Sterling Silver

Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing large functional objects, and in Sterling the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give strength whilst preserving the ductility of the silver and a high precious metal content. Other metals can replace the copper, a recent development being the use of germanium to reduce firescale in manufacturing and to give a high resistance to tarnish. However, the germanium containing alloy has not been widely taken up due to questions over the effectiveness of its tarnish resistance and the difficulty of working with the alloy.

The most recent development is the production of a entirely new sterling silver alloy which has the highest resistance to tarnishing of any sterling alloy yet produced. This has been developed by Sheffield Hallam University and Carrs of Sheffield, a leading silverware manufacturer. In this new alloy, known as Carrs Lustre Silver, the copper has been replaced by up to 10 other elements designed to give tarnish resistance, eliminate firescale and have mechanical properties close to or even better than standard sterling silver.

International Silver 3580 Origin of the term

The term "Sterling Silver", in reference to the .925 grade of silver, emerged in England by the 13th century.

The terms "sterling" and "pound sterling", seem to have acquired their meaning over a period of time, and from several convergent sources. The first mention is that of "sterilensis" in 1078, and by the thirteenth century (by the 1200's) the term sterling had appeared. "Sterling" comes from the Old French esterlin.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_silver

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