If you are not familiar with sterling silver jewelry you should know that it has been around for a long time, the main problem is that sterling silver is not as robust as gold and does not survive time as well as gold. Sterling silver jewelry is for the “now” and it is certainly making its appearance well noticed by all.

Modern times call for a lighter and elegant metal to compliment the darker colures used today by the fashion industry, the sterling silver accompanies these tones fantastically and is also one of the more affordable metals on the market.

It is well known that silver is the most common of all the precious metals, sterling silver is perfect for use in the jewelry industry because it is strong enough to work with.

Sterling silver jewelry is made of a combination of silver and copper, most of the metal used is of course the sterling silver. The differences between the metals have made sterling silver cost much less than gold and therefore be a direct competitor for shoppers hearts, while the older generation usually prefers the traditional gold, young people and fashion savvy shoppers have a tendency to go for the sterling silver and enjoy a lower price for a stunning sterling jewelry.

One issue with the sterling silver is cleaning, sterling silver is durable and has a great shining potential, but it needs cleaning, experienced sterling silver jewelry have learn to differentiate between a daily, regular cleaning and a more through professional cleaning. In accordance with today’s lifestyle sterling silver jewelry is for people on the go, and it needs to be maintained and worn in a certain way, because of its tendency to get dirty it is recommended to apply make up before putting on your jewelry, but these small and petty precaution steps are nothing compared to the glamour of a unique designed sterling silver jewelry.

When shopping for sterling silver jewelry be advised that sometimes it is referred to as just Sterling or “.925”,because of its relative friendliness sterling silver can be processed and designed in many ways, allowing shoppers to enjoy an abundance of sterling silver jewelry, rings, earrings, bracelets and many more kinds of jewelry are produced by all jewelers around the world to comply with the growing demand of the public to the sterling silver jewelry.

Do not be deterred by the need to clean the sterling silver jewelry, it is like most other metals and at its best when cleaned and maintained well, but sterling silver jewelry will keep shining as long as you take good care of it. Sterling silver jewelry is becoming the sensible choice to those of us who do not want to spend a lot of money on jewelry and still want to be fashionably updated, sterling silver is gaining a lot of popularity because of its features, and it looks like its going to take a while for sterling silver to go back to anonymity.

Silver has been used to make jewelry since ancient times. Did you know the western hemisphere uncovered more productive silver mines than the European mines? More silver has been mined since the late 1700’s than in all prior centuries combined. Now you ask, What is Silver? Silver is a soft metal in its pure form. It is much too soft to be used for jewelry and other items. So, one needs to mix the “pure” silver with other metals to make it more durable. A popular silver mixture, called an alloy, is known as sterling silver. Copper is the most common metal used to round out the 7.5 percent alloy balance in sterling silver.
Jewelry sold in the US cannot be marked or described as silver, solid silver or sterling silver, unless it contains at least 92.5 percent pure silver. If your not sure the piece you are buying is real, flip the piece over and search for the jewelers mark of 925 or 92.5. If no mark is seen, the piece is not silver!
Now you made the purchase of your silver piece, how do you keep it clean? The one complaint I hear most about sterling silver is that it tarnishes. Yes, it does. In time, silver tarnishes from the interaction of silver and sulfides in the air. The tarnish will take on a golden hue, and eventually, it will turn the piece black. This is a natural process. Higher sulfide levels are associated with humidity and/or air pollution. Keep in mind that the more humid the climate, the faster sterling will tarnish. Purchase an inexpensive Chemically treated soft cloth like a “Sunshine cloth” at your local jewelers, this will make the job a lot easier and faster. Sterling silver will polish up by rubbing or buffing. Just remember, the simplest way is usually the best way. It will make your piece look brand new again.

