Sterling silver jewelry continues to gain popularity as today's fashion conscious public finds it a great alternative to gold jewelry. Sterling silver is composed of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper, making it a better option to use for silver jewelry compared to fine silver. Fine silver is pure silver, which is rarely used for silver jewelry because it is too soft.

Sterling silver can be used to make all kinds of jewelry, including bracelets, rings, necklaces, or pendants. But one of the most popular uses of sterling silver is in the silver chain. Silver chains can be made in different styles such as the figaro, rope, box, snake, herringbone, curb, and cable. This can also be custom-designed and made in shapes like the diamond cut, double rope, figure eight, rolled anchor, and alternating short- and long-link. This silver chain makes a perfect backdrop for lockets and charm accessories .

How to clean your Sterling silver jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry may be fashionable, but it can turn gold or even black when it comes in contact with the chemicals present in hot tubs or pools. Products like nail polish remover and bleach can also cause a displeasing effect on sterling silver jewelry. Luckily, this piece of jewelry can be cleaned easily by following simple steps.

First is to decide on the proper cleaning product to use. Products such as ammonia, alcohol, bleach, and acetone can damage sterling silver beyond repair so the cleanser should be free from these chemicals. A mild cleanser should be used and this should still be diluted in water.

After deciding on the cleanser, the next step is to choose a cleaning brush. Hard bristle brushes made of horsehair and abrasive-bristled brushes are not advisable. The best brush to use is a baby toothbrush, a soft-bristle brush, or a mushroom brush.

Once the jewelry is brushed with the cleanser, this should be dried afterwards using the proper cloth. The cloth should be 100 percent cotton in order to protect the sterling silver jewelry from scratches and other damages.

These are some of the steps in the proper cleaning of sterling silver jewelry. By following these simple steps, you can be assured that your jewelry will last for a long time.