Silver Jewellery : What You Should Know

Silver jewellery is often cherished, from rings to necklaces to bracelets and earrings. Silver jewellery is also perfect in complementing diamonds or contrasting with a ruby. But, how do you prevent the jewellery from tarnishing? What is plated jewellery, and sterling silver? And is there anything you should be looking for when you buy it? Silver plated jewellery comes originally from the 19th century, and was created to provide what would be expensive items to the masses. It involves fusing only a thin layer of silver over another metal. Sterling silver is the real deal, and there are different grades of silver as well. Fine silver is too soft for every day function and is 99.9% pure silver. Because of it's softness, all silver for jewellery is alloy – meaning that it is a mix of another metal (often copper) with the silver. Sterling silver is 7.5% another metal and 92.5% silver (this is why some people refer to it as 925 silver.)

Silver plated jewellery is, obviously, cheaper than sterling silver. But silver is able to wear through easily, which is why silver plated jewellery becomes old and worn off very quickly. Sterling silver jewelry obviously lasts longer than silver plated jewellery. When purchasing silver jewellery, look and see if there is a sterling silver stamp. This stamp could be labelled “.925,” “sterling silver,” “sterling” or just “ster.” You would know immediately that it is not plated jewellery if you see this stamp attached to the jewellery. These stamps are also the same all over the world. Because most sterling silver is combined with copper, which tarnishes, tarnishing happens with the silver as well. Silver jewellery usually tarnishes to a light gold, but can often tarnish to bronze or even black- also staining your hands.

Some silver jewellery is finished with Rhodium, though, which is a type of platinum metal. Rhodium is also often used in finishing white gold. Rhodium-finished silver jewellery tends to have a whiter, brighter color than the silvery gray color of normal silver jewellery. Some manufacturers also use platinum as the alloy metal in creating sterling silver jewellery, which also prevents tarnishing (but the price is significantly more expensive.) If you are a fan of the brighter look of platinum, these are great choices, as they are not as expensive as solid platinum.

Storing jewellery is one of the bigger questions people have. The environment is key here, as the metals in the jewellery react with it. Exposure to water, light and air aids the tarnishing process. With proper storage, you can slow down this process considerably.

Tarnish resistant cloths are cloths that have been treated with specific materials and chemicals that help the slowing down of tarnishing. By storing your silver jewellery in this cloth, you help prevent the process immensely. Also, don't store jewellery in a box of wood as certain acids in wood aid tarnishing. It's also a good idea to keep the silver jewellery stored separately to your other jewellery, to help prevent scratching and other issues. Storing silver jewellery in plastic bags is a great idea, as it also helps the jewellery from being exposed to air.