Jewelry | Sterling Silver

December 3, 2009

Must Know Shopping Tips for Sterling Silver Jewelry

Jewelry shopping is very exciting for every woman. Shopping for jewelry is always an exciting process whether it is for some special occasion like wedding or anniversary or as an investment. It is always a fun! This dazzling process works as a stress buster for many people. But the alternative may seem irresistible and it is easy to sway by beautiful patterns and colors of that sterling silver jewelry, making it much more complicated to choose just the correct piece. There are few tips that one should keep in mind before purchasing the silver sterling jewelry. You must know shopping tips for sterling silver jewelry and then you will be confident that you are making the right choice and taking the smart decision. People should know what they are purchasing and what exactly they are looking for in jewelry. Then only they will be able to purchase stunning pieces and high-quality piece.

1. You should know your starting place. When you are buying any silver jewelry, it is always good to stick to the known and reputable sources while buying silver jewelry, who give guarantee about their products. Using dependable jewelry merchants has few other advantages. The salespeople of these shops are typically well-informed about craftsmanship, styles and trends as well as they can help you in making the right choice and selecting the best item. They also provide helpful tips to you for jewelry storage and its cleaning.

2. Know your supplies. While pure sterling silver is comparatively soft and worn in intricately beautiful pieces, silver is considered as its alloy, which is best matched for jewelry. Small part of copper usually is added in sterling silver that affects the hardness of the metal, but its shine or color remains the same.

3. Know your symbols. Always look for high-quality mark on sterling silver jewelry, which identify the materials. Very often, you will see the small words like “sterling silver” or “0.925″ stamped inside the piece. 0.925 is referred as the proportion of silver metal in sterling. These marks usually are engraved by law as well as are the supreme indicators of the authenticity of your jewelry.

4. Look for tip-offs. Particularly when you are looking at some branded jewelry like vintage jewelry, it does probably be not easy to tell whether a jewelry piece is original sterling silver. Always look for one thing that the piece that you pick up is real and original sterling silver. It should be flaking or wear and must indicate that few of the glittery surfaces of that piece have come off. It will reveal that you are looking at somewhat “plated,” that is far less attractive than an unadulterated, solid piece.

Now you know the few important principles of buying sterling silver jewelry. You should now pay more attention on the most drizzling as well as exciting part of purchasing jewelry while shopping and that is the shapes, styles, and sizes of beautifully glowing sterling silver. These are few tips that you must know shopping tips for sterling silver jewelry.

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December 2, 2009

Why and how does sterling silver jewelry tarnish?

Filed under: Sterling Silver — Tags: jewelry, Sterling Silver, sterling silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry tarnish — admin @ 12:00 pm

Introduction

Women have been wearing silver jewelry like silver rings, bracelets, pendants, for various events since initial civilizations. Silver, is considered as one metal which is the oldest one to human existence. Silver has been in continuation since era immemorial. Silver is the metal that needs extra care and cleanliness. There are many reasons that one should know why and how does sterling silver jewelry tarnish?

With the development in technology, advanced and complex methods are used to design jewelry and to carve complex jewelry designs out of sterling silver metal. Yet, one big concern between the manufacturers, sellers and buyers of silver jewelries are that it oxidizes easily if people do not take extra care of silver jewelry.

Silver can easily get tarnished and blackening when it comes in contact with substances that contain hydrogen sulfide. Few of the most common substances that are found at your home, which contain sulfide are doormats, latex gloves, wool and rubber bands. It has been analyzed that silverware or silver jewelry oxidizes in places very easily, where coal or firewood is used like a fuel. One of the prime reasons for this incidence can again be credited to the existence of high-content of sulfur present in the coal.

Reasons for oxidization

Tarnishing or Corrosion of silver is primarily be described easily when silver starts losing the gleam as well as its color and gradually converted from bright sterling silver in to a yellowish shade until it lastly turns to a range of shades of black or even grey in few cases.

Other different factors that contribute to the tarnishing or Corrosion of silver consist of weather changes and relatively high level of humidity present in the environment. Certain cooked items such as oil and eggs present inside the kitchen come in direct contact with the metal utensils may as well accelerate the oxidization process.

