THE 925 STERLING SILVER GUIDE
Silver is meant to be worn.
Not kept untouched in a box. Not saved for the right occasion. Not treated like something too precious to become part of your life.
But if you're buying sterling silver jewelry, there are a few things worth knowing.
What does 925 actually mean? Is sterling silver real silver? Why does it sometimes tarnish? Can you wear it every day?
Here is the straightforward version.
WHAT DOES 925 STERLING SILVER MEAN?
925 sterling silver is an alloy made from 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, commonly copper.
That is where the number comes from.
925 = 92.5% silver.
You may also see jewelry marked with a small 925 stamp, indicating that the piece is made from sterling silver.
IS 925 STERLING SILVER REAL SILVER?
Yes.
Sterling silver is real silver.
Pure silver, sometimes referred to as fine silver, contains a higher percentage of silver but is relatively soft. For jewelry that is actually meant to be worn, silver is therefore commonly combined with a small amount of another metal to increase its strength.
The result is sterling silver.
It keeps the appearance and character of silver while making the material more practical for jewelry.
DOES STERLING SILVER TARNISH?
Yes, sterling silver can tarnish over time.
And that does not mean your jewelry is fake or damaged.
Tarnishing is a surface reaction that can happen when silver is exposed to substances in the surrounding environment.
It can appear as a darker, duller or slightly discolored layer on the surface.
How quickly this happens depends on how the jewelry is worn, stored and exposed to things such as moisture, cosmetics and the environment.
The important part:
Tarnish can usually be cleaned.
Silver changing slightly over time is part of the material rather than a reason to stop wearing it.
CAN STERLING SILVER GET WET?
Occasional contact with normal water does not automatically ruin sterling silver.
That does not mean every type of water is equally good for your jewelry.
Swimming pools, cleaning products and other chemicals can be much harsher on jewelry than normal fresh water.
As a simple rule:
Take your jewelry off before swimming, cleaning or exposing it to chemicals.
And if it gets wet, dry it afterwards.
CAN YOU WEAR 925 SILVER EVERY DAY?
Sterling silver is commonly used for jewelry designed to be worn regularly.
How a piece ages will still depend on the design, construction and the way you treat it.
Jewelry gets touched.
It moves.
It comes into contact with skin, clothing, perfume, air and everything else around you.
That is normal.
We prefer objects that become part of someone's life over objects that spend theirs waiting inside a drawer.
HOW TO CLEAN STERLING SILVER JEWELRY
For regular care, start simple.
Use a soft jewelry polishing cloth suitable for sterling silver and gently polish the silver surface.
For more thorough cleaning, always take the construction of the piece into account.
A necklace made exclusively from silver can require different care from a piece that combines silver with enamel, stones or other materials.
Avoid aggressive cleaning methods unless you know they are suitable for every material used in the piece.
When in doubt, gentle wins.
HOW TO STORE STERLING SILVER
When you're not wearing it, keep your jewelry somewhere dry and protected.
Ideally:
Store pieces separately.
Keep them away from excessive humidity.
Avoid throwing multiple jewelry pieces together where they can constantly rub against each other.
Close chains before storing them to reduce tangling.
A jewelry pouch or box is usually enough.
Your jewelry does not need a laboratory.
It just needs a little consideration.
PERFUME, LOTION AND JEWELRY
A useful habit is to make jewelry the final step when getting dressed.
Skin care.
Perfume.
Hair products.
Then jewelry.
This reduces unnecessary contact between the piece and products that were never designed with jewelry in mind.
WHAT ABOUT ENAMEL AND STERLING SILVER?
Not every sterling silver piece has to look minimal.
Revasserie pieces combine 925 sterling silver with enamel, using silver as the foundation and color as part of the object itself.
That also means care should consider both materials.
Avoid unnecessarily harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaning methods, particularly around enamel surfaces.
Color is supposed to be noticed.
Not scrubbed to death.
WHY WE LIKE SILVER
Silver has an interesting contradiction.
It can feel precious without feeling untouchable.
Clean without being invisible.
Familiar while still leaving space to do something strange with it.
For us, the material is the beginning.
Color, shape, charms and the person wearing the piece are what happen next.
THE SHORT VERSION
925 sterling silver contains 92.5% silver.
It is real silver.
It can tarnish.
It can be cleaned.
It can be worn regularly.
And it does not need to stay perfect to be worth wearing.
Jewelry should live a little.
Explore Revasserie.