What is sterling silver? This is a high-quality jewelry alloy

Sterling silver is the most popular silver alloy today. It is 92.5% pure silver, and the remaining 7.5% is usually copper, sometimes nickel, platinum and other metals. Branded products of sterling silver is the usual for us 925 breakdown. Additive in the form of copper most significantly increases the strength of the metal and makes it harder, without depriving the main characteristics: reliability, quality and ductility.

Sterling silver is a dazzling white alloy with a pleasant and noble shine. Initially, it was used in Germany to make silver coins, and from 1158 in England sterling silver became the raw material for making all known sterling by the decree of King Henry II.

Silver jewelry

Sterling silver is the most commonly used alloy, from which jewelers make numerous ornaments, souvenirs and cutlery. Despite its relatively inexpensive cost, it is a very popular and beautiful metal. That's why men like jewelry such as silver chains , bracelets, cufflinks or tie clips are especially popular with men . In addition, the modern jewelry industry is able to cover products made of silver with a thin layer of rhodium, which gives the products a more aesthetic appearance and protects the metal from premature browning and yellowing.

Semiprecious stones such as topaz, amethyst, chrysolite or garnet look very impressive in silverware. This noble metal, as a rule, does not distract attention from the stone, but only allows it to play more light, creating a worthy frame.

Why is it getting darker?

Many people think that only poor-quality silver items darken, but this is not quite so. Unfortunately, sterling silver is a metal subject to oxidation, so there are several reasons why articles, including coins, lose their appearance:

• One of the main causes of darkening of silver is the increased humidity of air and in general the environment. That's why it is not recommended to shower and swim in ornaments made of this metal.
• Even if you do not forget to remove the silver decoration during the water procedures, it is more likely that it will turn black with time, and the reason for this will be your sweat.
• It is believed that silver will necessarily darken, if it is a sick person. Ostensibly in the body of the latter there are special processes, because of which blood can change its chemical composition, which affects the ornaments. However, such a version is a kind of national sign that does not have any scientific evidence.
• In order to make your jewelry from 925 sterling silver always look like new, it's enough to look after them properly and clean with the help of special tools that are sold in jewelry stores.

Souvenirs and gifts from silver

Sterling silver is a wonderful and very popular material for making gifts and souvenirs. Agree, it is always nice to receive as a presentation a silver frame for photography or an ionizer for water. A very popular gift was a silver pen that can be presented not only to a colleague at work, but also to a director or a manager. Glasses, glasses, sets for spices, car trinkets - almost all variants of souvenir and gift products are made today from silver of 925 tests and are very popular and in demand.