Buying sterling silver jewelry can be fun, exciting and
confusing. Whether you’re considering a gift of sterling silver
jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take
some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here’s some
information to help you get the best quality sterling silver
jewelry for your money, whether you’re shopping in a traditional
brick and mortar store or online.
Sterling silver jewelry is enjoying an unprecedented popularity
with today’s fashion conscious public. You know how beautiful
sterling silver jewelry is and how brilliantly it shines. Now
here is the rest of the story.
Silver has been used since ancient times, but has not survived
as well as ancient gold because it tarnishes and decomposes.
There have been times, however, when silver was “in”; we are
going through such a vogue today.
Silver is the commonest of the precious metals. Fine silver is
pure silver, which is seldom used for jewelry because it is too
soft. Sterling silver is 925 parts silver to 75 of copper, the
alloy most often used. Silver weighs about half as much as gold,
has greater flexibility, but is not as malleable, it has always
been less expensive as well. A comparable piece of gold jewelry
might cost four or five times that of a piece of sterling silver
jewelry.
The current fashion trend toward black clothing has made silver
jewelry more popular than ever. Silver likes to be worn; it
stays cleaner & shinier through movement and friction. So
sterling silver is a perfect accessory for today’s fast paced
lifestyles. Much like gold, sterling silver needs to be cleaned.