Custom PINdants are made of beautiful Sterling Silver.
What is Sterling Silver? |
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Sterling Silver is the standard for beautiful high-quality silver jewelry. It's over 90% pure silver, mixed with alloys to add strength and durability. And it won't wear down, as silver plating can. |
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| Pure silver, also called fine silver, is relatively soft, very malleable, and easily damaged so it is commonly combined with other metals to produce a more durable product. The most popular of these alloys is Sterling Silver, which consists of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper. | ||||
| Although any metal can make up the 7.5 percent non-silver portion of sterling, centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be its best companion, improving the metal's hardness and durability without affecting its beautiful color. | ||||
| The small amount of copper added to sterling has very little effect on the metal's value. Instead, the price of the silver item is affected by the labor involved in making the item, the skill of the craftsperson, and the intricacy of the design. | ||||
| Quality Marks/Stamps | ||||
| Most high quality silver items are stamped with a "fineness" or "quality" mark. This mark designates the precious metal content of the jewelry, and under federal law, must be accompanied by a maker's mark or registered trademark. | ||||
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Sterling silver is most often used for jewelry and household accessories because of its combination of beauty and durability. Acceptable quality marks for sterling silver include:
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| Look for the fineness mark and the maker's mark on the underside of the silver item you are considering to ensure the quality. | ||||
| What is Rhodium Plating? | ||||
Rhodium is a hard silvery white and durable metal that has a high reflectance. Rhodium is a member of the platinum metals group. As such, it is widely used in jewelry and for decorations. Often it is used to give extra shine, brightness, and a "Platinum" finish. Among numerous other physical characteristics such as hardness, and high reflectivity, rhodium has an extraordinary resistance to most acids and corrosive substances. It is one of the few "white" metals that will remain bright and reflective under all atmospheric conditions at ordinary temperatures. As a result, electroplated surfaces that utilize rhodium plating remain scratch resistant, bright and attractive for years. If wear does occur, most jewelry can be re-plated with rhodium at a local jeweler for a minimal cost. The plating on pendants and earrings lasts longer than on rings, as they are not exposed to friction. Here are some tips for keeping your rhodium plated jewelry looking its best.
Enjoy the beauty of rhodium plated jewelry, an affordable way to capture the platinum appeal. |
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| Care for your Silver Jewelry | ||||
| With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your silver jewelry either in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver | ||||
| Care should also be taken to prevent silver tarnish build-up, a dulling that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the ambient air. To clean your silver, use polishes formulated specifically to remove tarnish. You can find fine silver polishes, solutions, or cloths appropriate to remove tarnish at most hardware stores or specialty craft stores. Tarnish is most easily removed when it first becomes visible. | ||||
| Although wearing your silver jewelry often is the best way to prevent tarnish from building up, regular cleanings of all your silver items will prevent tarnish and keep your silver bright and sparkling. |
