What You Must Know About Sterling Silver Charms

Sterling silver is a type of alloy that contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5%  other metals. The 7.5% is usually made up of copper. Pure silver is too soft and fluid to be made into jewelry or other products, and copper is introduced to the metal to make it stronger. The small amount of copper does not tarnish the appearance of silver, and it can still maintain its pure beauty in its alloy state.

If you are buying sterling silver jewelry, you will commonly find them being labeled as 925 sterling silver. That is because the US Federal Trade Commission does not allow jewelry pieces to depict terms such as silver, sterling silver or sterling without the jewelry containing at least 92.5% pure silver. Hence, it has become an industry standard for suppliers to label their silver as 925 sterling silver. If you see want to purchase genuine sterling silver, be sure to take note of this term before purchasing any jewelry.

Charms are used for referring to small pieces of jewelry. But the term "charm" actually has a magical connotation. In the past, these charms are used for containing spells or other mystical powers. These charms are usually shaped according to its purposes. A heart means love, and an animal tooth means power and pride.

Today, people typically associate charms as lucky charms. However, these charms actually have a deeper meaning than that. Before you buy a silver charm, be sure to think of the associations behind these charms so that they can correctly express your feelings and emotions.

Sterling silver charms are cheaper than most of the other jewelry and they are available in many different designs. So, how do you pick a good sterling silver charm that can express your personality and identity?

• First of all, only choose 925 sterling silver. As I have mentioned earlier, this is the required grade of any sterling silver. If they do not advertise their charms as 925 sterling silver, they are most probably second grade silver which is far more weak and brittle.
• Compare the sterling silver charms in different shops to find the best design and price. Some shops have a wider variety of charms than others. Also take note of any slight disparities between each piece of  jewelry, such as a darker color tone, as some of them might be shelved for some time.
• Determine if you really want to have a piece of sterling silver charm. Sterling silver is well known for tarnishing when it is exposed to the air, and it will require more maintenance than other pieces of jewelry. If you are not in the habit of cleaning your jewelry, try to choose other low maintenance jewelry instead.
• Charms are not only small pieces of jewelry. They can also be used to express your feelings. Other than choosing a nice sterling silver charm based on the current trends and fashion, choose something that attaches to you emotionally and you will grow to like it more each day.

Although copper provides extra strength in the sterling silver, it will also cause tarnishing. Tarnishing is a process that affects the color of the silver, and it leaves darken areas on the surface on the charm. If worn for a long time, the sterling silver charm will be coated with a darkened layer of glowing surface. If you like this look, you can leave it alone. If not, here are a few tips to restore your charm back to its original shape, and also to reduce tarnishing.

• To reduce tarnishing, you need to store your sterling silver charms inside a cool and dry place. You can also place them in between tarnish prevention cloth, and insert them into plastic bags to slow down  the tarnishing process. If you do not have these cloth, you can put a piece of carbon paper inside the bag to stop the copper from reacting with the air.
• To restore the glow and sparkle in your sterling silver charms, you can use polishing cloth to clean your jewelry. Wipe your jewelry before and after wearing them to maintain them in their tip top condition.