Does anyone has any advice about Sterling Silver Jewelry?
Q.In 1998 I got a ring at a small gift shop at the mall called "Fire and Ice" as a gift from my mom (not sure if any of you have heard of it, but I think it closed down). Anyways, it's a sterling silver (has a .925 engraved inside the band) oval peridot split shank band ring. It's awesome and I have been wearing it all the time.. everyday, night and day, since I got it. It hasn't discolored or rusted at all, but the band has sorta of bent on the side, where it meets my other finger. This happened after about 2-3 years or so. It was pretty noticeable and made the ring feel weird on my finger. Anyways, a friend of mine used some plyers on it to try and straighten it out. And it worked okay. But my friend said it bended back into shape a little too easily and scratched up pretty easily from the plyers, and suggested that perhaps the ring was made up of a very cheap, soft kind of silver, or metal. Even before that, it's gotten easily scratched up over the years, and I don't do any rugged work with my hands at all. So, my question is.. it was said when we bought it, that it was just "sterling silver" and it does indeed have the sterling silver marker for .925. Is this normal for sterling silver? Could have using the plyers made the band weaker, and later on cause a problem? It cost about $45.00, if I recall clearly. I do not know anything about silver really. Or the different types of silver and strengths, etc. Isn't a .925 rated ring really good quality silver? (then again, any store could probably engrave their jewelry with that, and it not even be silver..) When looking at the ring on the outside, it's a shiney silver. However, inside the split shank opening, there are areas that are not shiney and polished, but show a more gritty kind of rougher material. I'm not sure if the outside of the ring has been polished with some permanent silver polish or something (if that's even possible).. I can't explain it unless you saw it. Any idea what kind of silver this is? Is sterling a typically strong metal? Well, strong as in, where it won't snap or break on me? I'm not worried about it scratching up or bending.. as long as it won't ever break on me, from just everyday wear, without rugged hand usage.
A.Sounds like your ring is indeed sterling silver. If you bend sterling with plyers it will become weaker somewhat. And also some craftsmen coat the sterling with rhodium plate. Its a substance that makes the silver more shiny. But after a few years it tends to wear off. But does not affect your silver. Or tarnish. Plus the outside of the ring is usally more polished that in inside. That's normal. Silver is a soft metal and is normal for it to take the conformation of your finger. If it isn't soft, that means it contains more other metals and in turn would tarnish on your finger...ick! So sounds like you have a good quality silver ring. Just take care of it like any other piece of jewelry and clean it with a soft cloth and mild soap. Or you can purchase any jewelry cleaner from your local jewelry store.
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