What is oxidised silver?

Oxidised silver is silver jewellery that has been professionally oxidised by a jeweller to create a strong look.  The silver jewellery is introduced to sulfides and it should change to a darker/antique colour. This darker colour is highly desired as the result of oxidisation can make the jewellery look more antique.

Is wearing silver bad for you?

Silver is not known to be toxic to humans and therefore does not cause any serious health issues or illnesses.

Can you hammer silver?

Silversmiths can create a beautiful, hammered texture effect on silver jewellery. Hammering a piece of jewellery can give the jewellery a stunning light reflecting quality that looks fabulous on.

How can you tell the difference between silver and sterling silver?

It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between silver and sterling silver just by its appearance. Sterling silver jewellery that has a 925 hallmark, means the piece of jewellery is certified and contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of other metals, usually copper. Sterling silver is harder than silver and is more suitable for jewellery making.

Does pure silver turn black?

Sterling silver can turn black, it is a natural reaction for silver jewellery to tarnish over time. Sterling silver jewellery reacts with the air which contains Sulphur, Oxygen and other chemicals which causes Silver jewellery to become black/dark green which is commonly known as tarnish. Every day chemicals such as hairspray, perfumes or even your own skin oils can cause silver jewellery to tarnish. Tarnish is easily removed from silver jewellery by using a good quality silver dip. You simply emerse the silver jewellery into the silver dip solution for no longer than five minutes, rinse the jewellery under a cold tap, dry and polish with a silver polishing cloth.

What does 925 mean on jewelry?

925 is the hallmark found on sterling silver jewellery. It means that 92.5% of the jewellery piece is made out of pure silver and 7.5% is alloys. Sterling silver is much stronger than pure silver.

Can I shower with sterling silver?

Having a shower whilst wearing silver will not harm the silver but it may start the tarnishing process. Waters that contain chlorine, salts, or harsh chemicals will affect the look of your sterling silver.

How can you tell real 925 sterling silver?

The only way to tell if your piece of jewellery is 925 sterling silver is to look for the 925 sterling silver hallmark. Usually the 925 hallmark is clearly stamped on the inside of the jewellery if it is a ring or a bangle. If it is a necklace or bracelet, it can be a little trickier to find the hallmark but is usually stamped near the clasp.

What is the highest quality silver?

The highest quality of silver is 99.9% Silver. This means that 99.9% is made up of pure silver and 0.1% is made up of other small trace elements. Even though this type of silver is the purest, it isn’t necessarily the best for making jewellery. Fine 99.9% silver is actually a very soft metal and would easily scratch, dent and loose its shape.