Silver
Silver is a popular precious metal that is white in color and is one of the first metals to have been used by humans. It is very malleable and only slightly harder than gold but it has the highest reflectivity of all metals and can take a high degree of polish.
Silver is found in nature in ores that contain sulfur, arsenic or chlorine as well as in alloyed form with gold. Due to its malleability, silver must be alloyed with other metals to increase its durability. Silver has many applications, besides ornamental, including a wide range of industrial applications and approximately 90% of silver mined today is used in industry with the remainder being used in jewelry.
- A Historical Overview
Silver has been used in decorations and jewelry as far back as 4000 BC and it has also been used as currency alongside gold. The value of silver was considered only slightly less than that of gold and, for example, the stability of the Roman currency was mainly due to the 10,000 tons of silver bullion that circulated in the Roman economy.
Besides its usage as currency, silver was also used in utensils and other tools and also had medical applications as far back as ancient Greece and Rome, being used to prevent infection. There are also records of silver being used to disinfect water and food during the Middle Ages, as well as being used to treat burns and wounds.
- Sterling Silver and Alloys
Silver in its pure form is too soft and easy to damage therefore it is rarely used for jewelry without being combined with another metal to make it more durable. The most popular and valuable alloy is sterling silver that contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. In fact, most silver on the market today is combined with copper because the latter lends the precious metal durability without altering its visual appeal and color. However, the drawback is that the copper leads to tarnishing, which is essentially a darkening of sterling silver as it comes into contact with gases in the air.
- Quality and Pricing
As with gold, silver jewelry must be stamped with a quality mark and a registered trademark. The quality mark designates that content of precious metal in the piece while the registered trademark is, essentially, the craftsman’s signature.
The price of a piece of silver jewelry is determined less by the quantity of pure silver, because mostly sterling silver is used in jewelry, but more by the weight, design and quality of the piece itself. The small amount of copper added to silver in sterling silver has little impact on the price of the material itself, which is why workmanship and the intricacy of the design tend to determine the price.
- Silver Care
The appeal of silver jewelry is that, while it is still a precious metal, it is much more affordable than gold, which is why many people purchase silver jewelry which is just as attractive and fashionable as gold. However, just like gold, it needs to be cared for properly if you want your jewelry to last you a lifetime.
Silver jewelry is prone to tarnishing in time which is why it should be stored in special cloths or bags that are treated to reduce the rate at which sterling silver tarnishes. This will not prevent it but it will slow down the process considerably. Additionally, it should be stored in a cool area with little moisture.
Just as with any jewelry, you will want to avoid exposing silver pieces to chemicals as much as possible. This includes the chlorine in swimming pools and household cleaning agents.
Silver jewelry has a tendency to develop a slight glow with darker areas, known as a patina, if it is worn continuously. This is often seen in antique silver jewelry. Some people appreciate this aged look while others prefer the shiny appearance of new jewelry. To clean your silver jewelry and bring it back to its former glory, you will have to use a phosphate-free detergent. However, don’t be tempted to use toothpaste as it has a tendency to dull the finish because it is slightly abrasive and causes minute scratches.
