Silver vs. Sterling Silver There is a difference between silver and sterling silver. Both are considered a precious metal, and both are closely related. Silver was first used in ancient times for jewelry, utensils and many other uses because of its malleability. As far as metals go, silver is very easy to work with, however, it is quite soft. Because of its softness, silver wouldn't hold its shape well enough. Consequently, sterling silver was developed to correct this problem. Sterling silver is 92.5% true silver, with the remaining 7.5% comprised of an alloy, usually copper and zinc. Tarnishing Sterling silver does tarnish caused by a reaction between silver, oxygen and sulfur. Also, swimming, and hairspray will cause silver to tarnish. Over time, Silver jewelry will develop a mellow patina, which often results in an appreciated antique look. Often a black oxidation builds up in the fine details, which gives your jewelry piece a beautiful and unique look. Avoiding Tarnish Some sterling silver jewelry pieces are coated with rhodium, which gives it the appearance of platinum. This process is designed to make your jewelry tarnish resistant. Not all sterling silver jewelry comes this way because most prefer the true silver look of sterling silver. Understanding what you have is important in the care of sterling silver jewelry. The presence of rhodium means you'll care for your jewelry differently. Generally you'll clean rhodium coated sterling silver with a soft polishing rag or a fine cleaner. Use of a silver dip can potentially damage the rhodium finish, and can also damage certain gemstones. Preventing Damage When storing your sterling silver jewelry you want to avoid scratching the jewelry piece and you want to minimize the oxidation process. It would be best to store your sterling silver jewelry in an air tight container lined with something soft. The less air exposed to will slow the oxidation and the soft lining will avoid scratches. Cleaning When attempting to clean your sterling silver jewelry, try to take into account the fact that traditional jewelry cleaners may work well on the sterling silver, but may have adverse affects on the other parts of your jewelry, such as gemstones. Common cleaning methods include warm water and a mild dish soap. For day-to-day cleaning, frequent hand polishing with a soft cloth will help to shine your sterling silver.