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caring for sterling silver
Most of iram-inal
designs'
creations are
made with .925
sterling silver.
We use sterling
silver not only
for its
hypo-allergenic
benefits, but
also because of
its added value
and enhanced
beauty to the
jewelry.
However, it is
important to
note that in
purchasing a
sterling silver
item, certain
standards of
care are needed
to keep your
jewelry purchase
in the best
state possible
to prevent it
from tarnishing
over time.
Below, you will
find a slew of
information that
should be your
guide in caring
for your
iram-inal
designs.
Enjoy!
The website
www.about.com
http://jewelry.about.com/od/silverjewelry/a/sterling_silver.htm describes
sterling silver,
how it is
created in
nature, and used
to create the
beautiful
jewelry we wear
today. It
states:
Silver is a
soft metal in
its pure form,
too soft to be
used for jewelry
and other items,
so it's mixed
with other
metals to make
it more durable.
A popular silver
mixture, called
an
alloy,
is known as
sterling silver.
The US
Federal Trade
Commission, the
FTC, stipulates
that jewelry
sold in the US
cannot be marked
or described as
silver, solid
silver, sterling
silver,
sterling, or
using the
abbreviation
Ster. unless it
contains at
least 92.5
percent pure
silver.
The minimum
silver content
can also be
stated as 925
parts per
thousand of pure
silver, so you
might see the
figures 925 or
92.5 used to
mark silver
content.
Copper Content
Copper is the most common metal used to round out the 7.5 percent alloy balance in sterling silver. It adds hardness to pure silver, but brings with it a tendency to tarnish--a darkening that occurs when sterling silver reacts with gases in the air or with other substances that it comes in contact with.
Storing Your Sterling Silver Jewelry
An important part of maintaining your sterling silver jewelry comes in choosing the proper place where to store your sterling silver pieces. Elements, such as humidity and open air, can cause your sterling to tarnish.
Tarnish is caused by the silver oxidizing from the moisture in the air and light that shines on the jewelry.
A tarnished item turns from a golden color to (eventually) a rich black color that does not allow you to enjoy the true shine and luster of your sterling silver jewelry.
So how do you prevent your sterling silver from tarnishing? Store your pieces in an air-tight, sealed container or bag when you’re not wearing them. In addition, using a special tarnish proof cloth, or zip lock bags made of polyethylene may assist in preventing your jewelry collection from tarnishing. Note: These bags must be made of polyethylene, and not polyvinyl plastic bags. These bags may contain sulfur elements that can expedite the tarnishing of your sterling pieces.
Items that may further damage or tarnish your sterling silver jewelry:
When storing your jewelry, attempt not to:
-
Store with rubber (leads to quick tarnish)
-
Store with other metals, such as nickel, copper, etc.
-
Store directly on wood surfaces (wood contains acids that ruin the finish of the silver)
Corrosion
As the purity of the silver increases, the problem of corrosion or tarnishing also increases.
A number of products have been developed for the purpose of polishing silver, such as Twinkle Silver Cream and Wright's Silver Cream, which serve to remove sulphur from the metal without damaging or warping the metal. As harsh polishing and buffing can permanently damage and devalue an antique piece of silver, valuable silver is typically hand-polished to preserve the unique patina of an older piece. Techniques such as wheel polishing, which are typically performed by professional jeweler or silver repair company, are reserved for extreme tarnish or corrosion.
The bottom line? MAKE SURE YOU STORE YOUR JEWELRY IN A SEALED, CONTAINED PLACE TO ENSURE THAT IT MAINTAINS ITS LUSTER.
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