Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper — that is what the 925 stamp means. Pure silver is too soft for jewelry, and the copper is exactly why sterling tarnishes.
Tarnish is not damage
Tarnish is a surface reaction between copper and sulfur in the air. It does not eat the metal and it polishes off completely. Humid air, rubber, wool, and some cosmetics speed it up.
Keeping silver bright
- Wear it often — skin contact naturally slows tarnish.
- Store in a sealed pouch with an anti-tarnish strip.
- Polish with a treated silver cloth, not paper towel.
- Skip the DIY foil-and-baking-soda trick on oxidised or stone-set pieces.
Rhodium plating
Many quality silver pieces carry a thin rhodium coat that resists tarnish and adds shine. It wears down after a few years and can be re-plated by a jeweler for a small fee.
See sterling silver designs at BLYN.