces left untouched in a drawer tarnish faster and need more aggressive polishing later.
The bigger scratch-prevention win is storage, not cleaning frequency. Keep pieces separated in individual pouches, take rings off before workouts or housework, and avoid tossing jewelry loose into a bag — most of the scratches I see on returned Tiffany pieces trace back to friction against keys or coins in a purse, not everyday wear on the body. If you’re shopping secondhand, our guide to buying used Tiffany jewelry covers how to spot pieces with scratch damage before you buy.
Also worth knowing: the metal underneath a scratch has nothing to do with skin reactions. If you’re curious why silver sometimes turns skin dark, that’s a separate tarnish-transfer issue covered in our article on why skin can tarnish jewelry.
The Bottom Line
Most Tiffany sterling silver scratches are fixable in your kitchen with baking soda paste, a soft cloth, and a few minutes of patience — no need to panic over normal wear-and-tear on a 92.5% silver piece. Save professional buffing for gouges deep enough to catch a fingernail, since home abrasives can widen those instead of fixing them. Keep pieces stored separately and cleaned monthly, and you’ll spend far less time repairing scratches in the first place. Browse more care guides in our useful tips section for other jewelry maintenance tricks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will baking soda damage Tiffany sterling silver if used too often?
Yes, if used more than twice a week. Baking soda is a mild abrasive, and repeated heavy polishing gradually thins the top layer of silver over years. For routine upkeep, a soft polishing cloth without baking soda is gentler and sufficient for maintaining shine between deeper cleanings.
Can I use silver dip cleaner on Tiffany jewelry?
Dip cleaners work fast on tarnish but are not recommended for pieces with gemstones, pearls, or oxidized black finishes, since the chemicals can dull stones or strip intentional dark patina. Stick to baking soda paste or a polishing cloth for anything beyond plain polished silver.
How do I know if a scratch is too deep to fix at home?
Run a fingernail lightly across the mark. If your nail catches or snags in the groove, it’s too deep for home polishing and needs a jeweler’s buffing wheel. Marks you can’t feel, only see, are typically surface-level and respond well to baking soda paste.
Does Tiffany & Co. offer free scratch repair?
Tiffany & Co. offers silver polishing services at its boutiques and through Client Care, though pricing depends on the piece and extent of damage. Contact your nearest store or Tiffany’s client services line directly for a quote before mailing in a piece.
Why does my Tiffany silver scratch faster than my gold jewelry?
Sterling silver rates 2.5-3 on the Mohs hardness scale versus 3.5-4 for 14k gold, making silver measurably softer and more prone to marking from the same everyday contact — keys, other jewelry, countertops — that gold barely notices.
Is it normal for a brand-new Tiffany piece to already have tiny scratches?
Yes, hairline scratches from packaging, shipping, and even a jeweler’s inspection process are common and usually invisible except under bright direct light. A quick pass with a polishing cloth before first wear typically clears them.
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.