What is Silver? Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and is sometimes referred to as pure silver. Sterling silver will tarnish over time but with care and regular cleaning can be restored to its good as new sparkling condition. The remaining 7.5% is usually copper but can be other metal and is used to give this precious metal strength and durability.Generally, the higher the silver content the brighter or whiter the metal but beware of antiquing effects that can make a piece of sterling silver jewellery or decorative silverware look dark. Silver which is 99.9% silver is too soft to be practical for most day to day uses. Do not use tissue or anything other than a jewellery cleaning cloth to polish your jewellery as unseen tiny hard fibers will scratch the surface. A colorless diamond is expensive. If the bride-to-be is fashion conscious, then you can impress her with emerald cut shapes of diamond. For a distinct impression of the diamond its shape should be especially considered. But with some inclusions the prices of diamonds fall substantially while the glitter is almost the same.If the couples can afford only a low priced diamond than go for shallow cuts, which do not involve much costs. Know that round brilliant diamonds are most popular with the brides as the shape is attractive and luminous. For a low budget couple, less than one carat size diamonds are suitable and it can be adequately set for a larger appearance. But a unique heart shape diamond solitaire engagement ring or a marquise shape also are perfect. How Durable is My Gemstone Jewellery? First of all a note about the hardness and therefore relative durability of gemstones. To measure hardness, the jewellery industry uses the Mohs scale. This gem-trade standard, conceived by Friedrich Mohs in 1812, measures the ability of a gem or mineral to resist abrasion damage.Diamond at 10 is the hardest whereas talc at 1 is the softest. Popular gemstones like amethyst and citrine register 7 whereas rubies and sapphires register 9. Most of us come off the beach on the first day with the 3 s’s all achieved - rings caked in sand, sea-salt and suntan lotion. Nude sunbathing, as far as silver and gold jewellery is concerned, is a must! Remember also that sand will scratch the surface of precious metals.
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