Silver has for thousands of years been popular for making jewelry because it is a highly reflective, malleable, and relatively inexpensive.

Pure silver is harder than pure gold. Both are commonly combined with other metals to make alloys which are more durable. Sterling silver is a common and popular silver alloy. Sterling is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metal(s), usually copper. Accepted quality marks for sterling include:

• Sterling
• Sterling silver
• Ster
• .925

       If you don’t see any of these marks, the alloy may not be sterling, or it might not contain any silver at all.

 Silver reacts with sulfur and oxygen in the air; it will tarnish or discolor with time. Individuals whose skin contains more acidity will notice that the silver jewelry they wear will tarnish more quickly. Normally, silver that is worn regularly will be less likely to tarnish, although its exposure to water and air should be limited. That means it’s a good idea to take it off before bathing, showering, and swimming. It’s never good to expose jewelry to harsh cleaning agents and strong chemicals like chlorine, which can dull and damage metals.

       Cleaning silver is easy with a professional jewelry polishing cloth that is treated with special chemicals to remove tarnish and restore shine. You can clean silver in a mild dishwashing soap diluted with water to help prevent tarnish. Afterwards, it should be thoroughly dried and stored in a dry container or a plastic bag, with an anti-tarnish cloth or paper.

       Using toothpaste and a toothbrush for cleaning is not recommended; this will scratch the metal surface.