Methods to check corrosion

There are various ways that have been formulated by scientists and experts to lessen the damages made to any certain part of silver jewelry or silverware by different methods. Certain home-made remedies are frequently advised to get rid of small amount of oxidization from jewelry piece while it’s advised to look for some professionals help from some jeweler while dealing with complicated pieces of silver jewelry and also when the amount of damage done by the corrosion is actually very high.

Silver is a very delicate metal and one has to take a lot of care of the sterling silver jewelry. You can buy whichever design you want in the silver jewelry from modern to traditional. But it is also very important to take care of that sterling silver jewelry you buy. These jewelries are very good investment but taking care of these silver jewelries is also needed. You can clean the sterling silver jewelry with a gentle cloth and should not clean the pieces with hard hands. Now you know all the reasons of why and how does sterling silver jewelry tarnish? You should now take a proper care of your silver jewelry.

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December 1, 2009

Vintage Sterling Silver Jewelry Buying Tips

Filed under: Sterling Silver — Tags: jewelry, Sterling Silver, sterling silver jewelry, vintage sterling silver jewelry — admin @ 12:00 pm

The popularity and the demand of silver jewelry, especially the vintage piece is growing very quickly. It has now become a very popular purchasable category. There are many reasons that why these jewelries are becoming popular day by day. The main reason of its high demand among people is its cheap availability. People can easily afford sterling silver jewelry when compared to gold or platinum. In particular, silver is quite an affordable metal and its beautiful sheen, which evolved since many years of daily silver wear, called polish had captivated millions of hearts.

Silver is usually more affordable and shiny metal than other very precious metals such as, platinum and gold. The demand of silver from sellers and purchasers is greater. This is the reason why silver is so popular among people and manufacturers. People like wearing sterling silver rings, pendants and necklaces on different occasions. This inspires manufacturers to make beautiful designs in a wide range. Here are some of the Vintage Sterling Silver Jewelry Buying Tips:

The much required after polish shouldn’t be puzzled with tarnish. It is created only when the metal “silver” is out in sunlight and air and turns out in a dark color piece. This can then be gently refined off by using some mild silver jewelry cleaner. Shiny surface, which is called patina, is the soft sheen, which forms usually when the silver is worn often and rubs next to other items. You can easily create patina by wearing the silver jewelry daily. You can do everyday tasks like washing dishes, working, exercising, and bathing while wearing silver jewelry to create patina on it.

Some sterling silver pieces usually are layered with rhodium that helps in preventing tarnishing. The selection of purchasing rhodium plated sterling silver is just a personal fondness. Many collectors stay away from rhodium coated silver jewelries as it does not develop the gloss of uncoated silver pieces.

If you are buying sterling silver jewelry for yourself from any internet retailer, be sure that you can clearly see the hallmark on the photographs of the silver jewelry piece. You will locate that some silver jewelry is not stamped as well as if that is the case, then the seller should offer a guarantee card that the piece has been experienced and isn’t just any silver plated. You must keep your eyes wide open when you buy sterling silver jewelry from internet or from any other market.

Make sure all the items that you purchase should fit in your requirements. Do not forget to check the references of the seller and their return policy. It is not possible frequently to tell accurately what the piece will actually look like in the photographs. So before buying any sterling silver jewelry keep all the above vintage sterling silver jewelry buying tips in your mind. You are investing your money which should be wasted on just any local silver jewelry. So buy the items after a complete and thorough research and cherish the pleasure of wearing sterling silver jewelry on special occasions.

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November 30, 2009

What Metals is Sterling Silver Jewelry Made Of?

Filed under: Sterling Silver — Tags: jewelry, Sterling Silver, sterling silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry made of — admin @ 12:00 pm

The core purpose of Jewelry is to attain attraction .In the modern era jewellery is not restricted for women but men too love to wear bracelets, chains, cufflinks, rings, pendants , buttons and specially designed jewellery for pierced body area such as ears, nose, eyebrows and navel.

Jewelry has always been an intention of immense captivation for men and women both .The quest for freshness in jewellery or ornament designing has been on-going for ages together as crafts persons strive to give innovations in draft, matter & in styles to suit the embellishment needs of men and women to adorn their allure.

From ancient time’s silver as a metal is being used for making objects and ornaments. Sterling Silver Jewelry is very much trendy these days. Sterling Silver is a harder alloy. The word “sterling” came forth in England by 13th century and it refers 925 grade of silver metal.

