How to Care For Sterling Silver Chains
How to Care For Sterling Silver Chains
Everyone has a preference when it comes to jewelry. If you look in the jewelry box on my mother’s dresser, you will see that almost every piece that she has is made of gold. I am the opposite, as I like anything that is silver. Her wedding ring is gold, and mine is sterling silver. Everyone likes what they like. Some metals are more durable than others, but choice of necklace and earrings often has more to do with beauty than strength. If you love the look of silver, and own sterling silver chains, you should know how to care for them. They can be a bit delicate.
The type of sterling sliver chains you buy will dictate how delicate your particular necklace might be. How much you spend on your necklaces will also decide how long they may last you and what they can go through before they snap. Thicker sterling silver chains are the obvious choice for durability, but that is not always the case. If the necklace has a weak clasp, or if it is not put together well, no amount of thickness is going to save it. Look at the quality of the entire necklace before you buy. In some cases, thinner but better made chains actually last longer and take more abuse.
Some tips for caring for your sterling silver chains would be that you should know when to take them off. Some will fall asleep with them, and that can lead to easy breakage. Even if the necklaces do not snap when you sleep, you can tug on them, causing weakness to form. The lifespan will be much shorter. Think twice before wearing them when exercising, or when you shower or bathe. Taking them off the moment you get home from an event, or just at the end of your day is always a good idea for sterling silver jewelry of all types, but it goes double for chains.
If you keep your sterling silver chains in good shape, you have one more consideration. Cleaning is not something we often think about, mostly because sterling is not usually overly expensive, but it is something that you should do. You will want to clean each piece on a regular basis, but it will depend on how often you wear them. If you only wear something once a year, you may only want to clean it right before you wear it. Otherwise, think about cleaning all pieces, including your sterling silver chains, at least once a month with a cleaner made just for sterling silver. You can usually find it online or in your local jewelry store.
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