About Sterling Silver & Jewelry Care
Definition of Sterling Silver
Sterling silver jewelry is always made of silver
which 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 which results is
composed of 925 parts pure silver in every 1000 -- this proportion never
varies -- it is fixed by law
History of Sterling Silver
Silver has always been a valuable metal every since it
was discovered long ago before 4000 BC. Its popularity has done nothing
but grow steadily throughout the ages as it possesses a unique ability
to be able to keep with the current fashions of the times. The uses of
silver range widely from being used in film and computers to an invisible
coating on thermal windows. Silver has been used in the currency of many
countries and powers of the world. However, the basic most notable use
of silver is its beauty and appeal as an item of jewelry. However, the
history of silver carries it’s own allure.
The first major silver mines were recorded around 4000 BC located in
Anatolia (which is now Turkey). This was mostly the main source of silver
for many of the growing cultures in that area of the world and others
that would trade for silver. Around 3000 BC there are records of more
intense efforts to mine silver as its value expanded worldwide. The Chinese
are said to have improved on refining the silver around 2500 BC to make
it even more alluring and sought after as well as easier to excavate.
Throughout the passing years, mines in Greece became the main producers
of silver for the rest of the world. This continued for many centuries
till Spain came into power with it’s own deposits of silver that
brought them power in trading. Spain became a main supplier of silver
for most of the main countries in the area and used it’s silver
to trade for valuable spices and other goods.
Silver began to accelerate throughout the world when North America and
South America were discovered. Mexico and Peru were discovered to hold
silver mines which dwarfed the silver deposits that had recently been
mined to the east. Soon it was said that more than three quarters of silver
in the world was mined from Peru and Mexico.
With new technology came new ways to mine silver along with new refinement
processes to enhance it’s value to an even new extent with its uses
as well as beauty.
Today, Mexico and Peru still produce the most silver in the world today.
Australia comes in a distant third. It’s said that 1/5 of all the
silver in the world comes from Mexico alone.
With all the mining of silver throughout the world came different styles
and different ways to wear silver. Silver has always been known to enhance
the beauty of precious stones such as diamonds when they’re set
into a ring or necklace. Many powerful men and women throughout the ages
would wear magnificent silver jewelry items to show off their power.
Silver jewelry comes in a different variety of styles and textures. The
usual silver that is seen on jewelry is usually highly polished and reflects
the light beautifully. However, silver also comes in a different variety
of different finishes such as rhodium. It gives silver the characteristic
of white gold with it’s silver but slightly darker finish.
Care of Sterling Silver Jewelry
To keep your jewelry sparkling you’ve got to take care of it! Cleaning
your jewelry is an important part of its care.
No matter how careful you are with your jewelry daily life will take its
toll on it – grime and dirt, hair spray residue, soap film –
they all cause a residue to build up on your jewelry making it dull and
unimpressive. Additionally, sterling silver will tarnish when left unused for a bit of time.
Sterling silver jewelry is beautiful. However, over time it will tarnish
and not look so beautiful. It is important to clean your sterling jewelry
regularly. There are many silver cleaner dips on the market which can
be used for jewelry that has no stones or gems.Do not let your jewelry
soak for long periods of time in cleaner. The moisture can damage some
jewelry.
Cleaning your jewelry should be done with a little caution since some stones
such as turquoise, pearls, or opals, do not fair well with harsher cleaners.
Use only warm soapy water and a Q-tip to gently clean these stones or
gems. Use a soft jewelry paste cleaner on the sterling silver parts with the Q-tip.(Toothpaste also works well.) Rinse the jewelry piece to be sure all cleaner is removed, then
polish with a soft cloth.
To help withensuring that your jewelry does not tarnish in your jewelry box while not being used, you can purchase 3M no tarnish strips to put inside your jewelry box. These strips only need to be changed about twice a year.
