What Is Sterling Silver?
by Neels van den Berg
Pure silver, also called fine silver, is relatively soft, very malleable,
and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a
more durable product.
Because pure silver is so soft, it should only be used when malleability is
required, such as in handcrafted jewellery featuring weaving and other
intricate designs.
The most popular of these alloys is sterling silver, which consists of 92.5
percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. Although any metal can make up the 7.5
percent non-silver portion of sterling, centuries of experimentation have
shown copper to be its best companion, improving the metal’s hardness and
durability without affecting its beautiful colour.
The small amount of copper added to sterling has very little effect on the
metal’s value. Instead, the price of the silver item is affected by the labour
involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy
of the design.
Stamps Of Quality:
Most high quality silver items are stamped with a “fineness” or “quality”
mark. This mark designates the precious metal content of the jewellery, and is
normally accompanied by a maker’s mark or registered trademark.
Sterling silver is most often used for jewellery and household accessories
because of its combination of beauty and durability. Acceptable quality marks
for sterling silver include:
sterling
sterling silver
ster
.925
sil
SIL
Care:
With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. To minimize
scratches and other damage, store your silver jewellery either in a cloth
pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid exposing your
silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when
swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver.
Cleaning Your Silver Regularly:
Care should also be taken to prevent silver tarnish build-up, a dulling that
naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulphur or hydrogen sulphide in the
ambient air. To clean your silver, use polishes formulated specifically to
remove tarnish. You can find fine silver polishes, solutions, or cloths
appropriate to remove tarnish at most hardware stores or specialty craft
stores. Tarnish is most easily removed when it first becomes visible.
Although wearing your silver jewellery often is the best way to prevent
tarnish from building up, regular cleanings of all your silver items will
prevent tarnish and keep your silver bright and sparkling.
Look for the fineness mark and the maker’s mark on the underside of the silver
item you are considering to ensure the quality.
