Silver was once regarded as more precious than gold. It is called the “metal of the moon”.  Some people believe it has powers over emotions, the psychic mind, love, and healing.

Pure silver is too soft to create durable jewelry, so it's often mixed with other metals.  One popular silver alloy is known as sterling silver.  Sterling silver is 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.

Sterling silver originated in an area in Germany called Easterling, hence the origin of the word “sterling”.  

Sterling silver jewelry that is worn continually often develops a lovely patina, a kind of glow combined with darkened areas. If you like the look, leave it alone. If you prefer a bright and shiny look for your sterling silver, use a polish cloth to restore the jewelry to its original appearance.

Caring for Sterling Silver Jewelry

Store your sterling silver jewelry in tarnish prevention cloths or bags. The treated cloth slows down the tarnishing process and keeps the jewelry from rubbing against harder jewelry that might scratch it. Try to keep your sterling silver jewelry in a cool, dry place. 

Cleaning Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

Polishing cloths are an excellent choice for cleaning your sterling silver jewelry. Do not use toothpaste to clean sterling silver -- toothpaste is abrasive and can leave scratches.

Silver plated means jewelry made with metal that it is coated with a silver coating.  The underlying metal can vary greatly. This method is often used for inexpensive fashion jewelry that is made of steel or other metal. Depending on the quality of the piece, it may bend, stretch, break, and the finish can wear off quickly.

Sometimes jewelers will coat their sterling silver items with pure silver with an electroplater.  This helps prevent tarnishing while maintaining the quality of their jewelry.  In general, the thicker the coating, the longer it will last (if cared for properly).