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Silver Jewelry is often much regarded for its value and its sophisticated look. Yet, it is always interesting and heartwarming how a piece of this jewelry can hold so much more, like a core memory, a promise, and a milestone in someone’s life.
Whether you are planning to make someone happy this holiday season by gifting them or trying to get a nice one for yourself, let us walk you through the things you must know about silver jewelry for your next purchase.
Silver is one of the seven metals ( gold, copper, tin, lead, iron, and mercury) used inprehistoric times by humans. It is a soft and ductile metal, slightly less malleable than gold. Its brilliant metallic luster takes a high degree of polish which is considered its defining visual feature.
Silver displays the highest reflectivity, electrical, and thermal conductivity, compared to any other metal. Because it is harder to extract and is a more reactive metal than gold, silver was considered rare and more expensive than gold during ancient times.
Over the years, silver has made a significant contribution to several fields. This malleable and versatile metal has become the best option for industrial applications, has inspired some technological advances in the mining field, and has served its purpose in film photography with its photosensitivity.
Silver has played a significant role in jewelry production throughout history due to its resistance to oxidation and corrosion. As a relatively soft and white metal, it is typically alloyed or mixed with another metal to harden and strengthen it. Its versatility allowed it to be fashioned in various molds and desired shapes, making itself relevant to this date.
Silver, being soft, is usually mixed with other metals to increase its durability. Below are some of the commontypes of silver alloys used in jewelry.
Pure silver is 99.9% pure silver, almost 100%, and 1% of another element. It means it is soft and is easily bent. With its delicate feature, it is not commonly used for jewelry since it will change shape or form. However, this type of silver is highly resistant to tarnish and is hypoallergenic. Fine silver, another name for Pure silver, is best for less contact jewelry like earrings and necklaces. It is hallmarked with a .999 quality stamp.
Sterling Silver is a mixture of 92.5% silver and 7.5% another metal. The other 7.5% is usually composed of copper, but it can also be germanium, zinc, or platinum. The added alloy makes it more durable than pure silver. It is also much better to work with and wear than pure silver as it would not bend or dent easily. Sterling silver is the most common and popular type of silver for making jewelry. It is known for its lustrous and reflective features. It is distinguished and hallmarked with a .925 stamp. Besides its higher durability, it also does not tarnish and is hypoallergenic, which is safe for people with sensitive skin. Check out silver options atGold Presidents for your next purchase. Visit them now!
Coin silver contains 90% pure silver and 10% copper. Before silver sterling became more popular, coin silver used to be the most commonly used silver. This type is used to make fashion jewelry and has a quality stamp of .900.
It contains 93.5% pure silver, a bit more silver than sterling silver. The rest of the alloy is composed of copper and germanium, making this type of silver much sturdier and tarnish-resistant. The presence of germanium is what makes it unique from sterling silver. Germanium, which acts as a thin barrier between copper and air, slows down the tarnishing process. It was practically designed to be more durable than sterling silver. Argentium silver, just like sterling silver, is also hypoallergenic but is more expensive than any other silver alloy.
A base of metal is coated with thin layers of pure silver. Unlike other types of silver mentioned above, silver plated does not possess any durable quality. Over time the silver plating will wear out, exposing the base metal. This customer's jewelry is also not hypoallergenic.
Should you buy Silver Jewelry?
People have regarded Silver as a good type of metal for jewelry. It has benefits that you can count on compared to your other jewelry. Silver is hypoallergenic, so this is best. Suitable for people who have sensitive skin that develop a rash. Compared to metals like nickel and brass, pure and sterling silver are allergy-free. Silver is also known to help regulate body temperature. Since it naturally balances electrical disturbances in the body, it improves body temperature and circulation. Lastly, if the body has excess sodium, it helps avoid potentially toxic environments. It's better to know the strengths of your preferred metal for jewelry.
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