ABOUT STERLING SILVER AND STAMPS

STIL Silver only uses 925 sterling silver in its jewelry production and we have done so since we started in 2004. Sterling silver 925 means that the jewelry consists of 92.5% silver and the rest is copper. Earlier than the 80s, it was actually nickel that was mixed with the silver and therefore a lot of nickel allergies were created at that time. Today, people know better and instead mix copper with the silver. The reason that pure silver is mixed is to make it harder. Silver is a very soft material and in order to be able to manufacture jewelry, you need to make it somewhat harder and then copper is a good solution.

You will usually find a small 925 stamp on the jewelry, but it can be very difficult to spot it because they are usually tiny and placed in a place where they should not be visible to the outside world. It is also the case that you do not HAVE to have a stamp (there is no law, it is a recommendation) and sometimes you do not stamp precisely because the silver is so very thin that it would affect the quality of the jewelry. A stamp that actually makes a mark makes the silver a little thinner in that place. Therefore, you may not find a stamp on very thin rings, or earrings where you risk seeing the stamp as a "mark" and therefore not looking so nice. On earrings, the small flies that are on the back are usually stamped, precisely to avoid marks in the silver.
Most stamps can actually barely be seen with the naked eye, but you might just see a small mark on the inside of a piece of jewelry, or the back.

What is absolutely certain is that STIL Silver only sells sterling 925 silver, and we have done so since we started in 2004. Our whole business concept is to only sell jewelry made of genuine 925 sterling silver and that our customers should feel secure that all our jewelry is always only genuine silver. It would therefore be very stupid to break this and risk our brand and reputation.

CARE

Silver jewelry can withstand everyday use and can last for generations if cared for properly. Below you can read tips and advice on how to best care for your jewelry.

TO AVOID YOUR JEWELRY FROM BEING EXPOSED TO UNNECESSARY WEAR, YOU SHOULD:
- Take off your jewelry when showering, bathing, washing dishes, exercising, gardening, etc.
- Also avoid sleeping with your jewelry on as it will expose them to unnecessary wear and tear.
- No metal, neither silver nor gold, does well in salt or chlorinated water.
- Clean your jewelry regularly and it will retain its luster longer.

HOW TO CLEAN SILVER JEWELRY?
Keep your jewelry looking great by polishing your silver jewelry regularly. Get in the habit of having a silver polishing cloth at home or a liquid polish. You can buy our silver polishing cloths here. Liquid polish, or so-called silver dip, is suitable for silver jewelry with many details such as silver chains and matte-finished jewelry.

SILVER JEWELRY THAT HAS OXIDIZED
Over time, real silver can oxidize and darken/yellow over time. This is because silver reacts with hydrogen sulfide and oxygen, which are found in the air, on the skin, in fabrics, in perfume and in some skin creams. This can be remedied by polishing your jewelry with a silver polishing cloth. If it is really oxidized and does not come off with a regular polishing cloth, you can try dipping the jewelry in silver dip and rinsing it off with water afterwards.

BUY SILVER POLISHING CLOTH

STORAGE
Silver jewelry that is stored together with other silver jewelry tends to discolor more quickly. Store all your silver jewelry separately, preferably in soft cloth bags. This also prevents them from rubbing against each other and then easily getting scratched.

SILVER JEWELRY WITH GOLD PLATING You should be extra careful with gold-plated silver jewelry and not shower or bathe as it will wear down the plating and the gold may come off.

SILVER JEWELRY WITH RHINESTONESWhen cleaning jewelry with rhinestones, you should not dip the entire piece of jewelry in silver dip that has rhinestones or glued stones or beads. The agent is strong and can dissolve the glue so that the stones come off. Try polishing the silver with a polishing cloth or apply a top coat of silver dip to just the area where there is silver. Also avoid showering or bathing as hot water can also dissolve the glue so that the stones come off.

PEARLSOur pearls are cultured pearls and should be wiped occasionally with a slightly damp cloth. In order for the pearl to retain its luster, it is important that it does not come into contact with things that have a degreasing effect, such as perfume or dishwashing detergent. It is advisable to store the pearls sealed, but not in cotton, which has a drying effect on the pearls.