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Caring For Sterling Silver Jewelry
By Jack Shafer, Sat Dec 17th

Sterling Silver Jewelry: The standard for quality, reliability,and beauty.

Here are some simple care suggestions:

Sterling silver jewelry is always made of silver that is 92.5%pure. It is composed of 925 parts of pure silver and 75 partsalloy, usually copper. Sterling silver jewelry always has thestamp of sterling silver on it, accompanied at times with thename 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 ascopper is added to it, to give the silver its added stiffnessand other qualities. The resulting mixture is composed of 925parts pure silver in every 1000. This proportion never varies.It is fixed by law. This is referred to as sterling and is oftenincorrectly called solid silver.

Sterling silver jewelry is made from this sterling silver, whichis a white and highly reflective precious metal. It is ofsuperior quality, which reflects in its look and feel. Althoughless durable than stainless steel and other precious metals,sterling silver is often employed in watches that coordinate orlook like sterling jewelry. A protective coating may be added toprevent tarnish. Sterling silver jewelry is not very cheap, yetis also not beyond reach. It has a very distinctive look and canbe easily distinguished. There is no mistaking the highreflective shine of this jewelry, which is one of its trademarks.

It adds a sophisticated charm to your personality. Sterlingsilver jewelry is very stylish and lends an incredible eleganceto your entire look. The inedible stamp of quality along withthe chic sophistication makes it a wonderful "must have"product. It is a very versatile ornament that crosses allbarriers of age, cast, creed etc. It can be worn by anyonewhether young or old. Some care has to be taken with anysterling silver jewelry that you own. This jewelry does tarnishwith time. Tarnish on silver starts out as a yellowish tinge andis most easily removed at this stage. Silver tarnish progressesto a blackish purple coating becoming much more difficult toremove. Prolonged, unprotected storage is generally when tarnishoccurs.

Usually, tarnish will not appear on jewelry that is worn on aregular basis. The gentle friction from wearing and the contactof on the skin will likely keep your jewelry bright andsparkling. Note though that taking certain medications can causechanges in skin acidity and may cause jewelry tarnishing.

To exercise good silver care, keep your jewelry free of tarnishby frequent cleaning. A simple diluted solution of milddishwashing liquid and water can clean your silver jewelry. Youcan make your own cleaner by putting 2 tablespoons of bakingsoda and 2 tablespoons of salt in an aluminum pan - make sureit?s aluminum, that?s what makes this work - add hot water, mixit up and drop in your tarnished silver. A "magical" chemicalremoves the tarnish. Then, rinse and wipe dry.The presence ofmoisture will promote tarnish so, If possible, store yourjewelry in a zip-loc plastic bag with anti-tarnish paper.

Light tarnish or oxidation film can be removed with silverpolishing cloths. You may find them at supermarkets, hardwarestores or jewelry shops. Heavy tarnishing will requirecommercially available polishing creams, or dip liquids. Usecare with these, limiting the exposure of gemstones to silvercleaners as they may contain chemicals that can harm certaingemstones. Always rinse and dry jewelry thoroughly. I've foundthat using a hairdryer works very well to insure removal ofmoisture. Use a soft cloth to make sure no residual cleanerremains.

Note: Cream and dip liquid polishes will most likely removetarnish and oxidation from your jewelry. They will also mostcertainly remove any decorative oxidation designs and patinas aswell. Therefore, it's best to keep these items free of tarnishthrough proper storage and the use of cleaning cloths. BUT avoidcleaning your sterling silver with tissue. Believe it or not,tissue can scratch your silver.

Avoid jewelry contact with abrasive soaps, chemicals, perfumes,hair sprays, dyes, etc. Remove your jewelry while washing,bathing, doing dishes, household chores or cleaning withchemicals. Silver is a relatively soft metal and can scratch, sodon?t scrub with abrasive cloths or cleansers. Remove yourjewelry before doing strenuous activities, exercise, sports,swimming (both ocean saltwater or chlorinated pools), to preventscratching, denting or loss of gemstones. Remove jewelry beforegoing to bed to avoid kinking or breakage.

Sterling silver jewelry has a unique air of class,sophistication and style surrounding it. It is a wonderful thingto own and also to give to people who matter. It says a lotabout your personality and taste. Wearing sterling silverjewelry can immediately enhance your over-all persona. It isavailable for both men and women being one of those essentialpieces of jewelry that you must have in your collection. Itsversatile look allows it to be used for many occasions, and thefeel and texture is quite fashionable, as well as glamorous. Byknowing some of silver's characteristics and taking a littleextra care, your silver jewelry can give you a lifetime ofenjoyment.

About the author:Jack Shafer is the webmaster and co-owner of J&M JewelryDesigns. If you're looking for a special bauble for yourmother, sister, girlfriend, or favorite aunt, J&M JewelryDesigns has the perfect gift that one can cherishforever!