Sterling Silver Pendants

The use of silver to make jewelry has been around for centuries, and although the silversmith techniques have changed somewhat throughout the years, the attention to quality and detail has not. Sterling silver, at one time was reserved only for those who were wealthy, and few could afford it.

Thankfully, in the modern world Sterling silver has become much more affordable and one does not need to be wealthy in order to have a Sterling silver pendant within their jewelry wardrobe. In today's market it is relatively easy to choose a quality Sterling silver pendant, if you keep your eyes open to the little details.

Sterling silver is made from silver ore, which is then combined with other metal alloys in order to give silver strength. 100% pure silver ore is very pliable and tends not to remain as it is formed and quickly loses its shape. The most common alloy used is copper and this is added to the silver, as this does not alter the color, but does provide it with the necessary strength to hold its shape, ensuring that your Sterling silver pendant will maintain its designed under normal use.

However, all jewelry that is claiming to be Sterling silver is required to be stamped or have some sort of recognized hallmark. Often it is simply marked. .925 or with a 9.25 and that refers to the minimum amount of pure silver needed in its composition in order to be called Sterling silver. If the Sterling silver pendant that you are considering, is from another country it may be stamped with a symbol or a company mark and any jeweler can identify it for you if needed.

When you are shopping for a Sterling silver pendant, you will notice that the prices can fluctuate from day to day or from even store-to-store, as silver is considered a precious metal and tends to fluctuate as the market does. Keeping an eye on the average rate of silver in the market, can give you a general idea as for price. However if the price is too low, it usually indicates that either the piece is not genuine or that it may be Silver-plated. Usually if you turn it over and the Sterling silver pendant has a .925 you can be assured that it is genuine.

Keeping your Sterling silver pendant beautiful for many years to come requires very little effort. There are a few precautions that you should take in caring for your Sterling silver
Pendant, the most damaging is exposing it to certain chemicals such as bleach, ammonia, and acetone which can damage it beyond repair.

Using commercial jewelry cleaners should be fine if nothing mentioned above is listed in the ingredients. Natural oxidation or tarnish often occurs on all silver, which can make your Sterling silver pendant look dull, using a jewelers cloth, sometimes also called a silver cloth, will often removed the tarnish by simply using a gentle rubbing motion. Storing your Sterling silver pendant in a tarnish proof cloth when you will not be wearing it will help protect it from scratching against other pieces and reduce oxidation. Sterling silver pendants are timeless additions to your jewelry collection and are meant to last a lifetime and they will with proper care and storage.