Silver necklace in 925 sterling silver
A silver necklace is a chain made of silver, and the vast majority of genuine silver jewellery is made from 925 sterling silver. The number 925 means that the metal consists of 92.5 percent pure silver, while the remaining 7.5 percent is typically copper. Pure silver is simply too soft to hold its shape in a chain worn daily, and the addition of copper makes the metal strong enough to keep its appearance over time. The 925 hallmark is therefore the most important marker to look for when you want to make sure that a necklace is genuine silver and not a silver-coloured alloy metal. At Longvé there are two silver necklaces: Slim Panzer Necklace Semi-long 50 cm Silver and Slim Venezia Necklace. Both belong to the category silver, where the silver jewellery is gathered.
The difference between panzer and venezia
The two chains each represent a classic chain type, and the difference lies in how the links are constructed. The panzer chain, which the Slim Panzer Necklace is, has flat, compressed links that lie close together in the same plane. This produces a chain that sits smoothly against the skin and reflects the light in a continuous surface. The venezia chain, from which the Slim Venezia Necklace is built, consists instead of small, square links joined together into a fine, angular cord that appears more discreet and delicate in expression. The panzer chain typically appears somewhat more striking, while the venezia chain is the slimmer of the two. Both are on the slender, thin end, which makes them easy to wear alone and easy to layer with other chains.
How to choose the length
The Slim Panzer Necklace is 50 cm long, which is considered a semi-long length. On most adults a 50 cm chain falls some way below the collarbone and lands around the upper chest, depending on the circumference of the neck. It is a length that works both over a sweater and directly against the skin, and which is easy to combine with a shorter chain in a layered look, because the two then hang at different heights without becoming intertwined. If you want to read more about how length affects where the chain falls, Longvé goes into depth in the article how long should a necklace be.
Does silver darken over time?
Yes, silver can become darker over time, and this is due to a completely natural chemical process. The copper in sterling silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air and forms a dark layer on the surface, known as oxidation or tarnishing. This is not a sign that the silver is fake, quite the opposite, and the layer only sits on the surface. How quickly it happens depends on the surroundings. Sweat, perfume, hairspray and humidity can accelerate the process, while a chain that is worn often and stored dry usually stays bright longer. The good news is that tarnishing is easy to remove again.
How to clean and care for the silver necklace
A silver necklace is best maintained with regular, gentle cleaning rather than hard polishing. For daily maintenance it is often enough to wipe the chain with a soft, dry cloth after use, so that sweat and grease are not allowed to settle. If the chain has begun to darken, it can be cleaned in lukewarm water with a little mild soap and dried thoroughly, and a silver polishing cloth intended for the purpose removes tarnishing without wearing on the surface. Preferably store the chain dry and separated from other jewellery, so that the links do not scratch each other, and an airtight bag slows oxidation when the chain is not in use. Longvé gathers the general approach in how to clean jewellery, and the meaning of the hallmark itself is explained in what does 925 mean in a ring.
Silver together with the rest of the jewellery
A slim silver chain is a rewarding starting point, because it is easy to build on. The two silver necklaces can be worn separately or layered in different lengths, and they play nicely together with the rest of the range. If you want more chains to choose from or combine with, they are gathered under necklaces, and the very simple models without stones can be found under plain necklaces. If the silver is to be supplemented with a pair of earrings in the same clean style, earrings are a natural place to look further.