Cowboy Junkie - Sterling Silver Lapel Pin

Sterling silver consists of 92.5% silver, and the remaining part is copper. This is the reason why sterling silver is popularly referred to as "925 sterling silver" or just 925 silver. Silver needs to be combined with other metals because it is very difficult to make great designs with just pure silver, which is soft and malleable.

A bit of hardness has to be introduced, by adding other metals such as copper or brass. That’s why jewelers - (oh, hay) - are capable of making intricate and complex designs with 925 sterling silver.

Pure silver is not susceptible to tarnish in a pure oxygen environment. However, the copper that is contained in 925 sterling silver may react to the ozone and hydrogen sulfide in the air and cause sterling silver to tarnish. Perfumes, hair sprays, and profuse sweating can also cause a quicker formation of tarnish.

You won't be able to 100% prevent tarnish from forming, but there are a few ways you can significantly delay the formation of tarnish.

The best way is to wear your sterling silver jewelry frequently. The oils in your skin will "clean" the sterling silver every time you wear a piece.

Another way to delay tarnishing is to store sterling silver in an airtight container, Preferably with an anti-tarnish strip, which we happily supply with every purchase.

While it may not look pretty, plastic zip-top bags are the best container to use to store your jewelry. A jewelry box with a tight-fitting lid is also a good option.

A great way to clean tarnish off silver is with dish soap. Form a lather with your hands and rub the tarnish off your silver.

Finish the job with one of our cloths for a gentle rub down.