SILVER
Silver is a precious shiny greyish- white metal it is very malleable & ductile, and is easy to work with. It is alloyed with other metals to increase its toughness & durability.
Silver Jewelry ornaments are traditionally made from sterling silver. Sterling silver is an alloy composed of 92.5% silver & the remainder 7.5% other metals usually copper. Sterling silver is usually engraved with letter 925, which indicates that it is 92.5% silver. The price of silver item is determined by the labor involved in making the item and the intricacy of the design, and market value of silver.
Silver is one of the most popular materials for jewelry. But we often neglect our silver jewelry because it tarnishes easily. The Purity of the metal, for instance, determines how malleable the silver is and how quickly it will tarnish. 950 sterling silver will bend more easily & tarnish more quickly than 925serling silver because of its increased purity.
Care
Wear
You can avoid tarnish by wearing your jewelry often. The oils in your skin will “Clean” the silver & keep it looking shiny.
Avoid Exposure
Remove silver jewelry when doing household chores. Direct sunlight also causes silver to tarnish, so be sure to take off your silver jewelry before you go swimming & sunbathing.
Storage
Store Silver in airtight plastic bags. Do not store multiple jewelry pieces in the same bag.
Polishing
Use a soft cloth to polish your silver, make a paste of baking soda & water and rub it gently to remove the tarnish. Expensive pieces should be taken to a professional cleaner.