Silver Jewelry

When You're Ready To Invest In Silver Jewelry

Make shopping for your silver jewelry fun and exciting. It can be overwhelming with so many pieces to choose from and so many different prices for what may seem to be identical pieces. Getting your homework done before shopping can prove invaluable. We are here to help.

You know what they say..."if it seems too good to be true, it probably is", so it is important that you educate yourself on what to look for before you shop for that important piece of silver jewelry.

Just for fun and information, let's take a little stroll down History Lane, to see where this passionate love for silver jewelry got its start.

Silver constitutes only about 73 parts per billion of the Earth's crust. Along with gold, silver is the stuff on which empires have been built. The first reference to this white metal is noted in the book of Genesis, Proverbs 10:20:

"The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth".

Silver has always been a valuable metal. The most notable use of silver is its beauty and appeal as an item of jewelry. Silver is actually the most widely used metal in the world. It has been called the noble metal because it withstands the oxidation and corrosion that plagues other base metals, like tin, copper and iron, which weaken and disintegrate. It is non-toxic, resistant to acids, and is strong, yet malleable.

The first major silver mines located in Turkey were recorded around 4000 BC. Around 3000 BC there are records of more intense efforts to mine silver, as its value expanded.

The Chinese are said to have improved on refining silver around 2500 BC. to make it more alluring and sought after as well as easier to excavate. Mines in Greece became the main producers of silver for the rest of the world.

When Spain came into power with its own supply of silver, she, in effect, said "Move over, Rover, the Big Dog's movin' in!" This brought the Spanish to power in trading. They became a main supplier of silver for most of the countries in Europe and the Mediterranean and used their silver to trade for valuable spices and other goods.

Spain remained the number one source for silver until Mexico and Peru dug in (no pun intended)? and began out-producing all others in the silver mining business. Today Peru is still the number one source of silver, producing 45% of the world supply. Mexico alone produces one fifth of that supply.

Silver use began to accelerate throughout the world when North and South America were discovered. North Americans in general began to use the precious metal more extensively as silver mines were discovered throughout the states in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Mass production of decorative pieces began to flood the consumer market in the early and mid 1900's.

Crafters soon realized that they could shape this beautiful metal into silver jewelry fit for a king, but by itself, silver was too soft to hold its shape. They experimented, mixing silver with other alloys that would give it hardness but keep it malleable.

Several alloys...zinc, germanium, platinum and copper to name a few, gave the silver hardness but still kept it malleable.

From this union, sterling silver was born. The end result gave crafters several grades of sterling silver to work with, from rhodium on the high end of the cost factor to copper on the lower end, making good quality silver jewelry, affordable for the buyer. The most popular is sterling silver, a combination of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.

This small amount of copper doesn't affect the value of sterling silver to any significant degree. The price of the sterling silver jewelry is determined more by the skill of the crafter, design intricacy and the labor involved. Sterling silver jewelry has gained popularity through the years and is still going strong as the standard for beauty and high quality.

The natural element is soft and can be fashioned into wire or flattened into large pieces. Its malleable properties have been useful for all sorts of purposes throughout the centuries but the element remains today as one of the foremost silver jewelry options.

A good silver weight adds to the durability of the jewelry. Be sure the item is marked "925" or "sterling silver". Be careful not to confuse "nickel silver " or "German Silver" with sterling silver. Those metals do not contain any silver. Be sure the words "sterling silver" are written on the sales receipt.

By Federal Law, high quality silver items are required to have either a Registered Trademark or maker's mark. A ”quality” or ”fitness” mark designates the precious metal content of the jewelry, and can be found on most high quality silver items.

If you feel you need to verify the purity of your silver jewelry, the metal itself has to be sent to a laboratory to be tested. However, today most of the sterling silver jewelry produced has a 925 stamp to indicate the authenticity of the jewelry.

Whether you're buying silver jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, knowing something about the industry will help ensure that your venture will be successful. Add to the enjoyment of your jewelry by knowing you have made the best purchase possible.

If you are allergic to nickel, buy only high polish sterling silver jewelry since even rhodium plated sterling silver sometimes contains nickel between the rhodium and the silver, as an adhesive.

Do some searching for wholesale sterling silver jewelry on the Internet. Both silver designers and distributors advertise their products online. As a silver jewelry buyer you'll find the current trends in fashion as well as what pieces are selling best across the nation, be it a leaning toward sterling silver pendants, necklaces, bracelets, rings, or perhaps earrings.

