Silver

Silver has been one of the most popular precious metals to be used in fashion jewellery throughout history. Its relative affordability has made it a desirable alternative for designer jewellers and consumers alike.

Silver Alloys

Eternal

Due to its luster, malleability and affordability, silver is the most common jewellery metal. Like gold and platinum, silver must be alloyed with other metals to reinforce its strength and durability. In its pure form, silver is too malleable and easily damaged to be used in jewellery. Sterling silver is the highest quality and most popular silver alloy, typically composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper, and can also be referred to as .925 fine silver. Sometimes the copper is mixed with a small amount of zinc or nickel as well. Frequently, sterling silver is coated with a thin finish of either silver or rhodium to help improve durability.

Silver Markings

The standardized quality of silver jewellery must be marked on all pieces of silver jewellery according to US law. These "fineness" marks are stamped into the metal and indicate the ratio of pure silver to added alloys, and can appear marked as sterling, sterling silver, 925, 92.5 or .925. A maker's mark or trademark must accompany the quality stamp. Always look for both brandings to guarantee the quality of your silver jewellery.

Silver Pricing

Silver is the most common of all precious metals which makes it more affordable than either gold or platinum. It is also one of the easiest metals to extract which keeps production prices low. The price of silver jewellery is dependent on the fineness, or quality, of the silver and on the amount of labour, intricacy of design, and level of craftsmanship required to fashion the piece.

Silver Care

As with all fine jewellery, it is important to treat your silver wedding rings and engagement rings with care. Remove your silver jewellery when engaging in any activity that may cause scratching or chipping, such as gardening, painting or outdoor sports. It is also recommended that you remove your silver jewellery when swimming or working with household chemicals such as ammonia or bleach as these chemicals can cause permanent damage. Silver jewellery should always be stored in soft, dry, individual pouches to keep it from scratching against other items.