What is Sterling Silver?

Silver has been known and used for thousands of years and was believed to have magical properties which could promote healing and bring good luck. In ancient times, silver was used for jewelry, ornaments, utensils, and as a substance that could be bartered for other goods and services. This belief that silver had an underlying "value" led eventually to its use as the basis for monetary systems such as that of the Roman Empire and as a means of paying for international trade...

The discovery during the 18th and 19th centuries of large silver deposits in the New World, however, resulted in the conversion of most monetary systems to the gold standard.
Despite the loss of its status as the basis for the world's monetary systems, the belief in the value of silver remained. Until the Industrial Revolution only the elite were allowed to wear silver jewelry.

In 1990, silver was produced by at least 55 countries. Mexico was the largest silver producing country, followed by the United States, Peru, the former U.S.S.R., Canada, and Australia.
Silver is the most reflective and affordable of the precious metals. Its lower price permits bold, innovative looks. Sterling silver jewelry often is fashioned by top designers and can range in price from $100 to thousands of dollars.

Sterling silver is the standard of quality for articles containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
Marks:

General - Sterling Silver;
American - 925;
European - 935;
French - 800;
Russian- 88 or 84.

How to protect my silver jewelry?

As with every product its life span will depend on the care you give it. These are some helpful hints on how to look after your Sterling Silver. When you are not wearing your silver jewelry store them in a cool, dry place.

Clean your sterling silver jewelry with a soft 100% cotton (nub free) cloth or flannel cloth and gently rub off any excess makeup. Remember silver is a very soft metal and you can scratch it if you aren't careful so don't rub it too briskly.

To remove light dirt, fingerprints or makeup just use a small amount of mild liquid detergent to a 1/2 cup of warm water and rinse thoroughly with clean fresh water. This method is best used for sterling only. (Remember, be careful because too much water or any harsh cleansers could damage the polish on the stones.) Dry it completely before storing it in an air tight zip lock bag. Save the one it came in, it works perfectly.

To clean away excessive tarnish, clean with a soft cloth and a non-abrasive brand name liquid or paste silver polish to remove tarnish. A silver cloth is the best way to remove tarnish from jewelry. We do not recommend dip polish cleaners because it can be harmful to your precious stones. Rub with a lengthwise motion, never clean in a circular motion because this may cause scratches. If you wear your sterling silver jewelry regularly, your body oils help to keep the tarnishing down and cleaning to a minimum. Make sure you remove any trace of the polish from gemstones and rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Never use anything but a clean 100% cotton or a special sterling silver cleaning cloth. Paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics often contain wood fibers or synthetics, that can cause tiny scratches in the surface of your fine sterling silver jewelry. Dirt left over from previous cleanings can scratch the surface as well.

The polished sheen was produced by the skilled hands of silversmiths that spent time filing, sanding and buffing the sterling silver piece to a perfectly flat surface. It is the light reflecting off this flat surface that gives it the shine. If you put tiny scratches into the surface you diminish the sheen because the light isn't able to bounce off the surface as well as it once did. So do protect your sterling silver jewelry from excessive scratches.

Always remove your jewelry before using any product that contains bleach, ammonia, alcohol, fingernail polish removers that contain acetone, and turpentine. Some of these can cause a breakdown in the metal alloys leaving the your jewelry beyond repair and dull or even pit the surface of your gemstones.

Using toothpaste or baking soda seems to be controversial. I have been researching this and some say yes and others say NO! The argument is that the baking soda and toothpaste are abrasive. Use at your own risk. I say if in doubt . . . don't. Therefore, I recommend against using them. Stick to a silver cleaner. You would hate to have to have your pieces professionally buffed and refinished.

However, if you wish to use them here is what you should do: Barely moisten your sterling silver jewelry with water. Place in the palm of your hand and pour a liberal amount of baking soda over your jewelry and rub gently with your fingertips. Continue doing this until you remove all the tarnish. Rinse with cool water and dry.

Toothpaste is mainly recommended for gold, not silver. Use an old toothbrush, dampen and scrub just like you would your teeth. Rinse in cool water.

Remember that we do not recommend the use of backing soda or toothpaste methods, but many respected jewelers see no problem with it. I however find that it dulls and scratches the finish. My personal preference is the Sunshine Polishing Cloth. It shines the stones as well.

Your sterling silver jewelry is a metal that is meant to be worn. If you just leave it laying around, it will tarnish. To prevent tarnishing while your not wearing it, keep the jewelry in a plastic zip lock bag.