The 925 silver jewelry is a safe bet for being durable and manageable, but beware! it is important to keep in mind that all your pieces have their care process. If you want to know what it is, its care, and tips, keep reading this post from Planderful.
What is 925 silver and sterling silver?
Before clarifying the care for your silver jewelry, let's define what is the difference between 925 silver and sterling silver:
- 925 silver: When we talk about 925 silver, we refer to jewelry that contains 92.5% silver, and can also integrate up to 7.5% of other metals.
- Sterling silver: Sterling silver is any piece that contains the minimum percentage of silver established by current legislation. The minimum will then depend on each country.
Why buy 925 silver jewelry?
- This jewelry last forever
- Antioxidant: being a noble metal, it does not oxidize
- It does not peel or wear
- This jewelry are hypoallergenic
- They are antimicrobial
- They look much more natural than steel
- Easy to maintain
- This jewelry do not lose their texture
Why does silver tarnish or oxidize?
Tarnish on silver jewelry is a product of oxidation, caused by the interaction of silver jewelry with certain elements such as oxygen or sulfur as well as certain acids. Storage over an extended period of time results in tarnish on silver jewelry. Contact with materials such as rubber is also a cause of tarnish. Ingesting a medication that causes a change in the PH of the skin can also cause silver jewelry to lose its luster.
It is normal for silver to darken because it reacts to substances that may be in the environment, although it is also due to the PH of each person. If you keep your jewelry for a long time, it may darken. If it is 925 silver, you can clean it as described below and it will look like new again.
Care: How to avoid the tarnishing of 925 silver jewelry?
Maintaining shine and care is not very complicated and does not represent any mystery. Here are some valuable tips to take care of your 925 silver jewelry.
- Recommendations
-Store in a cool and airtight place: To keep your jewelry always shiny, we recommend storing it in a cool and dry place, preferably airtight to avoid oxidation.
-We recommend storing each piece individually or wrapping them in a soft cloth to avoid scratching, tangling, and snagging. Jewelry boxes are ideal for organizing them in soft, separate compartments and protecting them from sun, humidity, and dust.
-Clean jewelry relatively often to maintain its luster and beauty.
- What to avoid:
-Do not expose the jewelry to corrosive agents such as creams, chlorine, grease, excessive sweat, perfume, alkaline agents, nor to salinity for long periods of time. In this way, you will avoid the appearance of stains on the pieces, especially if your jewelry is gold or rose gold plated.
- Subjecting the jewelry to mistreatment, blows, or pulls.
-Avoid direct exposure of 925 silver jewelry to artificial light or sunlight for long periods of time.
- Avoid contact with shampooes, waxes, cosmetics, and soaps, as well as cleaning detergents, products, etc. These can attack the plating of your pieces and will accumulate over time, leaving residue and dulling the jewelry.
- Remove all of your jewelry for bathing, sleeping, exercise, and cleaning tasks to maintain the integrity of your pieces' baths over time.
-Do not store your silver jewelry directly in contact with wood, wood often contains acids that can affect the surface of the silver.
Can silver get wet?
Yes, the silver can wet. There is no problem with silver pieces getting wet, but you should always keep in mind that they cannot come into contact with chemical agents. So, as far as possible, it is preferable to keep them away from moisture.
Can sterling silver get wet? The answer is the same. Simple contact with water does not cause the sterling silver to darken.
Does it oxidize?
No, silver does not oxidize. Like other noble metals, such as platinum or gold, silver does not react to atmospheric oxidation.
The fact that it presents a dark or yellowish tone is usually caused by contact with prolonged exposure to light, chemical agents or even the Ph of our skin.
Cleaning your 925 silver jewelry
-Clean your 925 silver jewelry relatively often to maintain its shine. Use a soft flannel dampened in warm water and neutral soap, and gently rub the surface of your jewelry to restore its shine instantly.
-To clean your silver jewelry with an appropriate cloth, gently rub the surface of your item with the wipe to instantly obtain a shiny splendor. You can also dry your jewelry with an absorbent paper towel.
-Every jewel can be easily cleaned by washing it for ten minutes in warm soapy water (do not use a detergent soap) or baking soda. It can be scrubbed with a soft brush to remove dirt, if necessary. Finally, dry the jewel very well with a dry absorbent cloth carefully and ready, you will see the shine that it acquires immediately.
-It is natural for silver to lose its shine when in contact with oxygen. If your pieces are silver plated (not gold or rose gold plated) you can clean them with a metal cleaning cream using a soft bristle toothbrush to reach all the corners of your piece. Remove all the products with an absorbent paper towel.
- Warnings:
-Do not use abrasive cleaning products such as alcohol, acetone, toothpaste, etc., to clean your pieces, these can stain and/or damage the baths. Jewelry must be completely dry before use.
-Do not wash the cloth; the garment must be completely dry before use.
You may also be interested in: How to Clean Silver Jewelry in a Matter of Minutes
We hope this article has been useful and you know a little more about this precious material, 925 sterling silver.
You can find quality 925 sterling silver jewelry and innovative designs on the Planderful website.
