Sterling silver jewellery differs from silver plated in what it is made of. Sterling silver is an alloy, made of 92.5% pure silver, and 7.5% other alloy. These other alloys tend to be copper or zinc. Due to the pure silver constitution, sterling silver is often known as 925 silver.
The distinction is significant, so It's important to be able to know the difference to ensure you're getting the best value and quality. Silver-plated jewelry often contains 5% or less pure silver, while sterling always contains at least 92.5%? Sterling silver is easier to maintain and retains its value.
Look For The Stamp
All silver jewellery should have a stamp to identify it as pure silver as required by law. “925” means Sterling Silver and. 999 refers to pure hand-made silver, 92% and 99% respectively. Be wary of Chinese Silver – which carries the mark “S925” which is usually nickel/copper with a silver coating.
Yes it can, if you don't practice proper ring care and/or you have sensitive skin to the copper or nickel alloy. Will 925 sterling silver turn my silver green? If you practice good ring care and don't have sensitive skin or an allergy to copper or nickel alloy then the chances of a green finger are minimal.
USE CLEAR NAIL POLISH
One simple and practical method to avoid green fingers is to coat the inside of your sterling silver rings with clear nail polish. Here's how: Paint the inside of your rings with clear nail polish. You can apply nail polish to any part of the ring that touches your finger.
This Applies To ALL Sterling Silver Jewelry
If you're looking for rings that won't turn your finger green, look for rhodium-plated rings or rings that are made of stainless steel and platinum.
Look for a Hallmark Stamp: Look for a stamp or mark on the piece that says "STER," "925," "800," OR "999." 925 or STER means it's 92.5% pure silver, which is traditional sterling, 999 means 99.9% pure which is fine silver, and 800 means it's 80% pure silver or a lower quality than sterling silver.
Argentium Silver and Non-Tarnish Alloys
These alloys are a minimum of 92.5% silver though some will be slightly higher in silver content. The remainder consists of copper and the addition of the element germanium. The germanium makes the alloy harder and resistant to tarnish.
Pure silver is not susceptible to tarnish in a pure oxygen environment. However, the copper that is contained in 925 sterling silver may react to the ozone and hydrogen sulfide in the air and cause sterling silver to tarnish. Perfumes, hair sprays, and profuse sweating can also cause a quicker formation of tarnish.
Most silver plated items are made of silver-on-copper. So if a magnet 'sticks' to the item, it cannot be silver or copper. If a suitable magnet shows the diamagnetic effect the item might be silver (most likely with a coin) or it could be silver-plating on copper. Do not confuse diamagnetism with magnetism.
Sterling silver is made with 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% another alloy like copper; silver plate is made with 0.15 to 0.25 mils of sterling silver over a base metal, often brass. Sterling silver is a precious metal and is more expensive than silver-plated chain and findings.
Silverplate Value
The value of silver-plated antiques can range from a few dollars to hundreds or even thousands in rare instances. Generally, the value depends on the age and condition of the piece, as well as factors such as maker, design, and decoration.
This results in a beautiful silver finish that is chemically bonded to the inner metal, forming a single, solid object. The silver that covers your heirloom is as much a part of it as is the metal at its core. Over time, however, that plating can wear away, exposing the metal below.
Pandora provides a universe of hand-finished and contemporary jewellery made from genuine materials, primarily solid sterling silver and 14 or 18 k gold with gemstones, stones, cultured pearls and glass.
925 silver, often referred to as sterling silver, is, in fact, real silver though it is an alloy rather than pure silver. 925 silver means your item is 92.5% silver and 7.5% another metal, such as copper. This means that your 925 silver is valuable and can be sold.
Rhodium-plated sterling silver: Rhodium is a hard silvery-white metal, quite rare, and five times more expensive than gold. The rhodium plate protects the sterling silver from being exposed to air, thereby preventing discoloration.
Use an air-tight container: any container can be used to store your silver, as long as its air-tight. Zip-lock bag are great, but you can also find specialty jewelry bags for a more attractive option. Keep in a cool, dark place: as mentioned earlier, sunlight, heat and moisture accelerate tarnishing.
In a controlled environment, it could take sterling silver a couple of years to tarnish. Or if the piece is constantly worn without applying preventative steps, it could take just a few months for the piece to begin to show signs of tarnish.
925 silver value is between $0.69 and $0.80 per gram on average. A sterling silver jewelry's cost can be calculated by multiplying the total sterling silver weight by 0.925 as it contains 92.5% pure silver.
Tarnish can appear as a yellow, brown, black or grey coating on the surface of your silver jewellery, which is sometimes quite patchy. Sterling silver tarnishes more easily than pure silver due to its copper content and this tarnish is likely to be more noticeable and darker in colour.
One simple and practical method to avoid green fingers is to coat the inside of your sterling silver rings with clear nail polish. Here's how: Paint the inside of your rings with clear nail polish. You can apply nail polish to any part of the ring that touches your finger.
Moisture in the air or on the skin can react with the copper present in all Sterling Silver jewellery, causing a green discolouration. This is a fairly common complaint in hot, humid climates and can also affect individuals with particularly moist skin.
Sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Copper can react with moisture, oils, and acids in your skin to produce copper salts, which can leave a green or black mark on your finger.