Sterling Silver
Valued as a precious metal since ancient times, silver is used to craft many fine jewelry pieces on the market today. Once considered more precious than gold, pure silver is a soft metal with a white, lustrous hue. In addition to jewelry making, silver is used in a wide variety of industrial and decorative applications, including fine serving ware, flatware, coins, and more.
Valued as a precious metal since ancient times, silver is used to craft many fine jewelry pieces on the market today. Once considered more precious than gold, pure silver is a soft metal with a white, lustrous hue. In addition to jewelry making, silver is used in a wide variety of industrial and decorative applications, including fine serving ware, flatware, coins, and more.
Purity
Due to its high level of inherent softness, pure silver is actually too malleable to be used alone in jewelry making and it is easily dented or scratched when exposed to daily wear and tear. Instead, silver is typically mixed with other alloy metals to give it strength. Copper is the most commonly chosen companion; its durable resilience lends stability and longevity to sterling silver pieces. At Somerton, each of our sterling silver pieces boasts a purity of .925, which denotes a silver content of 92.5% and an alloy composition of 7.5%. This is the standard that determines whether a jewelry piece can be designated as "sterling" or pure silver--anything less than 92.5% does not qualify.
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Care
To help extend the longevity and beauty of your silver pieces, you should follow the proper guidelines for care, cleaning, and storage. Since it's much softer than other metals and gemstones, silver requires special cleaning methods to retain the integrity of its texture and composition. To remove oil, dirt, tarnish, and smudges from the surface of silver, you should polish it regularly with a soft cloth. Never use rough or coarse fabrics, as these can result in scratching. Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners, especially those containing bleach, which can discolor silver. Every few months, you might consider taking your silver piece to a professional jeweler for a thorough cleaning, and after several years of constant wearing, perhaps a fresh coating of rhodium to recapture its original shine. At Somerton, each of our fine silver jewelry pieces comes with complimentary professional cleaning and polishing services for life to restore your purchase to its original luster. Perhaps even more important than a proper cleaning regimen is the method of storage used for your silver pieces. To prevent the oxidization that can cause dullness and tarnishing, each silver piece should be stored in its own soft pouch, plastic bag, or box lined with tarnish-resistant material. Avoid keeping silver in warm, moist environments, like bathrooms. Instead, store jewelry in a dry, cool location.