FACTS ABOUT SILVER
Silver has been used for jewelry since 3500 BC, when the Egyptians created ornaments out of silver. The word "sterling" is short for "Easterlings," a form of money used in 12th-century England . Silver jewelry was popular because of its large supply, affordable price and ease of manufacture. To be considered "sterling silver," an article must contain at least 92.5 percent silver; that is why sterling silver is marked "925." Although rich in luster, silver tarnishes over time when exposed to the elements, causing it to turn dark or black. The tarnish can be cleaned using a variety of products on the market.
Silver has a long and noble history, second only to that of gold. Popular as a jewelry metal for thousands of years, it is harder than gold and much more plentiful. The abundant supply and ease of use in manufacture makes silver more affordable and a good alternative to gold and platinum, although it is prong to tarnish and will need polishing from time to time. Sterling silver is a silver alloy with a fixed standard of purity. It consists of 925 parts silver (out of 1,000) and 75 parts copper. Like gold alloys, sterling silver can be used to plate other metals. Silver was one of the first metals to be used and can be traced back to the ancient Egyptian, Phoenician, and Byzantine empires. In its purest state, silver can be as soft as gold and therefore it is generally alloyed with another metal, usually copper, to add strength. Karatage is not used when technically speaking about silver because any piece of silver or sterling silver must be 92.5 percent pure to be considered real silver. The finish of silver can be polished to a high sheen that not even platinum can match. The finish can also take on different textures when made into jewelry like polishing, matte or brushed, sandblasted, oxidized, or antiqued.
Care of Silver
Silver requires more maintenance then any other metal. Tarnishing occurs because silver reacts to pollutants in the air, which is then exacerbated by moisture and heat. Tarnishing can be removed by chemical tarnish removing solution. Silver is beautiful and valuable. Among its many metal properties, it is relatively soft and malleable that makes it an ideal candidate for jewelry crafting. However, pure silver is too soft and easily scratched. It is common for the silversmith to combine silver with other metals to create a more durable alloy. Sterling silver, containing 92.5% of silver and 7.5% of other metal, is the most popular alloy on today's silver jewelry market. Sterling silver can be identified by the “.925” mark or “sterling” on the jewelry.
Proper Storage
To prevent your sterling silver jewelry form tarnishing quickly, you could store it in a zip-loc plastic bag, jewelry box or pouch. Avoid exposing silver jewelry to moisture or direct air/light contact when you are not wearing it. When in storage, avoid rubbing the silver with other gemstone jewelry or placing them in the same pouch, as most gemstones are harder then Mohs 6 and silver is below 4.5.
Cleaning
Wipe sterling silver jewelry with a soft cloth after wearing it. Periodically, clean your silver jewelry with a jewelry cleaning cloth or jewelry polishing cloth. Use liquid silver dip cleaner only for heavy tarnished, non-rhodium treated and no gemstone sterling silver jewelry. Rinse and wipe dry thoroughly before storage.
Proper Use
Remove your silver jewelry when showering, swimming or contacting with chemical substance. Avoid contacting with chemicals, perfumes or hair spray.
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