Sterling silver jewelry is
always made of silver that
is 92.5% pure. It is composed
of 925 parts of pure silver
and 75 parts alloy, usually
copper. Sterling silver jewelry
always has the stamp of sterling
silver on it, accompanied
at times with the name of
the designer or jewelry manufacturer.
The word "sterling"
is the most respected in the
jewelry business today. Since
pure silver by itself is too
soft, another metal such as
copper is added to it, to
give the silver its added
stiffness and other qualities.
The resulting mixture is composed
of 925 parts pure silver in
every 1000. This proportion
never varies. It is fixed
by law. This is referred to
as sterling and is often incorrectly
called solid silver.
Sterling silver jewelry is
made from this sterling silver,
which is a white and highly
reflective precious metal.
It is of superior quality,
which reflects in its look
and feel. Although less durable
than stainless steel and other
precious metals, sterling
silver is often employed in
watches that coordinate or
look like sterling jewelry.
A protective coating may be
added to prevent tarnish.
Sterling silver jewelry is
not very cheap, yet is also
not beyond reach. It has a
very distinctive look and
can be easily distinguished.
There is no mistaking the
high reflective shine of this
jewelry, which is one of its
trademarks.
It adds a sophisticated charm
to your personality. Sterling
silver jewelry is very stylish
and lends an incredible elegance
to your entire look. The inedible
stamp of quality along with
the chic sophistication makes
it a wonderful “must
have” product. It is
a very versatile ornament
that crosses all barriers
of age, cast, creed etc. It
can be worn by anyone whether
young or old. Some care has
to be taken with any sterling
silver jewelry that you own.
This jewelry does tarnish
with time. Tarnish on silver
starts out as a yellowish
tinge and is most easily removed
at this stage. Silver tarnish
progresses to a blackish purple
coating becoming much more
difficult to remove. Prolonged,
unprotected storage is generally
when tarnish occurs.
Usually, tarnish will not
appear on jewelry that is
worn on a regular basis. The
gentle friction from wearing
and the contact of oils on
the skin will likely keep
your jewelry bright and sparkling.
Note though that taking certain
medications can cause changes
in skin acidity and may cause
jewelry tarnishing.
To exercise good silver care,
keep your jewelry free of
tarnish by frequent cleaning.
A simple diluted solution
of mild dishwashing liquid
and water can clean your silver
jewelry. You can make your
own cleaner by putting 2 tablespoons
of baking soda and 2 tablespoons
of salt in an aluminum pan
- make sure it?s aluminum,
that?s what makes this work
- add hot water, mix it up
and drop in your tarnished
silver. A "magical"
chemical removes the tarnish.
Then, rinse and wipe dry.The
presence of moisture will
promote tarnish so, If possible,
store your jewelry in a zip-loc
plastic bag with anti-tarnish
paper.
Light tarnish or oxidation
film can be removed with silver
polishing cloths. You may
find them at supermarkets,
hardware stores or jewelry
shops. Heavy tarnishing will
require commercially available
polishing creams, or dip liquids.
Use care with these, limiting
the exposure of gemstones
to silver cleaners as they
may contain chemicals that
can harm certain gemstones.
Always rinse and dry jewelry
thoroughly. I've found that
using a hairdryer works very
well to insure removal of
moisture. Use a soft cloth
to make sure no residual cleaner
remains.
Note: Cream and dip liquid
polishes will most likely
remove tarnish and oxidation
from your jewelry. They will
also most certainly remove
any decorative oxidation designs
and patinas as well. Therefore,
it's best to keep these items
free of tarnish through proper
storage and the use of cleaning
cloths. BUT avoid cleaning
your sterling silver with
tissue. Believe it or not,
tissue can scratch your silver.
Avoid jewelry contact with
abrasive soaps, chemicals,
perfumes, hair sprays, dyes,
etc. Remove your jewelry while
washing, bathing, doing dishes,
household chores or cleaning
with chemicals. Silver is
a relatively soft metal and
can scratch, so don?t scrub
with abrasive cloths or cleansers.
Remove your jewelry before
doing strenuous activities,
exercise, sports, swimming
(both ocean saltwater or chlorinated
pools), to prevent scratching,
denting or loss of gemstones.
Remove jewelry before going
to bed to avoid kinking or
breakage.
Sterling silver jewelry has
a unique air of class, sophistication
and style surrounding it.
It is a wonderful thing to
own and also to give to people
who matter. It says a lot
about your personality and
taste. Wearing sterling silver
jewelry can immediately enhance
your over-all persona. It
is available for both men
and women being one of those
essential pieces of jewelry
that you must have in your
collection. Its versatile
look allows it to be used
for many occasions, and the
feel and texture is quite
fashionable, as well as glamorous.
By knowing some of silver's
characteristics and taking
a little extra care, your
silver jewelry can give you
a lifetime of enjoyment.
