*Everything in my store that described as sterling silver is 925 or 92.5% sterling silver. The few items in my store that are not sterling silver are clearly labeled as base metal, silver plate, pewter, brass etc.
*Sterling silver does tarnish! The best method of polishing sterling silver is to use a polishing cloth. I see two different sizes of them in my store. Silver paste is safe sparingly with a soft cloth. Silver dips are an acid base formula and really are not safe to use. These dips remove the character of an item by removing the blackened patina in the cracks and crevices that give details. It also starts small pits in an item eventually from the acidic solution.
*Many things will cause sterling silver to tarnish quickly and make them very black and difficult to polish out. Some of these items are; anything containing sulfur or sulfur compounds (ie. rubberbands, eggs, mayonnaise, matches), acidic paper such as most cardboard boxes, some woods, chlorine (ie. swimming pools and hot tubs), some shampoos (especially dandruff shampoos and Pert), some soaps and cleaners, Perfumes and makeup, many kinds of wooden boxes, light and oxygen, pollution, and many other items. Sometimes a person's sweat or body chemistry reacts with sterling silver also causing premature tarnish or blackening. If this occurs you can polish the item with a jewelry polishing cloths. Silver Dip solutions are NOT recommended. For extreme oxidation or blackening, you may need to use a jewelry paste or creme to polish the item. Use sparingly since it can get trapped in the crevices.
*The best way to keep your jewelry clean and non-tarnished is to store them in an acid free airtight ziplock bag away from light and oxygen. If you get sweat or purfume etc on your jewelry, rinse it off under warm tap water and dry it with a soft cloth before storing it. 

Tis the season for gift and shopping. I hope to make it as smooth as possible for you. We will be closed on December 23rd thru the 26th as well as January 1st. Below are the USPS domestic shipping deadlines for delivery by December 24th According to USPS. First class packages need to shipped by December 10th, Priority packages need to be shipped by the 20th and Express packages need to be shipped by the 22nd. These are all USPS shipping ESTIMATES. From my experience, earlier shipping is always better. Last year the estimated dates did not prove to be accurate. As far as SimpleeCharming.com goes, your packages will get into the hands of USPS by the next business day after receipt of payment.

As always, I appreciate your patronage and work hard to make sure your experience is 100% positive. Have a wonderful Holiday and New Year!