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Bookmark this page! Silver
Jewellery People
have been wearing silver jewellery since ancient times. Today, sterling silver
is the most popular choice with which to make silver jewellery since 100% pure
silver is too soft.
Versatile
Silver jewellery can be worn by both men and women, of any age. It has a
neutral colour that blends well with almost any attire. It's also suited for
all four seasons, so it can be worn throughout the year. And unlike gold
jewellery, silver has a wide array of designs and styles.
Hallmarks
There are four hallmarks for any silver item weighing more than 7.78g – .925,
.950, .999, and .80. These hallmarks correspond to the purity of the silver –
92.5%, 95%, 99.9%, and 80% pure, respectively. .925 is sterling silver, the
most common used for silver jewellery. .95 is commonly referred to as
Britannic silver. .999 is a newer hallmark, rarely used in jewellery. .80 is
sometimes referred to as Mexican silver. Because of its lower purity, it will
tarnish more quickly than sterling and has a yellower, duller look. The
hallmark will be imprinted in the silver so you can easily determine its
content.
Storage and Care
Jewellers recommend storing your silver jewellery in separate cloth
containers, like pouches or individual compartments in a jewellery box. You
should also avoid exposing silver to harsh chemicals or wearing it in
chlorinated water as that may cause it to tarnish.
Tarnish
Tarnish builds up as silver reacts to sulphur or hydrogen sulphide in the air,
dulling the look of the jewellery. How quickly this happens depends on the
size of the piece and the heat in which it was stored – larger items and items
stored in warmer weather will need to be polished more frequently. You can buy
silver solutions to clean tarnish or even a specialty silver polish cloth.
Types of Quasi-silver
There is some silver jewellery that's only quasi-silver, oftentimes true of
costume jewellery. Silver-plated or silver-electroplated jewellery is one such
type. Used for costume jewellery, it won't have a hallmark and if it does, it
should say SP or EP. As little as 5% of the piece could be silver, so buyers
should be wary of paying too much. Another quasi-silver type of costume
jewellery is called Alpaca silver. This is a silver-coloured mixture of
copper, nickel, zinc, and iron. Most times it does not contain any silver at
all, though it may be plated in sterling silver. Silvertone jewellery is
simply silver-coloured metal – this is the type that will leave a green or
black line on your skin when you take it off.
These types of quasi-silver can often irritate skin, break easily, and tarnish
quickly, so those with sensitive skin should be especially wary. | Silver Jewellery - probably the largest choice of Silver Jewellery in the UK!
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