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What
the Heck Does "Sterling" Mean?
We
hear and see “sterling silver this” and
“sterling silver that” almost every day,
yet many shoppers do not understand what
it really means. Does “sterling” mean
“pure”? Does sterling silver jewelry
come from a certain part of the world?
Is sterling better or worse – or the
same – as pure silver? And what does
that stamp on the back of my necklace
mean when it says “.925”?
By
definition and international agreement
“sterling” silver is 92.5% pure silver
and 7.5% some other material – usually
copper. The 92.5% is why jewelry is
often stamped with the numbers 925 or
.925.
Why
Mix Copper with Pure Silver?
Now
you might think, “oh, well that means
sterling silver is not as good as pure
silver”. Well, yes and no. It certainly
isn’t pure, but sterling silver is mixed
to this exact ratio for some very good
reasons. Have you ever seen pure silver
after a few years in the open air? If
not, take a look at your grandmother’s
silver spoon collection. Silver tends to
oxidize (tarnish) quickly, leaving it a
yucky brown color. The 7.5% copper or
other metals used to make sterling
silver slow down the tarnishing process.
Secondly, pure silver is a very soft
metal. It can bend or break easily.
Adding another, more durable, metal to
the mix ensures that your silver jewelry
will last a lot longer, and look a lot
nicer down the road. So really, sterling
silver – although not pure – is usually
the better option when choosing jewelry.
And
last but not least, adding another metal
– and thus making the silver more
durable – makes the substance easier for
metal-smiths, jewelers and craftsmen to
handle and manipulate into those
intricate rings, pendants and necklaces
we so adore.
So
there you go… next time you’re shopping
for some new jewelry, or buying an
anniversary gift for your girlfriend /
wife, you will understand exactly what
the salesperson means when they say
“This is sterling silver”… even if they
don’t.
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