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The gleaming radiance of silver: as sterling silver jewelry, coinage, high status homewares and status symbols… and so much more has long since captivated humans. Silver is used frequently to celebrate significant events, accomplishments, celebrations, and ceremonies, as well as for its beautiful ornamental value.
But how much do you truly understand about silver? What exactly is sterling silver? Why does it tarnish, and how do I clean it? How do you distinguish silver from gold? And why should you be concerned?
We’re here to give you these answers because we’ve been designing and making sterling silver jewelry for many years.
Don’t forget to check out our article on 6 luxurious accessories every stylish man needs by clicking here.
Let’s start with What is Silver?
SILVER
Silver, which is similar to gold and copper, is a very soft and pliable metal with a high polish. While it lacks the hardness of gold, it can be alloyed with other metals to make it harder.
Silver is one, among the seven ancient metals known to prehistoric humans. The others being gold, copper, tin, lead, iron, and mercury. Its discovery and early use are unknown because it has been in use for so long.
It is a more reactive metal than gold, and it is also more difficult to mine from its ores. This meant that supplies of silver were scarcer and more expensive until 1500 BC when the Egyptians discovered new methods of refining it.
Today, silver is far less valuable than gold, which is both rarer in nature and more difficult to mine in large quantities.
WHAT IS STERLING SILVER?
Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver. The metal is beautiful and tarnish-free in this form, but it’s too soft and malleable for many applications, including making most silver jewelry.
Copper alloyed with fine silver produces sterling silver, it contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. Hence, it is referred to as “925 silver” or hallmarked with a 925 stamp.
The copper hardens and strengthens the silver, making it easier to work with and use while maintaining its color. The majority of silver jewelry you buy and wear will be sterling silver.
The only disadvantage of sterling silver is that the added copper causes it to tarnish more, with the metal eventually turning dark brown or black, especially in humid conditions.
However, it is simple to clean, and beneath the tarnish, your sterling silver will be in excellent condition: it will not rust or corrode with normal use.
SILVER STERLING BRACELETS
In most cases, sterling silver is an excellent, high-quality option for making bracelets. The metal will not rust or corrode, and if you take care of your jewelry, it will look great for a long time. You should be able to pass down your silver jewelry to future generations.
Although sterling silver’s softness can make it unsuitable for use with very expensive gemstone settings. Gold or platinum are the most commonly used metals in this situation because they are harder and less likely to be damaged.
A way was found around this, and rather than fixing these gems to the sterling silver bracelet, they are added as charms which can be removed.
Because silver is soft, it should be cleaned with extra care. Harsh cleaners, such as baking soda or toothpaste, will remove some of the metal over time.
GOLD VS. SILVER
Your choice of silver or gold jewelry is primarily a matter of personal preference, but unless you’re extremely wealthy, cost is a major deciding factor. It may come as a surprise to learn that, while silver is a precious metal, it is far less expensive than gold.
This makes amassing a solid gold jewelry collection a very expensive option. The primary reason for this is that there is far more silver in the world than gold. It is estimated that over the course of human history, 1.4 million tonnes of silver have been mined while only 173,000 tonnes of gold have been mined.
CAN YOU BE SURE IT’S REAL SILVER?
- Â The Hallmark / Stamp Test
In many cases, your silver jewelry will be hallmarked or stamped with 925 (sterling silver) or 999 (gold) (fine silver). You may also come across the stamps SS or FS to represent each.
However, because it is not a legal requirement in all countries, not all silver jewelry is hallmarked. Some believe that for some designs, the hallmark or stamp can detract from the overall finish.
So, how else can you tell if your silver is genuine?
- The Magnetic Test
Using a strong magnet as a test is one option. If the magnet strongly adheres to the metal, it is not silver, or the piece may be silver plated over a base metal. However, other metals are not magnetic, so this is not a conclusive test.
- The scientific method
If you’re feeling brave, dab a small amount of chlorine bleach on the metal in an inconspicuous location and wait for a reaction. In the presence of bleach, silver (including silver plating) will generally turn brown or black. After that, thoroughly rinse the metal and try to remove the discoloration with a polishing cloth or silver dip.
By the way, this is why wearing sterling silver jewelry in a swimming pool is never a good idea!
Other Tests you can try
- The weighing test
Another simple way to tell if your jewelry piece is genuine 92.5 Sterling Silver is to compare it to a similar weight item that you know is made of real silver. If the weight is consistent, your silver jewelry is more likely to be genuine.
- The Wipe Test
I saved the simplest for last. Try lightly rubbing your silver jewelry with a soft, light-colored cloth. If there are black marks on the cloth, the jewelry piece is most likely genuine silver. When real silver is exposed to air, it oxidizes, resulting in the tarnish that appears on the cloth when rubbed.
- Finally, you can buy a precious metal testing kit, which should tell you what metal it is if you follow the instructions there.
Why you should get a silver sterling bracelet
Sterling silver’s beautiful bright and warm coloration will suit almost anyone. Furthermore, unlike with lesser metals, those with sensitive skin are unlikely to be harmed by it. Plus, because it is significantly less expensive than metals such as gold and platinum, you can afford to buy a lot of beautiful silver jewelry.
Silver, like gold, will retain – and possibly even increase in value – in comparison to other commodities over time. It is also infinitely recyclable, and the metal can be reused in a variety of ways.
In addition to these advantages, having silver jewelry in your collection will enhance its classiness, value, longevity, and versatility.
Silver jewelry is a fantastic option. Sterling silver is evergreen; it has withstood the test of time, which means it will almost certainly remain popular as a jewelry metal in the future. It’s adorable, long-lasting, and diverse, and we can’t get enough of it!
Browse our sterling silver bracelet and collection of charms to find the ideal new addition to your jewelry collection at 1403luxury.com. and you can view more beautiful images by visiting our instagram page. clicking here to follow. click here.
Also guys, what do you think about the sterling silver bracelet, let me know in the comment section below.
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