A Primer for Sterling Silver

The world and Sterling Canyon's standard for jewelry is Sterling Silver, made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper or other alloy.  Pure silver is a soft metal.  Silver reflects 98 percent of light, the highest value of any of the precious metals. To make silver harder, copper is usually added.  It is the copper that can make Sterling Silver tarnish over time. Silver, like gold, does not age. When silver becomes tarnished, this has nothing to do with oxidation. The discoloration develops when the silver binds with sulphur, and silver sulphide is black. Sulphur is present in the air, for example as a component of exhaust gases. The tarnished coating is easy to remove but is an unnecessary chore. Sterling Silver is therefore electrostatically coated with a metal like Ruthenium or other alloy.  The majority of Sterling Canyon’s jewelry has an e-coating made of several metals including Ruthenium that is extremely hard and tarnish resistant.  Sterling Canyon provides a free jewelry cloth with each purchase. Use it to wipe away the film that dirty air can leave on your jewelry piece.  If you make this a habit, your piece will look beautiful for a lifetime.