Everything You Need To Know About Sterling Silver Bracelets

Sterling silver bracelets are among the most versatile pieces of jewelry you can own

, since they go with virtually anything. You can use plain silver bracelets for a classic look or complement it with accessories such as a string of pearls for a dressier look. They are also appropriate for men and women of all ages to wear and are affordable to boot. When choosing sterling silver bracelets, keep in mind that the silver used to make bracelets is not pure silver since this is too soft to be molded into durable jewelry. This is why the silver used in jewelry is called sterling silver since it is an alloy that was mixed with other metals. Silver cannot be advertised as being sterling unless it contains at least 92.5% pure silver. So when you're buying your silver charm bracelets be sure to look out for fineness marks such as 925 or ster on the jewelry to indicate it has the correct silver content.

The most common metal mixed with silver to make sterling silver jewelry is copper, which makes the silver harder but also gives it a tendency to tarnish. In rare cases, your skin may even turn green from wearing sterling silver jewelry. If this is the case there are a few things you can do to correct the problem. You can ask the jeweler if the piece can be coated with an additional layer of metal where it touches your skin. You can also prevent this problem by ensuring that your skin is dry when you wear the piece, and the bracelet is clean and tarnish-free.

To address the drawbacks of the copper-silver alloy, an inventor recently came up with a new sterling silver alloy that is harder than the silver currently being used while being resistant to tarnish. The new alloy is a mixture of platinum and silver and is known as Platinum Sterling. Three formulas for Platinum Sterling were created in 2003 by Marc Robinson. Although only a few jewelry designers are working with the new alloy, expect it to eventually be commonly used in making silver bracelets.

To maintain your sterling silver bracelets you will have to use tarnish prevention cloths. These are fabrics made from 100% cotton flannel and impregnated with materials that absorb the gases that cause tarnishing before they can affect your jewelry. You can line your jewelry boxes with this cloth using white glue such as Elmer's Glue; never use sulfur-based cements or glues. Also, make sure that the cloth does not get wet since this will diminish its effectiveness. You can use bags made with these cloths as well, which will also prevent individual pieces from rubbing against each other, which might scratch them.

After wearing your silver bracelets for a long time, you may notice that they develop a patina, a fine coating of oxide that gives it a dull glow with some darkened areas. Some women feel this adds to the character of the jewelry while others feel this is unattractive. If you don't like it, you can wipe off the patina with a polishing cloth to restore its original shiny appearance.

by: Robert Mcdonough

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