Think of it this way—all coffeemakers are made of plastic, steel, and glass, the differences are how these materials are designed and implemented.  Higher quality coffeemakers make a better tasting cup of coffee.  Higher quality manufactured diamonds are in line with mined diamonds.
QUALITY VARIANCES:  It seems like grade variations are made out to be a more complex lab-created diamond issue then it really is.  Once boiled down, there are three primary grades of simulated diamonds—high, medium, and low.  For the jewelry shopper it should be noted that the quality of setting goes hand-in-hand with the quality of the gemstone.  Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry off point-of-purchase displays in the costume jewelry sections of discount stores use low quality or scrap stones that are not gem quality, and have disco ball or murky look.

Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry on the TV shopping channels—which is generally with a sterling silver or a micro-thin layer of gold plated over silver (Vermeil [pronounced ver-may]) settings—use medium quality stones not of gem quality.  Those that sell solid 14K gold or solid platinum settings, as a rule, use the highest gem-quality man made gemstones that replicate mined diamonds.
PRICING:  Low grade stones are sold in bulk to costume jewelry makers and are often glued on electroplated settings.  This jewelry is fine for children, where loss risk is high, and usually retails for less than $15 per item.  You will find medium grade stones primarily in sterling silver jewelry that sells for under $100 per item, settings and stones.  Medium grade simulated diamonds can be distinguished by the naked eye as not being mined diamonds.  High grade gemstone quality lab-created diamonds, undistinguishable by the naked eye from mined diamonds, are found mounted on settings of solid 14K gold and platinum.  This is considered to be fine jewelry, with the best quality gemstones selling for under $100 per carat for the gemstones alone.  Manufactured diamonds that sell for over $100 a carat are not higher quality than those that sell for between $80 and $100 per carat.

RECOMMENDATIONS:  If you are buying for someone that is likely to lose the jewelry, there is no reason to spend any more than you have to, and Wal-Mart will do just fine.  On the clearance rack you can even pick up some jewelry for less than $5 per item.  If you buy simulated diamonds set in sterling silver, expect decent stones, but they will fool few into thinking they are mined diamonds.  Also, your fingers are likely to turn green or black in response to a chemical reaction, not with the silver per se, but with the nickel/copper alloys in sterling silver.  With any plated settings, gemstones are low to medium grade, and the plating will eventually chip off, particularly around the edges.  When that happens, the nickel/copper alloys will be exposed, the setting will look like it came out of a gum ball machine, and your finger will generally turn green or black.  It is just a matter of common sense, if you want simulated diamonds with mined-diamond qualities, they must be set in 14K solid gold.  Jewelers who offer lab-created diamonds are not going spend on money on gold and not mount the highest quality stones, which would defeat the purpose of creating fine diamond-like jewelry and alienate customers.

Some semi-precious stones are also birthstones, which correspond to people’s birth months. Some people believe that wearing stones that correspond with one’s birth month increases one’s inner strength. This special trait makes jewelry made of certain semi-precious birthstones especially useful as gifts. Examples of such birthstones are garnet (January) and aquamarine (March).
Another popular belief is that certain stones have their own unique “powers.” For example, wearing garnet is said to help ease the pain of a bad breakup, or cause jealousy between lovers. Amethyst is said to protect its wearer against the ill effects of alcohol, slow down intoxication and prevent hangovers. Turquoise is said to give emotional strength. Jade has always had enormous importance in Asian civilization; it is said to have the mystical power to protect its wearer against nightmares and other psychic attacks.

Quartz is said to be among the most important of the semi-precious stones, because it calls upon the power of love — especially the rare rose quartz. Wearing rose quartz is said to increase one’s chances of finding or maintaining a good romantic relationship.
Some pieces of bead jewelry are also made of semi-precious stones. The stones are threaded together with cords, making fine webs and accentuating intricate designs. Jewelry made of semi-precious stones is always popular, partly because of the beliefs associated with the stones — but mostly because they’re so pretty and can go well with anything one wears.

Silver has been used for thousands of years in dining utensils, ornaments and as coinage in numerous monetary systems. In fact, the word “silver” can be translated in 14 different languages as “money”. Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals including copper. Its use is not widespread in all things electrical, however, due to its costliness and tendency to tarnish, although because of its high conductivity it is commonly found in computer parts. Silver has always played second fiddle to gold generally but there are a few societies in history such as ancient Egypt and the middle ages in Europe, where silver was considered more valuable than gold. Today’s state of silver is, however, a matter of popularity and not necessarily value.

