Sterling Silver
Silver goes back 6000 years, being one of the first five metals on earth to be discovered. It has been used for coins in astrology, medicine, and fashion.
Sterling silver is a mixture of silver with another metal to improve its durability and longevity. Often, it is mixed with nickel or copper as a base. Now, although both of these metals give a nice shine to silver, copper is safer to use as it is hypoallergenic, which means it is safer for all skin types, including sensitive skin and allergies.
Sterling silver is hallmarked with 925, proving to customers that it is real silver, and this refers to the percentage of silver in the item: 92.5% silver and 7.5% base metal (often copper).
Gold
Gold is also hypoallergenic, making it great for anyone with sensitive skin and for daily wear. Gold is measured in karats, and for jewelry, the most common karat size to come across of pure gold is 14 karat gold.
Gold comes in different colors, namely yellow gold, white gold and rose gold. Yellow gold is by far the most popular and is seen across different countries, cultures and regions. White gold is also popular, particularly for wedding bands and more subtle pieces of jewelry. It is made of pure gold and white metals such as silver. Rose gold is becoming increasingly popular. It is made of pure gold, copper, and silver to create the rose color.
Platinum
Another choice of jewelry metal is platinum; also hypoallergenic and doesn’t really tarnish. It is durable, strong and will last for a very long time, especially if well-cared for.
Investing in Good Quality Jewelry
Prices of jewelry vary massively depending on the metal type, size, and item. Some are affordable, while others require a splurge. However, investing in good quality jewelry means it will last you for a very long time, especially if you clean it and maintain it in the right ways.
Looking After Your Jewelry
Cleaning your jewelry should be something you do every once in a while to ensure it’s kept in the best condition possible. There are several things you can do to maintain your jewelry collection:
- Clean items of jewelry with a polishing cloth
- Clean them gently with soap and water
- Store them in a cool and dry place, preferably not in a bathroom due to shower steam
- Invest in a jewelry box to keep your jewelry organized, neat and in a cool, dry place
- Avoid constant contact with water
- Avoid spraying chemicals like perfume or deodorant, which may cause rusting
- Store in anti-tarnish bags
- Take jewelry off at the gym, when swimming or when doing sports
- Keep store receipts in case of breakage so you can get it repaired!
Spotting Fake Jewelry
As mentioned, most of the time, sterling silver is marked with SS or 925, proving it is real sterling silver. Looking out for this hallmark ensures you are buying legitimate silver jewelry. Hallmarks for silver as a general metal include 800, 830, 875, 925, 960 and 999 and can often be found on the inside of rings, on necklace pendants, on a women’s bracelet or on a silver bracelet for men.
Gold hallmarks are often 375, 500, 583, 585, 750, 916, 958 or 999, so look out for these, whether they be on the inside of a ring, bracelet, anklet or necklace pendant.
