| This guide will help you learn to identify | | | | weaving and other intricate designs. |
| quality in silver jewelry and accessories. | | | | Sterling Silver is most often used for |
| | | | jewelry and household accessories because of |
| Sterling Silver | | | | its combination of beauty and durability. |
| | | | Acceptable quality marks for sterling silver |
| Pure Silver, also called fine silver, is | | | | include:v Sterlingv Sterling Silverv .925 |
| relatively soft, very malleable, and easily | | | | |
| scratched so it is commonly combined with | | | | Care |
| other metals to produce a more resilient | | | | |
| product. The most popular of these alloys is | | | | With proper care, your fine quality silver |
| sterling silver, which consists of 92.5% | | | | will last a lifetime. To minimize scratches |
| silver and 7.5% copper. Although any metal | | | | and other damage, store your silver jewelry |
| can make up the 7.5% non-silver portion of | | | | either in a cloth pouch or in a separate |
| sterling, centuries of experimentation have | | | | compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid |
| shown copper to best improve the metal's | | | | exposing your silver to household chemicals |
| hardness and durability without affecting its | | | | when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when |
| beautiful color. | | | | swimming in chlorinated water, as these |
| | | | chemicals can damage silver. |
| The small amount of copper added to sterling | | | | |
| has little effect on the metal's value. | | | | Clean your Silver REGULARLY!!! |
| Instead the price of the silver item is | | | | |
| affected by the labor involved in making the | | | | Care should also be taken to prevent silver |
| item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the | | | | tarnish build-up a dulling that naturally |
| intricacy of the design. | | | | occurs when silver reacts with sulfur or |
| | | | hydrogen sulfide in the surrounding air. To |
| Identifying Quality Sterling Silver | | | | clean your silver, use specific formulas to |
| | | | remove tarnish. You can find fine silver |
| All high quality silver items are stamped | | | | polishes, solutions, or cloths designed to |
| with a "Sterling Silver" or "925" mark. This | | | | remove tarnish. These are available at most |
| mark identifies the precious metal content of | | | | hardware stores or specialty craft stores. |
| the jewelry. | | | | Tarnish is most easily removed when it first |
| | | | becomes visible! So keep an eye out for it! |
| Silver Alloys | | | | Although wearing your silver often is the |
| | | | best way to prevent tarnish from building up, |
| Because pure silver is so soft, it should | | | | regular cleanings of all your silver items |
| only be used when malleability is required, | | | | will prevent tarnish and keep your silver |
| such as in handcrafted jewelry featuring | | | | bright, sparkling, and beautiful. |