Why Silver Jewelry is the best
When I want to add some sparkle to my outfit I have plenty of choices. I could choose gold, silver, platinum or plated jewelry, but I usually reach for my sterling silver pieces. Why? Because my silver pieces are usually trendier, chunkier and look better with my outfits and on my skin. An added bonus of choosing sterling silver instead of fashion jewelry or plated jewelry is that I have sensitive skin which gets red and itchy with “fake jewelry” and I can have it all at a fraction of the cost of gold and platinum.
The background on Sterling Silver
Silver, like gold, is a very malleable metal alloy. Silver is actually so soft that it cannot be used on its own to create jewelry or silverware. Sterling silver usually mixes 7.5% of another alloy with pure silver. This alloy is usually copper. The mixture creates a beautiful and durable metal which is strong enough to hold many different shapes and many fine details can be crafted using this metal. The strength of this metal makes sterling silver perfect for intricate jewelry pieces. Silver filigree was very popular since the days of the Egyptians and has been perfected to an art in Malta and Sardinia. There are many theories as to why sterling silver is called “sterling”. One theory believes that sterling came from the mines in Scotland but the most popular theory is the mint mark that Norman pennies carried (small stars called steorling).
The wearable metal
Silver jewelry is meant to be worn and will tarnish if it is left unworn. But silver is extremely versatile. It can be worn with just about anything in any situation. It can be subtle enough to be worn every day or stunning enough to be worn in the evenings. I love to wear silver dangly earring with a beautiful top and a pair of jeans or a chunky ring or bracelet which can be worn to the office or to a party. Sterling silver can look stunning with a leather jacket or elegant with a summer dress.
Caring for your sterling silver jewelry
The downside of sterling silver? Again like gold, once mixed with an alloy, the other metal will begin to oxidize which will cause the silver to tarnish. Tarnishing is usually causes a creamy color or a greenish color. Usually proper storage and wearing your sterling silver jewelry regularly will diminish the oxidization. Storing your jewelry in an airtight container to reduce oxidization or an anti tarnish storage bag. You can also polish your jewelry with a polish coated soft cloth. Many silver jewels also come with an anti-tarnish coating.
What is anti-tarnish?
Anti-tarnish is usually another metal: Rhodium which is a member of the platinum group. Rhodium is one of the most expensive metal alloys; it is silvery in color and just adds to the beauty of your sterling silver jewelry. Pacifika Spirit has only the highest quality sterling silver jewelry with Rhodium anti tarnish.
Tags: Jewelry Pieces, Mint Mark, Silver Platinum, Silver Silver, Summer Dress