| If you're shopping for a sterling silver picture | | | | Frame Have a Tarnish Resistant Coating? |
| frame, find out the three questions you need to | | | | Sterling silver naturally tarnishes. Whenever you |
| ask beforehand so you'll be sure to get exactly | | | | shop for sterling silver picture frames, you need |
| what you want. Before buying a sterling silver | | | | to know beforehand if it's going to need polishing. |
| picture frame there are three questions you need | | | | Most new sterling silver picture frames have a |
| to ask yourself. Answering these three simple | | | | tarnish resistant coating to protect them. Unless |
| questions will help you be able to choose the | | | | you like the tedious task of polishing silver, be |
| sterling silver frame that's right for you. | | | | sure your sterling silver frame is tarnish |
| Question #1: Is this Silver Frame Really Sterling | | | | resistant. You won’t be able to tell by |
| Silver? | | | | looking at it, so if it doesn’t say it is tarnish |
| Surprisingly enough, many people see an | | | | resistant in its description, check with your quality |
| expensive shiny looking silver frame and | | | | frame retailer for confirmation. It's highly |
| automatically assume it’s made of silver. | | | | recommended that you only buy sterling silver |
| That’s because most people don’t | | | | picture frames that have a lacquered or tarnish |
| know the difference between sterling silver, silver | | | | resistant coating. |
| plate and silver colored metals. | | | | Question #3: What Picture Frame Size Do You |
| Very few silver items are made of 99.9% pure | | | | Want? |
| silver because the metal is too soft to make | | | | Sterling silver frames are available in various sizes. |
| functional objects. Any valuable silver item or | | | | The reason this question is so important is |
| keepsake is almost always made of sterling | | | | because there is a big price difference between a |
| silver. Don’t know the difference | | | | 4x6 sterling silver frame and an 8x10 sterling |
| between these metals? | | | | silver frame. The difference can amount to |
| - Sterling silver is 92.5% silver (by weight) and | | | | hundreds of dollars. |
| 7.5% from other metals like copper to give it | | | | If you're buying sterling silver frames online or |
| strength. | | | | through international sources, make sure that |
| - Silver plated frames are made of a thin layer of | | | | your frame comes in a standard photo size and is |
| silver electroplated to another metal surface | | | | measured in inches. Most other countries measure |
| - Silver looking frames are usually made of | | | | in centimeters instead of inches and have |
| aluminum or steel Now that you know the | | | | different picture size formats. Be sure you know |
| difference between these metals, don’t | | | | the picture frame size you want and you will be |
| assume a shiny item is made of sterling silver. | | | | able to select a sterling silver picture frame that |
| Look for a sterling silver stamp to confirm it's | | | | fits your picture, your style and your budget. |
| sterling silver, but be aware that some frames | | | | Keeping these three questions in mind when you |
| may have the sterling stamp covered up by the | | | | select a sterling silver picture frame will help you |
| frame backing and won’t be visible. So, if | | | | choose a picture frame you will treasure for |
| you’re not sure always ask a reputable | | | | years and want to hand down from generation to |
| frame retailer to be sure. | | | | generation. |
| Question #2: Does the Sterling Silver Picture | | | | |