925 Sterling Silver Tarnish

Fine silver for example 99 9 pure silver is relatively soft so silver is usually alloyed with copper to increase its hardness and strength sterling silver is prone to tarnishing and elements other than copper can be used in alloys to reduce tarnishing as well as casting porosity and firescale such elements include germanium zinc platinum silicon and boron.

925 sterling silver tarnish.

The copper is added to strengthen the silver and the resulting product is 925 sterling silver 92 5. While pure silver is not very reactive and does not tarnish easily the addition of copper makes sterling silver prone to tarnish. Sterling sterling silver ster and 925. While pure 99 9 silver does not tarnish any sterling silver will tarnish over time as a result of the metal mixed in.

This marking refers to the 92 5 percent pure silver composition. Slow down the tarnishing process by choosing high purity sterling silver that is marked 925 the standard used to indicate the weight of pure silver in the alloy and treating your pieces well. Sterling silver jewelry can be identified by a 925 marking. Sterling silver tarnishes turns black as a result of a reaction with sulfur or sulfur compounds in the air producing silver sulfide black.

However fortunately there are many ways to keep sterling silver from tarnishing. While water won t ruin your sterling silver it may speed up the tarnishing process so it s best to take jewelry off before you shower wash. Sterling silver even real 925 sterling silver will always tarnish. Usually the other 7 5 percent is added copper to give strength to the metal.