4 Things You Need to Know About Fine Sterling Silver Jewelry

Fine sterling silver jewelry is not only beautiful and elegant but also easy to style. Owning a couple of silver pieces is a must for any woman that loves jewelry. If you are thinking of sprucing up your jewelry collection with a couple of new fine sterling silver jewelry pieces, then read on. We have created an informational article for you where you will not only discover how to buy fine jewelry metals, but also some interesting facts about silver. Find out if fine sterling silver jewelry is hypoallergenic or how to prevent your silver pieces from tarnishing. Read on to become a jewelry expert.

How many types of silver are there?

Fine sterling silver jewelry has the marking 925 on it because it contains 92.5% silver and, usually, 7.5% copper. This is the most used type of silver in jewelry because this alloy has a couple of advantages. It is durable, affordable and it has a bright and shiny color that we adore.

Besides fine sterling silver jewelry, there are also other types of silver jewelry. Some earrings and necklaces may present the stamp 999, which means that the piece contains 99.9% silver. Without the copper in the alloy, these pieces are very fragile and they can easily get scratched. This is one of the reasons why you will never find rings or bracelets made of 99.9% silver.

A relatively new type of silver is Argentium. This alloy contains 92.5% silver, just like fine sterling silver jewelry, but it also contains germanium, a metal that prevents tarnishing under normal circumstances. However, this alloy is far more expensive and it is quite complicated to get the authorization to use the stamp for Argentium.

A rare type of silver that almost nobody uses today in jewelry is coin silver. This type of silver alloy contains 90% pure silver and its name comes from the fact that it used to be made from refined scrap coins.

Is fine sterling silver jewelry hypoallergenic?

Most people that suffer from metal allergy are actually allergic to nickel. In this regard, silver jewelry is, usually, hypoallergenic because it only contains silver and copper. However, it is always a good idea to ask the jeweler if the piece you want to buy contains nickel. Some manufacturers use nickel in sterling silver alloys to offer the jewelry piece its lustrous and beautiful color. So make sure to get information when buying fine sterling silver jewelry if you know yourself to be allergic to nickel.

How to prevent silver jewelry from tarnishing?

One of the main problems with fine sterling silver jewelry is that, eventually, it tarnishes and changes its shiny look, becoming dull. The bad news is that you can’t really prevent silver jewelry from getting tarnished because this is a natural process that happens over time.

The good news is that the process is reversible and also that you can delay it. When you wear your fine sterling silver jewelry, the natural oils from your skin help slow down the tarnishing process. In other words, the more you wear your silver jewelry, the slower it gets tarnished.

When you are not wearing it, make sure to keep it away from water and harsh chemicals. Even the moisture in the air can accelerate the tarnishing process if there is too much moisture. But as long as you keep your pieces in the jewelry box in a dry place everything should be fine.

If you notice that your fine sterling silver jewelry has tarnish layer, you can remove it at home using a silver polishing cloth. However, if the tarnish layer is too thick, then you can take your pieces to the jeweler’s for professional polishing.

Some fine sterling silver jewelry pieces contain a rhodium plating that prevents tarnishing. However, they are more expensive than the usual sterling silver pieces. We recommend getting rhodium-plated silver pieces for statement earrings or jewelry that you will only wear on special occasions. This way, your pieces won’t tarnish even if you do not wear them very often.

What fine sterling silver jewelry pieces should I buy this season?

And because we couldn’t end this article without a little bit of fashion inspiration, let us discuss which silver pieces are trending this fall.

First of all, sterling silver hoop earrings have a special place in this season’s trends. Whether you get oversized silver hoops or mini hoop earrings, get silver ones and enjoy a polished and beautiful look.

If you are not a fan of hoops (we can’t imagine that, but, hey, it happens), then get a pair of chic silver studs with cubic zirconia or clear crystal gemstone. This classic design is very fashionable this season and it is also very easy to style with your other jewelry.

Chunky silver rings are also very hot this season and we are already in love with them. Choose designs without gemstones to get a polished metallic look.

Other jewelry pieces that you should get this season are ball chain necklaces, midi rings and textured silver bangle bracelets.

If you enjoyed discovering more about jewelry, then check out the rest of the articles on our blog. If you want to buy any of the pieces featured in this article and see our fine silver jewelry collection, visit Ana Luisa online jewelry shop.

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Ruxandra

Ruxandra is a fashion blogger who teaches fashion stumped twenty to thirty somethings how to shop their jewelry boxes for polished new ensembles. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Fashionista, Nylon, and Refinery29.