Pokal from e-stand

[DAZZA3483]

Would a regular coating of Ren Wax prevent a further Chemical wash being needed?

The Goblets have,imo,simply been returned to their original,healthy condition by careful,non abrasion cleaning..no removal of Silver has occurred.Patina is caused by corrosion...is that really desirable on a piece if Silver?

At what point do you decide to take action before irreversible damage is done to the original surface,it's the same with Zinc pest and Badges.

Would love to own a Pokal like these one day!

[Gary B]

Below is from a posting I did a few years ago. There is a lot of misinformation about patina/tarnish and its effect on silver and the effects of cleaning silver that has been discussed on this and other forums. Before anyone cleans or does not clean, I believe they need to obtain a clear understanding of what patina/tarnish is and its effects.

As you are probably aware, this question has been debated on many different threads for many years. First, and I think everyone would agree on this, clean the goblet gently in soapy water to remove the dirt/smell.

As for the second part of your question, the removal of patina, that is a personal preference as far as the military collecting community is concerned. In the silver antique collecting world, ALL silver is cleaned, regardless of age, quality or rarity. There is no debate on the "character" that patina imparts to a piece. Patina, in the silver antique world, is considered destructive oxidation of the piece and if let go long enough will do irreparable damage to a piece. In the numismatic arena, specifically coins, patina, if "appealing", is kept, but if ugly is removed through conservation methods. Here the concern is, again, to save the coin from the destructive properties of heavy patination. Light "appealing" patina, and by "appealing" I mean a rainbow patterned or nicely colored patina, is considered desirable by a sect of the collecting world and commands a premium price.

There are professional conservators who clean patina without making the piece shine like a mirror. This procedure, obviosuly, costs money.

One needs to remember that patina/tarnishing is a chemical bond and when one removes it, one is also removing the bonded silver molecules, hence removing a microscopic layer of silver at the same time. You can see this on coins that have been dipped a number of times. The coin looses its "sheen" since the shiny mirror silver surface has been removed at a microscopic level.

I have also recently read that there is a new "electrical" procedure that supposedly breaks the Silver molecular bonds with the Oxygen or other substance so one does not loose the silver.....but I can not comment any more on that procedure.

Gary B

[Yubari]

Not a fan of cleaning but this one looks sefinitely much better now.

[Ralph Arndt]

I agree with Gene the patina does come back and most importantly they are named, this gives them there place in aviation history.

[kefru177]

I am amazed that this is still being talked about, It’s only a cleaned goblet which will tarnish back to the way it was in a few months anyway.

[steiner99]

I'm not really shure if the patina will come back after a fiew years.
I got my 835 silver goblet some years back. It was profesionally polished from the family many years back and it look today like it come yesterday from the award.

[Gary B]

Patina depends on many factors: environment, weather, temperature, storage conditions etc. For example if you moved your goblet to one of the other member's locations it might develop a pleasing patina in a year or so, or it could develop an ugly patina in a year.

Gary B

[steiner99]

Okay maby your in right. My goblet is always in it's etui on the cupboard.