Sterling silver was developed in Europe as early as the 12 th century. It was used in the United Kingdom in coinage and trading before spreading to the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries associated with the British Empire from the 19th century up to the midth century. Around the time of the World War II, as the cost of labor rose due to the war and the fact that sterling silver pieces were all still mostly handmade, and as only the wealthiest could afford it, it fell out of fashion for a time before coming back to popularity later in the 20th century.
There are several benefits to using sterling silver instead of fine or pure silver. The first and most obvious benefit is the cost. Fine silver has a higher purity percentage of silver, which will make it more expensive compared to the less pure sterling silver. However, sterling silver still looks just as good as fine silver. Sterling silver can be used in jewelry, such as, rings , bracelets and necklaces , as well as household items such as cutlery, tea sets, candelabras and even mirrors.
The durability and malleability of sterling silver means you can get more affordable pieces and a higher range of different products for a much lower price. There's also the durability factor. Sterling silver is much more durable compared to fine silver because of the added metal alloys.
This can help your piece last and stay looking the best it possibly can for longer. Because of the fact sterling silver is an alloy, it makes it more sensitive to air and water, which in turn makes it more susceptible to tarnishing on the surface.
Pure silver, with its higher purity, is more like real gold, which does not tarnish even if it is in constant contact with air and water. There are many different standards of silver.
Below is a brief description of the more common types. Silver standards refer to the standards of millesimal fineness for the silver alloy used in the manufacture or crafting of silver objects. The fineness of precious metals, including platinum and gold, are measured in parts of , so the higher the number, the purer the metal. Pure silver, as mentioned, is the purest form of silver. It has a millesimal fineness of Also known as "three nines fine", pure silver contains This grade of silver is used to make bullion bars for international trading and investment in silver.
As we mentioned earlier, pure silver is too malleable and soft for day-to-day use. Britannia silver has a millesimal fineness of at least For both pure and sterling silver, store it in a dark place away from air and water exposure.
You can also clean your silver items with anti-tarnish liquids and a soft cloth. A: Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing Silver jewelry marked with a is sterling silver jewelry that has been certified to contain Sterling silver is harder than silver and is more suitable for jewelry making. The silver alloy is favored by jewelers for workability and durability. A: Sterling silver jewelry is a high-quality choice consisting of Sterling silver jewelry sets purchased from a reputable jeweler or jewelry brand is durable, timeless metal, and when cared for properly, can last a lifetime.
A: The silver content of Usually, this stamp can be found on a sterling piece in a place that is not visible when wearing, so look under clasps, inside rings, or inconspicuous edges. Do not assume that jewelry sold as "silver" is sterling silver as often the term will be used to describe flash-plated silver over cheap brass. A: Absolutely! Sterling silver jewelry is actually best worn every day as the frequent use will prevent the buildup of tarnish and dust on the metal.
Precious metals like silver and gold do best when worn regularly, so feel free to add sterling silver to your jewelry collection with the confidence that it is durable and when properly cared for, will look great today, tomorrow, and 10 years from now! Q: Is real silver a better choice than sterling silver for my jewelry collection? A: First of all, let's address the fact that sterling silver is The use of pure precious metals in jewelry making is actually very rare as the metals are too soft when not combined with others to form an alloy.
So sterling silver jewelry is actually a much better choice for jewelry making and building a jewelry collection. A: The precious metal content People who buy sterling silver do so because of the value of the metal in it and its inherent beauty and relative affordability. While more expensive metals like gold and platinum provide durability and are a good investment as well, sterling silver is the most affordable choice for heirloom quality jewelry that can be passed from one generation to the next.
As time passes, sterling silver continues to hold and increase in value making it a great metal choice for building a jewelry collection. Both sterling silver and pure silver have their pros and cons. Deciding which is right for you in the sterling silver vs silver debate will depend on the item you want to purchase, your price range, and your personal preference.
If you're looking to add a timeless piece to your jewelry collection, check out this article that details certain pieces that you must have. You can also check out our selection of sterling silver chains. Close menu. Pure silver, also called fine silver, consists of As a metal for jewelry, it is very soft and malleable, easily losing shape and wearing out. Pure silver is not recommended for use in jewelry because of this reason.
To combat this problem, silver is combined with other metals to create stronger alloys. One such alloy is sterling silver , which comprises Sterling silver is much more durable than pure silver and is ideal for use in jewelry. Jewelry made of genuine silver should carry certain stamps, known as hallmarks, that help to identify the silver. The mark for fine silver is Sterling silver can be identified by several different hallmarks, with the most common being In other parts of the world, such strict standards do not exist for sterling silver.
And why should you care? As we've been designing and making silver jewellery for many years, we're here to give you the lowdown. Don't forget to also read our article all about gold , karats and carats. Similar in its composition and character to gold and copper, silver is a very soft, ductile and malleable metal which also takes a very high polish.
While it doesn't have the hardness of gold, it still has many uses, especially when alloyed with other metals to make it harder. Silver is one of the seven metals of antiquity which were known to prehistoric humans, the others being gold, copper, tin, lead, iron and mercury.
As it has been in use for so long the history of its discovery and early use are not known. It's a more reactive metal than gold and is also harder to extract from its ores when mined. This meant that in antiquity supplies of silver were rarer and therefore more expensive until around BC when the Egyptians discovered new methods of refining it.
Today silver is considerably less valuable than gold, which is rarer in nature and more difficult to mine in bulk. You might wonder: is sterling silver real silver? The answer is a definite yes. Sterling silver is an alloyed form of silver which is much more suitable to use in jewellery and other metalwork. Fine silver is In this form the metal is beautiful and suffers from minimal tarnish, but it's generally too soft and malleable for many uses, including making most jewellery.
Instead fine silver is alloyed with copper to create sterling silver, which is This percentage of fine silver is why you will sometimes see sterling silver referred to as ' silver' or hallmarked with a stamp. The copper makes the silver harder, more durable and therefore much better to work with and use, but without compromising on colour.
Most silver jewellery that you buy and wear will be sterling silver. The only downside to sterling silver is that the added copper will cause it to tarnish more easily, with the metal turning dark brown or black over time, especially in humid conditions.
0コメント