Silver is one of the most versatile metals for jewellery making. It is stronger, more reflective and can be polished to a greater shine than gold. It is also much cheaper, giving designers and silversmiths a superb metal to indulge their creativity & allowing them to make stunning pieces at affordable prices. Silver jewellery should always be sterling silver. This means that it is made up of 925 parts per thousand silver & 75 parts per thousand of other metals (usually copper) to give it strength. To guarantee this quality, silver should be tested by a recognised assay office. If this testing has been carried out successfully the silver will have a hallmark (NOT just a 925 mark), which guarantees that what you are buying really is silver & not just cheap, silver coloured metal which will deteriorate over time & has little or no value. Silver is a not only versatile, it is also beautiful and adaptable. It looks great on men and women, of any age and any skin tone. It can look casual or sophisticated, dainty or bold. You can make anything from simple Cufflinks to ornate necklaces. It really is the ultimate luxury metal. If treated properly silver jewellery will last indefinitely, making it fantastic value for money compared to cheaper "costume" jewellery. Here are some hints to make sure your silver jewellery stays in prime condition for as long as you love to wear it. Silver tarnishes naturally when exposed to the air. This dulls the silver and gives it a grey or golden tinge. To reduce this as much as possible, keep your silver jewellery in it's original box or pouch. When it starts to look dull, simply polish it gently with a silver polishing cloth, which you can buy in any good supermarket, hardware store or jewellers. Don't bath, shower or swim in your jewellery. Exposure to detergents, perfumes, chlorine and salt water will all speed up the tarnishing process, and may damage stones, crystals or other materials combined with the silver. Make sure your jewellery is the last thing you put on and it will stay stunning. Although silver is a strong metal, it's brilliant shine means it is susceptible to scratching. To avoid this, keep each piece separately, to prevent them scratching each other. WARNING Be careful while using sterling silver dips. They will clean off the tarnish but they might damage the surface and they will damage stones, crystals or other items set in silver. Use them sparingly and with GREAT care! Never use a cleaner that contains Ammonia, which will turn Silver black. If this happens, Vinegar will reverse the effects of Ammonia. |
