Sterling Silver Jewelry & Care
What Exactly is 925 Silver or Sterling Silver?
Pure silver is much too soft to be used in jewelry so it is combined with another metal such as copper to give it strength and durability. Sterling silver, also referred to as 925 silver, the most common metal used for jewelry, is made from 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent alloy – a mixture of two or more metals such as zinc, copper or nickel.
Why Does Silver Tarnish, Anyway?
When the molecules from the copper present in 925 silver combine with Sulphur molecules in the air, the silver tarnishes. It is a natural occurrence and does not indicate the quality of the silver.
How to Care For Your New Silver Jewelry:
Happily, the more you wear your jewelry, the less you need to clean it! While people have different body chemistries, in general, the oil from your skin acts to protect silver from tarnishing.
- Wipe your jewelry with a soft cloth after several wears.
- Store your silver in an airtight, soft, fabric-lined box or in small zip-lock baggies.
How To Polish Tarnished Silver:
Even if you store silver perfectly, it will still tarnish over time. So it’s likely that you’ll have to polish your silver at least every few months in order to keep your pieces looking good.
If you are just doing maintenance, use the soft polishing cloth included in your order using a back and forth motion instead of small circles to avoid scratching the silver.
If the jewelry is a bit more tarnished, use a cloth that is infused with chemicals to gently rub away the tarnish. We highly recommend the one by Brilliant.
For more stubborn tarnish, make a paste of baking soda and water. Apply a pea-sized amount to the silver and polish it with a soft cloth. Rinse with warm water.
ADORNED By Ruth Silver Jewelry
Quite a few of our designs are offered in both gold-filled and sterling silver. If you see a piece that you’d love to have in silver, please contact us and we will do our best to create a custom jewelry piece just for you! Here are some of our favorite sterling silver pieces.