Sterling Silver is now- a day considered as a relatively pure metal having sufficient hardness to produce efficient and more durable objects and ornaments. Traditionally sterling silver alloy was 92.5% silver metal and rest 7.5 % copper added to it but now Argentium Sterling Silver is popular as modern sterling silver alloy which alters the traditional alloy (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper) by replacing some of the copper metal with the metalloid germanium. As it holds the same 92.5% silver content, it is still a sterling silver with same 92.5% content as the traditional alloy. The silver industry is doing many research based activities to try more alloys but, so far Argentium Silver is considered as best because it has improved properties of patented Argentium Silver and no other metal matched.

Argentium Silver came into existence as a result of the research has done by Peter Johns at the School of Art & Design, Middlesex University. He has started his project in the year 1990 with research on the effects of germanium additions to silver alloys.

Germanium has added some very good properties to sterling silver like high end resistance from discolouring or tarnishing, increased duplicity, firescale elimination, electrical resistance and so on.

Silver is very softer metal available on earth in comparison to other metals but its brightness and shine lure everyone. Real silver could be gold plated or can be plated with rhodium which gives it a look like platinum, generous it the appearance .The sterling Silver can be given an antique polishing also which is quite appreciated by people in modern era but nothing can beat the elegant looks of sterling silver jewelry.

It is considered as most trendy gifts and all the markets and big retail showrooms, malls are having a wide variety of sterling silver jewellery pieces but sterling silver jewelry is more prone to oxidation and very easily tarnished in a short period. One has to take proper cleaning steps to keep the sterling silver jewelry bright and lustrous. It is not a very difficult task just needs proper handling and timely actions. Occasional polishing helps to keep the jewellery good as new.

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November 26, 2009

Things to consider before buying sterling silver jewelry

Filed under: Sterling Silver — Tags: buying sterling silver jewelry, jewelry, silver jewelry, Sterling Silver, sterling silver jewelry — admin @ 12:00 pm

The trend of silver jewelry is increasing tremendously, because of low cost and marvellous finish of the ornaments. There are a few things, which need to be kept in mind, while you are making your decision. Silver jewelry needs to be kept with care and also purchased with proper choice and some necessary things to be kept in mind.

There are several factors that you should consider before buying sterling silver jewelry:

In case, you are purchasing a plated jewelry, it will be labelled as ‘silver plated’, ‘silver coated’ or ‘plated with silver’. In case, you are looking for a lower cost sterling jewelry, you might seek it according to your liking.
Silver jewelry is priced, on the basis of content of the precious metal, additional to the craftsmanship, which goes to the manufacturing of an ornament. When you are judging the worth of an item, you need to keep in consideration, which goes to making the piece.
The main consideration of labelling a jewelry as silver, sterling, solid silver or sterling silver etc. must be at least 92.5% pure silver. The ornaments are stamped 925, 92.5, .925, depending on the different manufacturers. The labelling rules are forced by FTC (Federal Trade Commission), such that you are always sure of what you are buying is authentic.
Examine the jewelry item for highly qualitative construction. The faulty or poorly designed clasps can also result in the loss of your piece. Catches need to work with ease and remain secured in many circumstances. The silver chains need to be made flat and if the piece is plated, it should be a thick and even layer on the ornament surface.
You need to be very careful about the chemicals, which come to contact with precious metal. Avoid the direct interaction with perfumes, oil, rubber, lotions or hair sprays. This will prevent them to get tarnish.
The higher end silver purchases need to have other markings, trademarks or hallmarks, for indication about other aspects about the silver. You need to make consultation with your jeweller, for taking help in determining the meaning of markings.
You need to remove silver jewelry, while making use of ammonia, nail polish, bleach, alcohol, as these can damage your ornaments.
The regular cleansing is important for keeping the silver ornaments appear brand new. The local multi-purpose store or jeweller even has products, which clean and protect the jewelry, along with special lint-free cloths for cleansing. Some people use toothbrush, which is not a right idea and can be abrasive.
Silver needs to be stored in air tight container, for prevention of tarnish. This will avoid the blackish color on the silver material.
You should keep the silver to look great and enhance its life by wearing it and making proper use of it. The natural oils inside your skin can act as a barrier against chemical damage of silver surface. It needs to be avoided for a proper use.

You can make a wise purchase and keep proper care for your sterling silver ornaments for keeping them look beautiful.

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