!#5: Sterling Silver - How to recognize it and Clean it | !#5: Catalog Stainless Steel Rings

!±8± Sterling Silver - How to recognize it and Clean it

This guide will help you learn to identify capability in silver jewelry and accessories.

Sterling Silver

Pure Silver, also called fine silver, is relatively soft, very malleable, and assuredly scratched so it is generally combined with other metals to yield a more resilient product. The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Although any metal can make up the 7.5% non-silver part of sterling, centuries of experimentation have shown copper to best improve the metal's hardness and stamina without affecting its gorgeous color.

The small amount of copper added to sterling has little consequent on the metal's value. Instead the price of the silver item is affected by the labor complicated in development the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy of the design.

Identifying capability Sterling Silver

All high capability silver items are stamped with a "Sterling Silver" or "925" mark. This mark identifies the precious metal content of the jewelry.

Silver Alloys

Because pure silver is so soft, it should only be used when malleability is required, such as in handcrafted jewelry featuring weaving and other intricate designs. Sterling Silver is most often used for jewelry and household accessories because of its combination of beauty and durability.

Acceptable capability marks for sterling silver include:

- Sterling

- Sterling Silver

- .925

Care

With permissible care, your fine capability silver will last a lifetime. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your silver jewelry whether in a cloth pouch or in a isolate compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver.

Clean your Silver Regularly!

Care should also be taken to prevent silver tarnish build-up a dulling that plainly occurs when silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the surrounding air. To clean your silver, use specific formulas to take off tarnish. You can find fine silver polishes, solutions, or cloths designed to take off tarnish. These are ready at most hardware market or specialty craft stores. Tarnish is most assuredly removed when it first becomes visible! So keep an eye out for it! Although wearing your silver often is the best way to prevent tarnish from construction up, quarterly cleanings of all your silver items will prevent tarnish and keep your silver bright, sparkling, and beautiful.