Silver is the most popular type of metal used for Jewelry in the World today. Jewelers love it,
customers love it, there's a great abundance of it, and
it's inexpensive! It seems like such a win-win situation, doesn't it?
But there's one huge down-fall to Silver. It tarnishes! It turns black. It leaves dark black, blue, purple stains on your fingers, wrists and neck. It even leaves stains on your clothes. Everywhere that Silver touches, Silver leaves its mark. And not in a pretty way! It's gross and ugly!
The funny thing is, it doesn't stop people from buying it or wearing it. People know Silver does this, and they don't care. It's still highly popular.
I would surmise that there are 3 main reasons why Silver is so sought after. 1) It's Cheap! (Very Cheap!) 2) It's very malleable. Jewelers and Artists have no problems molding and shaping Silver into wonderful works of art. 3) It's White! People have always been attracted to White Metals. Now more than ever. If you go into any Jewelry Store, over half the cases will be full of White Metals like: Silver, Platinum, Titanium, Tungsten, Steel or White Gold. There's no denying it, White Metals are HOT!
Silver Jewelry has been around forever. But forever doesn't help the fact that Silver is very soft. Silver is actually too soft to wear as Jewelry. That's why most of the Silver you find on the market today is called "Sterling Silver". Sterling Silver is more durable than pure Silver because of one main reason. It's mixed with other alloys. Sterling Silver contains 92.5% Silver, and the other 7.5% is Copper. Copper makes the Silver stronger and more durable so it can be crafted and styled into beautiful Jewelry pieces.
That's why you'll normally find a karat stamp inside the Rings or Jewelry that says ".925" That means 92.5% Silver, which is what the Government says Silver needs to be, to be sold in the U.S.A. as "Silver".
No matter what, Pure or mixed, nothing stops Silver from tarnishing. When Silver is exposed to the air and atmosphere, it causes a chemical reaction that creates something called Silver Sulfate. That's what that lovely little black mark is on your finger. A Sulfate stain.
What can you do about Silver tarnishing? Read on...
