What is 92.5 Sterling Silver?
Sterling silver is made up of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper (and alloys). The addition of copper makes sterling silver hard & also malleable, making it easy to work with & create different intricate designs without the fear of breakage or easy damage.
All sterling silver pieces (jewellery or otherwise), across the world, are marked & stamped with a 925 or an abbreviation of "sterling" at the back.
How is Sterling Silver different from Fine Silver?
Fine silver is the purest form of silver at 99.9%. Fine silver is a very soft metal. Because of this, it isn't used to make jewellery or other household items as it can be easily damaged & can change form over time.
STERLING SILVER CARE & CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS:
Sterling silver tarnishes when exposed to salty air, chlorine, sulfur, humidity, perspiration, cosmetics, household chemicals. This is unavoidable & this has nothing to do with the quality of the jewellery. But with a little bit of care, you can keep your jewellery shining forever!
PREVENTION:
To prevent your silver jewellery from tarnishing as much as possible, we recommend that you DO NOT wear your jewellery when engaging in the following activities:
- Household and outdoor chores - cooking, cleaning (house, car, toilet, clothes, dishes).
- Showering, bathing or swimming in pools, hot tubs, hot springs & the ocean.
- Using skincare (creams, lotions), haircare, cosmetics, perfumes & hand sanitizers.
- Exercising, playing sports, trekking, etc.
USAGE:
- When getting ready, ensure that you put on your silver jewellery after you're done with your hair & makeup. Hair sprays, skincare, makeup, cosmetics & perfumes can react with your silver & speed up the tarnishing process.
- Your silver jewellery should also be the first thing that you take off while changing.
- Wear your silver Jewellery often but keep it away from direct sunlight.
- To slow down the tarnishing process, before storing your jewellery make sure that you wipe each piece with a soft & dry cotton cloth to clean grime, sweat, skin oils, etc.
- Ensure that you don't drop your silver Jewellery from a height, as it will damage the silver or chip off / crack the natural stones in your jewellery.
STORAGE:
- Ensure that your silver jewellery is absolutely dry when storing.
- The best way to store your silver jewellery is in dry, air-locked plastic pouches. in a cool, dry, dark place.
- Alwaya put a silica gel sachet in your silver jewellery bag / box to wick away excess moisture (Provided with every order at Zonira).
- You can also store your silver jewellery in boxes lined with anti-tarnish fabric or strips.
- Always store your jewellery separately, in separate pouches to prevent entanglement & eventual damage to the pieces.
DO NOT store in boxes with cardboard, wool, velvet, stainless steel & aluminum, or keep near rubber bands - all of these things will speed up the tarnishing process.
Of course there are times when despite your best efforts, your silver jewellery will get tarnished. This has nothing to do with the quality of the jewellery, or even how you're caring for it. It's just something that happens with time.
CLEANING:
If your silver is only slightly tarnished, you can just give it a quick rinse in lukewarm water with a very gentle sulphate & ammonia free handwash. Before storing, buff it dry completely. Regular cleaning will ensure that the tarnish doesn't build up.
But if your silver jewellery is quite tarnished, you can use a professional silver cleaning/polishing cloth to rub off the tarnish. The cloth is treated with cleaning chemicals and not only will the cloth last a long time; it will give you an amazing shine each and every time. Rub gently in a lengthwise motion. AT ZONIRA, EVERY ORDER COMES WITH A PROFESSIONAL SILVER CLEANING CLOTH ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!
Remember, the key to keeping your sterling silver jewellery shining is to clean it regularly so as to remove the tarnish as it builds. Your job becomes much more difficult if you let a piece accumulate a lot of tarnish & then try to remove it all at once.
DO NOT clean your jewellery with vinegar, toothpaste, etc. They'll corrode your jewellery & damage them forever.