What is
Sterling Silver?
Pure silver is soft, too soft to create durable
jewellery, so it's mixed with other metals to enhance performance.
One popular silver mixture is known as sterling silver.925 Sterling Silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper.
Copper is the metal most commonly used to make up the remaining 7.5 percent content of a sterling silver mix. Copper makes the silver harder, but gives it a tendency to tarnish, a darkening that occurs when sterling silver reacts with gases in the air or with other substances that it comes in contact with.
Caring for Sterling Silver Jewellery
Store your sterling silver jewellery in tarnish prevention cloths or bags. The treated cloth slows down the tarnishing process and keeps the jewellery from rubbing against harder jewelry that might scratch it. Try to keep your sterling silver jewelry in a cool, dry place.
Cleaning Your Sterling Silver Jewelry
Polishing cloths are an
excellent choice for cleaning your
sterling silver jewelry. You might read recommendations to
use toothpaste to clean sterling silver, but avoid doing that --
toothpaste is abrasive and can leave scratches.
Sterling Silver Patina
Sterling silver jewelry that is worn continually often develops a lovely patina, a kind of glow combined with darkened areas. If you like the look, leave it alone. If you prefer a bright and shiny look for your sterling silver, use a polish cloth to restore the jewelry to its original appearance.
Sterling silver jewellery is
beautiful... and affordable,
there are within reach of nearly any
budget…..
