What Makes Sterling Silver Different?
Silver is one of the most popular metals used in jewelry and fine tableware. Sterling silver is the standard for jewelry. Silver is relatively softer than other metals like gold or platinum requiring it to be combined with other metals to improve its hardness and durability.
Sterling silver in the USA has a standard of 92.5% silver and alloy materials for the other 7.5%. Higher quality jewelry pieces made with sterling silver are stamped with 925. Some of the alloy metals that can be used include copper, platinum, rhodium and zinc.
Rings, earrings, bracelets, cuff links, anklets, necklaces and many other jewelry items use sterling silver. It can be gold plated, silver plated, rhodium plated or polished for a beautiful white shine. A very popular plating material is Rhodium. Rhodium provides a smooth, shinny beautiful surface that is extremely hard while giving the appearance of platinum. Silver plated with Rhodium is also called anti tarnish silver by some people.
Silver jewelry has a tendency to tarnish when coming in contact with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the air. Silver Jewelry which is plated with rhodium is often referred to as anti-tarnish silver. Keep your silver jewelry away from household chemicals and take them off when swimming in chlorinated water as this will damage your jewelry. It is important to clean sterling silver often. If you work to keep your jewelry clean it will give you a lifetime of enjoyment.
The first legal use of sterling silver comes from the time of Edward I in 1275 in England. The legal statute at the time called for 12 ounces of silver for coinage should contain 11 ounces 2-1/4 pennyweights of silver, and 17-3/4 pennyweights of alloy. Silver alloy used in surgical and medical instruments have also been found from ancient civilizations including Egypt, Rome and Ur.