Sterling Silver FAQ's
Sterling silver is one of the most beautiful metals available on the market today. The mixture of different alloys combined with the cool tones and versatile nature make sterling silver an iconic staple throughout history. Sterling silver has been a mainstay in society since the mid 1800’s and continues to be high in popularity amongst many industries. In addition to the popularity amongst jewelers, silver is used in producing silverware among other kitchen utensils and general house ware. While beautiful and stunning in nature, it does take a small amount of effort to keep its luster and beauty intact.
A striking combination of 92% silver and 8% other metals including copper, sterling silver is too soft on its own to be of any use to most industries. Adding the copper alloy to the silver produced a very strong and versatile metal yet still preserved the natural beauty of the silver color and nature. The term sterling is said to have emerged in England in the 13th century as it was used to reference 0.925 grade silver.
Starting in the mid 1800’s, sterling silver flatware overtook Europe and the United States. At a time when high society was at its finest and dinner parties and societal luncheons were the place to be, sterling silver was the only acceptable flatware to use when setting a suitable table. For the next half a century, silver companies flooded the market and flatware sets were said to include an indulgent number of pieces. A typical society dinner went from three courses to sometimes over ten and each course requires a different set of forks, spoons and knives. The craze naturally transferred to serving pieces as well and you saw ornamental serving spoons, a variety of serving forks and elaborate carving knives.
A proper luncheon or dinner was generally concluded with a serving of tea, coffee or fine cognac or liqueurs and, again, the sterling silver craze monopolized this area of house wares. Coffee pots, tea pots, cups, napkin rings and liqueur cups were all the rage and were all crafted of sterling silver. As technology and information became more readily available we saw other industries come out with letter openers, mirrors, paper clips and shoe horns to name a few. All were made of sterling silver. Eventually, jewelry, musical instruments and surgical instruments also became a mainstay for the silver industry.
All this beautiful sterling silver does not stay luminous all on its own. Because sterling silver is not a pure metal, the incidence of corrosion and tarnishing does rise. Silver itself does not react with elements such as water and oxygen. Copper, however, is reactive to oxygen and will produce the tarnished look that you see in silver that has not been properly cared for. Thankfully there are products on the market today that remove the tarnish from the metal and can do so without damaging the sterling silver. Hand polishing is typically the best way to remove tarnish from smaller items such as silverware or jewelry but in cases of extreme wear or tarnish, a professional polishing tool can be utilized.
Sterling silver is a gorgeous and stunning metal and has grown to become a mainstay in homes in the past century. Sterling silver, which is mostly silver combined with other alloys and copper, is durable and lustrous yet can withstand daily use. Silverware, musical instruments, surgical instruments and jewelry are but a few of the uses of sterling silver today. Polishing your silver on a regular basis is the most effective way to keep your sterling items looking as radiant as they day they were purchased. Be sure to check out Jewelry Keepsakes line of sterling silver cremation jewelry and urn pendants.
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