Good Things to Know about Sterling Silver Rings
It is obvious what the main attraction for sterling silver rings is; simply put, they are beautiful. Sterling silver rings for women and for men are attractive and affordable, so they are very popular. What are some of the other things it is good to know about sterling silver rings?
Sterling silver rings are very durable. What most people probably don’t know about sterling silver is that it is not pure silver. Silver in its purest form is very soft, and so it is not a very good material from which to make jewelry. Copper and sometimes nickel is added to the pure silver to make it hard enough to use in things like silver rings and necklaces. The other metals are added in a proportion of 7.5% other metals, to 92.5% pure silver. The 92.5% figure should look familiar – it is where the term “925 sterling silver” comes from.
A new form of sterling silver has recently become very popular called Argentium sterling silver. Argentium is an element that is added to the silver to help stop tarnish from forming on the surface of the silver. Argentium sterling silver rings will not be completely tarnish-free, but they will stay free of tarnish for a lot longer than normal 925 sterling rings will. Jewelry made with this type of silver will be a bit more expensive than regular sterling silver, but the difference in cost will be well worth it.
For those who have regular sterling silver rings, the best way to keep them tarnish-free is to wear them regularly. The mild abrasion that the jewelry will receive from normal wear will help keep the tarnish from building up. Also, proper storage will go a long way towards keeping sterling silver rings shiny. Always keep sterling jewelry in a velvet pouch or an airtight bag when it is not being worn.
Sterling silver rings are gorgeous and affordable, and knowing just a few facts about them can help you to keep your jewelry beautiful and ready to wear at a moment’s notice!
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