Sterling silver – silver alloy for beauty and practical usage
Definition of sterling silver is the finest balance between beauty and practical use alloy metal. Sterling silver is the mixture of 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% copper. With the major part of silver inside, the beauty of silver is totally maintained inside this sterling silver alloy. Silver is a soft metal and uneasy to handle for jewelry maker. The adding for copper into this alloy will make it more function for jewelry maker. Copper in the alloy will increase the alloy strength, able to use for jewelry making.
Not only copper that is using for sterling silver, other metals are occasionally use to mix with silver to reduce tarnishing effect of silver jewelry. Germanium, zinc and platinum are occasionally use for alloy making. The standard sterling silver is made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals.
Sterling silver is widely used in many countries, for variety of applications. In the past, silver is used as money currency in the European countries, in the coin format. Beyond currency, sterling silver was used as jewelry and cutlery, follow by society set stringent standards for table setting. They have come in the form or fine art and design for daily use. The use of silver was recorded back to the ancient Egypt time, as a symbolic for anniversaries, birthday, faith and religious expressions. As jewelry, it was combined with precious and semi-precious gemstones to enhance the jewelry design. Today, people do love to use sterling silver as jewelry ornament. Not only because of its beauty but also the designs and styles for sterling silver is available in many modern form.
The only thing you need to think about sterling silver jewelry is about its chemical reaction with many chemical reagents, including oxygen. The reaction between oxygen and silver alloy will cause a black silver sulfide or tarnish on the silver jewelry. The beauty of silver is easily to cover by these marks. All you need to do is to polish your sterling silver jewelry from times to time, with mild reagent to remove these marks and clearly shown the beauty of polish silver again. With sterling silver jewelry, you will find both beauty and practical use in this same piece of jewelry. Look for the right sterling silver jewelry for you, to celebrate and enjoy and your life in the easy way.