What is Silver/Sterling Silver?
Silver (Ag) is a precious metal. It is one of the first metals used by humans. Sterling, at over 92% silver, is quite pure, nearly white, lustrous, soft and very flexible. Perhaps this metal's most remarkable attribute is the way it ages. Sterling silver, by definition, is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper alloy.
Why does Sterling Silver Jewelry tarnish?
Sterling silver is a copper-silver alloy and is somewhat softer than most gold alloys. Therefore, it is more likely to be abraded to black dust by movement between the jewelry and the skin or clothing. It tends to oxidize easily and rapidly, reacting with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the air to form silver sulfide (Ag2S). This chemical reaction alters the natural color of silver to a yellowish brass color, known as tarnish. To delay and minimize this oxidative reaction, a thin coat of plating is used.
How can I remove tarnish and restore luster?
Tarnish and dirt on your fine sterling silver jewelry can be removed gently using a jewelry polishing cloth. The cloth is chemically treated with nontoxic cleaning and polishing agents especially formulated for fine silver in order to restore the luster of the silver. It may also be necessary to buff, polish and re plate the silver jewelry. A few people, especially with moist skin, may find that the sterling silver stains their skin green due to the copper component of the silver alloy. When this occurs they should polish their jewelry frequently and use an absorbent, non-abrasive powder on moist skin areas that are exposed to the jewelry.
Why do I see a wax buildup on my silver ring?
Soaps, detergent, wax, polish, and cosmetic creams may build up under a ring causing a type of dermatitis. To prevent this, they should remove all rings before using soap or detergent, and clean the rings frequently.
Silver jewelry should be removed before using photographic chemicals.
How can I identify Silver and Silver Jewelry from costume jewelry?
In the jewelry trade, sterling silver is identified as 925 silver or SS. This identification may be tagged or engraved on each piece of jewelry. The exact composition of any piece of jewelry can be determined by a laboratory specialized to perform such an analysis.
Sterling CZ Boutique
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