925 Sterling Silver
A large majority of the silver jewelry available today is 925 silver. It is important to know exactly what you are buying before you part with your hard-earned money. But before you discover what 925 silver is, you need to know some things about the properties of this fascinating metal. Pure silver is an extremely malleable metal, so it can be easily damaged. Silver also softens over time, even at room temperature. It's quite obvious that pure silver is useless for jewelry purposes because it's so soft. To avoid these problems of malleability and softening, and to increase the life-span of silver jewelry, other metals are added to the pure silver. The result of blending silver and alloy substances is a product that is far more resistant to scratching and damage than the pure silver.
What is referred to as 925 sterling silver jewelry is usually a combination of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper, though craftsman can replace the copper with another material or even a combination of materials. Copper became the first choice because of its low price and improved refining techniques that make it easier to produce. The benefits of adding copper to pure silver makes the resulting product popular with a host of silver craftsmen. Earrings, rings, bracelets and all other forms of silver jewelry can be carefully designed, ensuring that each intricate bend and turn remains firmly in place. The addition of copper to 925 silver, or occasionally a similar copper-like substitute, helps to enhance the silver jewelry and does not in any way detract from its quality. The 925 hallmark is an assurance to buyers that the silver they're purchasing is of the highest quality.
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