In modern times silver is used most in the area of photography in the form of silver nitrate which is a corrosive light sensitive ingredient used in film. Silver is also used to produce the highly reflective surfaces of mirrors through a process called silvering. The practical nature and application of silver is apparent not only to industrial types but to the average consumer. Silver jewelry, given its beauty, quality and inexpensiveness has become a highly sought after commodity. Silver jewelry is usually produced with 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper as 100% silver would simply be too soft to use in usable jewelry.

The only drawback to silver is its tendency to tarnish. Tarnish is basically a layer of corrosion that naturally develops over silver as it is exposed to oxygen. Scientists have tried to prevent tarnish by adding different alloys which have helped decrease tarnishability. There are some new developments in this regard as scientists at Sheffield Hallam University have been attempting to produce a new type of silver alloy which will be more resistant to tarnish, called Carrs Lustre Silver. There are ways to prevent tarnish from occurring in caring for silver jewelry, including the use of low abrasive phosphate free detergent cleaner or chemically treated jewelry cleaning cloths. Some even use toothpaste although they may be left with perceivably dull scratches. Silver jewelry is gaining popularity with a consumer public which is interested in affordability, style and quality. When polished, silver shines as gloriously as white gold. Retailers find that consumers are buying silver engagement rings for daily use as they store their diamond and gold rings for special occasions. Young people who want to express themselves with jewelry are turning to silver as a suitable alternative to expensive gold jewelry. Online retailers like jewelrypayless.com, bluenile.com and tiffany.com are expanding their silver product lines in anticipation of more demand as the rise of the silver jewelry industry continues.

Sterling silver can be used to make all kinds of jewelry, including bracelets, rings, necklaces, or pendants. But one of the most popular uses of sterling silver is in the silver chain. Silver chains can be made in different styles such as the figaro, rope, box, snake, herringbone, curb, and cable. This can also be custom-designed and made in shapes like the diamond cut, double rope, figure eight, rolled anchor, and alternating short- and long-link. This silver chain makes a perfect backdrop for lockets and charm accessories .
How to clean your Sterling silver jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry may be fashionable, but it can turn gold or even black when it comes in contact with the chemicals present in hot tubs or pools. Products like nail polish remover and bleach can also cause a displeasing effect on sterling silver jewelry. Luckily, this piece of jewelry can be cleaned easily by following simple steps.

First is to decide on the proper cleaning product to use. Products such as ammonia, alcohol, bleach, and acetone can damage sterling silver beyond repair so the cleanser should be free from these chemicals. A mild cleanser should be used and this should still be diluted in water.

After deciding on the cleanser, the next step is to choose a cleaning brush. Hard bristle brushes made of horsehair and abrasive-bristled brushes are not advisable. The best brush to use is a baby toothbrush, a soft-bristle brush, or a mushroom brush.

Once the jewelry is brushed with the cleanser, this should be dried afterwards using the proper cloth. The cloth should be 100 percent cotton in order to protect the sterling silver jewelry from scratches and other damages.

These are some of the steps in the proper cleaning of sterling silver jewelry. By following these simple steps, you can be assured that your jewelry will last for a long time.

Author : Jason Gluckman

Everywhere around the world, sterling silver jewelry is recognized to be a symbol of class and elegance. The fashion industry regards silver ornaments as indispensable in any woman’s personal collection.
Silver is a soft metal and its usage has been favored for centuries. It is used to make charms often related to religious worship. Silver has been a symbol of comfortable living. Sterling silver is much stronger than pure silver which is harder to work with when making pendants or charms. Sterling silver is approximately ninety percent silver. The last ten percent or so can be any one of the following: copper, zinc, or nickel and is more durable than pure silver but it still retains its inherent beauty.

Author: Shahram Azin Source: http://www.jewelry-thailand.com/