Introduction:
Sterling silver 925 jewelry is one of the most admired and popular pieces of jewelry used day today. Sterling silver 925 is not pure; it contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. The proportion of copper in it increases its strength and durability but at the same time also makes sterling silver 925 more likely to get tarnished or blackened. Because copper reacts with oxygen and sulfur molecules present in the environment and becomes the cause of tarnish and dullness of shine in silver.
Sterling silver 925 alloys initially originated in the 12th century in North Germany i.e. precisely in 1158. The popularity of this silver alloy soon captivated the world by its luster and charm and within no time, it came into use in most parts of the world especially in Europe. People started making fancy ornaments and jewelry items from sterling silver 925 which were highly adored by people in general.
Does the shine fade away?
YES, sterling silver 925 always fades away its shine after some years. 100% pure silver does not get tarnished or loses its luster but pure silver is too soft and delicate to be used in jewelry items. That is why silver cannot be used in its pure form without the mixing of other metals in it. So, sterling silver 925 is mostly used in making jewelry and it loses its luster due to the natural process of corrosion in it. So, silver does not fade away its shine however sterling silver 925 does.
How durable is the shine?
It is hard to predict the precise time frame that how long it will take for sterling silver 925 to lose its shine. It entirely depends upon how much you care for your jewelry and how you keep it. Sterling silver 925’s natural shine can last from a minimum of 2 months to a maximum of 3-5 years. After that, it begins to tarnish and lose its shine despite utter caring. But losing the luster & shine in sterling silver 925 is not a big deal as corrosion is a natural phenomenon in it. There are many preventive measures you can opt for your sterling silver 925 to retain its shine for a longer period.
Some of them are enlisted below:
Keep Dry:
As they say that “Dry Silver is the happy silver” means that lesser you keep your sterling silver 925 jewelry items exposed to water and humidity, the more will it retain its natural luster & shine. So, it is highly recommended not to take shower or bath in swimming pools with your sterling silver 925 jewelry on. Keeping the jewelry dry can alone contribute greatly to retaining sterling silver 925’s shine last longer.
Avoid In-contact with chemicals:
Our frequently used beauty and cosmetics products such as deodorants, hair sprays, and skin moisturizers contain a huge proportion of chemicals in them. Avoid direct in-contact of sterling silver 925 jewelry with these chemicals. Apply these products like deodorants and skin moisturizers, let them dry, and then wear your jewelry afterward. It will avoid the exposure of sterling silver 925 jewelry items with these chemicals and aid in long-lasting their shine durability and avoid it from tarnishing.
Keep in Proper Storage :
What happens if you leave your valuable car in the acid rain for long? It gets damaged and dirty. The same is the case for sterling silver 925. Air exposure can tarnish your delicate sterling silver 925 jewelry items. Do not leave it in open for the whole night or keep it in open jewelry chest. It is best to keep your jewelry items individually in sealed bags having anti-tarnish properties. These bags are airtight and by keeping the air exposure out, they keep the shininess and brilliance of sterling silver 925 intact.
Take off Jewelry timely:
Know when to take off your jewelry. No doubt, the charming sterling silver 925 is loving to wear it off but you need to take it off in a time to retain its shine. So, it is optimal to remove your sterling silver 925 jewelry while exercising or doing household chores such as washing dishes, doing laundry, doing sports, or gym. This is because sweat and severe sunlight may initialize corroding and eventually fading away from the glaring shine you love in your sterling silver 925 jewelry. So, take off the jewelry items timely to retain their captivating shine for a long time.
Polish it nicely:
After regular intervals, make sure to pretty polish your sterling silver 925 jewelry so that it may not lose its natural shine. Take a clean microfiber cloth or special jewelry cloth for this purpose. Apply polish onto it and gently rub on your jewelry in back and forth motion and polish it nicely. Polishing at regular intervals keeps the shine and luster of sterling silver 925 intact for a longer time duration.
Make sure not to polish the part that is initially oxidized. Applying polish on that part may fasten the process of corrosion.
Clean it regularly:
There are many hacks for cleaning sterling silver 925 jewelry that is economical and hassles saving at the time. So, it is recommended to regularly clean your jewelry to take the dirt and dullness off it. This can increase the shine durability in your sterling silver 925 jewelry.
Final Verdict:
Shine in sterling silver 925 jewelry items does not last forever but these stunning pieces of jewelry can even be your heirlooms with brilliant shine if properly used and cared for. It can get corroded and lose its shine in a minimum of 2 months if not cared for properly and can also shine dazzlingly after even 10 years if used properly with preventive measures opted. So, it entirely depends on oneself that how long one wants his/her sterling silver 925 jewelry to shine. One’s attitude of keeping the jewelry sets the perimeter for the durability of shine in his/her sterling silver 925 jewelry.
Meta Description:
Having sterling silver 925 jewelry and maintaining its shine and luster may be a difficult task for some people. If you are amongst those who are concerned about the durability of shine in their sterling silver 925 jewelry, then this article about How long does the shine lasts on Sterling silver 925 jewelry?
