| Silver is a special metal that allows artists | | | | something? This is called tarnishing, and it |
| and designers to craft beautiful pieces of | | | | is one of the important properties of |
| jewelry. Silver have a properties that enable | | | | sterling silver. Over time through oxidation |
| easy polish of any metal. Main reason is | | | | (contact with air) and exposure to other |
| because of the fact that silver has the | | | | materials (sulfur is a main culprit), |
| highest degree of optical reflectivity | | | | sterling silver will tarnish. Some refer to |
| amongst of all the metals reflecting 95% of | | | | tarnish as "patina" and many people even love |
| all visible light. | | | | the lustrous color of patina. However, there |
| | | | are ways to remove tarnish or patina. A cloth |
| One of the most interesting characteristic | | | | made to clean sterling silver will usually |
| about silver is that it is also very | | | | have chemicals gentle enough to remove |
| malleable and soft. Due to this high | | | | patina. Harsh dips and creams are never |
| malleability, a lot of designers are able to | | | | recommended because they are too abrasive and |
| craft and mold the silver into an infinite | | | | can scratch and damage your jewelry. NEVER |
| number of forms letting them create bold, | | | | EVER use toothpaste! |
| beautiful, and artistic pieces of jewelry. | | | | |
| | | | Sterling Silver has been used in jewelry |
| So what does it exactly mean "Sterling | | | | making for thousands of years. Known for its |
| Silver" to anyone? Sterling silver refers to | | | | affordability, ease of use, and trend-setting |
| an alloy (a combination of metals). Sterling | | | | styles, silver has become widely used in |
| silver is a combination of 92.5% silver and | | | | todays marketplace. Silver by itself is very |
| usually 7.5% copper. Some of the consumer | | | | soft therefore, .925 Sterling Silver is |
| would name it as 925 slivers. So why combine | | | | composed of 92.5% silver and the other 7.5% |
| the two metals to make sterling silver? Why | | | | is made up with copper, zinc or nickel. This |
| not just use 100% pure silver? The answer | | | | additional percentage of metal gives Sterling |
| lies in the paragraph above. We cannot use | | | | Silver the durability required for jewelry, |
| pure silver, simply because pure silver is | | | | without compromising its beautiful white |
| just too malleable. It will not maintain its | | | | luster. |
| shape, thus we need to combine the silver | | | | |
| with a harder metal to make it into sterling | | | | Now that you have learned more about this |
| silver. | | | | beautiful metal, go out and treat yourself to |
| | | | a wonder piece of sterling silver jewelry! |
| So why does sterling silver turn brown/black | | | | |