One drawback of these pieces is the tarnish factor. Very little exposure to the air is enough to make this beautiful metal tarnish. Now there is a way to overcome that problem by coating the metal with rhodium.

However, a popular designing trend today that is applied to many pieces of contemporary silver jewelry is an antiquing method that gives new pieces the look of an antique piece many years old. Oxidized silver jewelry is oxidized on purpose to give it a dark, antique look. This trend in sterling silver jewelry has continued to grow among young buyers.

Silver jewelry is usually plated with rhodium or nickel. Rhodium plating is more expensive but gives better protection to the silver underneath.

High polished sterling silver jewelry does not have any plating. The surface is polished with a machine.

Quality silver can last forever if it is maintained well, so make sure you purchase something you'll be happy with for years to come. This is the fun part. There are so many intricate designs and textures available in silver pieces, you're sure to find a valuable piece of silver jewelry that you'll love for years.

Wholesale sterling silver jewelry is continually growing in demand as the contemporary culture bypasses yellow gold in favor of the 'white' metal. Items of the white metal silver jewelry accented with gemstones make timeless collectibles.

While there continues to be an interest in a broad array of wholesale sterling silver jewelry, the price has remained modest making its beauty available and affordable. Sterling silver jewelry is an excellent investment choice for those who watch their budget closely.

Wholesale silver jewelry companies provide contemporary designs with old time flair that is sure to please just about anybody. Check out the many wholesale warehouses and stores throughout the Internet that offer great prices, free shipping and full warrantees for all their products.

Sterling silver jewelry rings are simple to resize or engrave. Be sure your jeweler has the proper equipment to refinish and recoat the rhodium plating after cutting and welding your sterling silver ring.

Consider using sterling silver to enhance your choice of gemstones. Sterling silver jewelry is greatly appreciated by both men and women. It can be crafted in any style, suited for any occasion. Sterling silver will match the taste of any age.

Almost a market by itself is the designer jewelry for the many diverse religious, spiritual and cultural beliefs held by people worldwide. Sterling silver pendants, bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings bearing symbols or gems are a statement to one another demonstrating their beliefs.

Owning a large variety of sterling silver jewelry requires a certain responsibility. Choose the right pieces and keep them in good condition. To clean sterling silver jewelry, it is usually sufficient to use a jewelry cloth. Don't use any hard object to clean sterling silver jewelry. Even a paper towel could scratch the surface.

Sterling silver tarnishes naturally with time but can easily be cleaned to restore the natural luster and shine. The tarnish is due to interactions between silver and sulfides in the air.

If you like the look, leave it alone. If you prefer the bright and shiny look, you can use a soft bristle toothbrush with mild soap and water to restore the shine and brilliance of silver jewelry, using a soft cloth to buff for a nice clean shine.

Silver dip can also be used, but be sure your piece isn't plated with any other metal before using silver dip. The plating could be damaged. Some people use toothpaste to clean their sterling silver jewelry, but most silver experts advise against it because they feel toothpaste is too abrasive and leaves dulling scratches.

If you have many pieces to clean, this is a good cleaning solution for your sterling silver:

CAUTION ... do not put anything in this solution but sterling silver. No stones, plated material or pearls.

Ingredients:

• One-half gallon of water
• One-fourth cup salt
• One-fourth cup baking soda
• One-fourth cup liquid dish soap

Line the inside of a pot, suitable in size for the amount of sterling silver jewelry you are cleaning. Add ingredients to pot, stir with a wooden or plastic spoon. Add your sterling silver jewelry, heat on low boil for a couple of minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for a few minutes.

Store your sterling silver jewelry in a cool dry place, away from sunlight… even florescent lights or indoor light bulbs will alter the color of silver over time.

Think about this for a minute... when demand is high and supply is low, what usually happens? Right... everybody scrambles to make their purchases before the price goes sky high and/or the supply runs out.

At this time, scientists predict that at the current demand, the world's extractable resources of native silver will dry up in 20 years. Doesn't it make sense to invest now in some quality sterling silver pieces at today's reasonable prices? Enjoy them for the next 20 years, watching them increase in value, then hand them down to your heirs or other loved ones.

Take the time to search online and you will find all you need to buy and/or sell wholesale sterling silver jewelry, and be glad you did. When buying on the Internet you can expand the possibilities by looking at more sites than you could possibly visit. And, it beats the heck out of getting dressed, driving to the mall and fighting the crowds.

Oh, and by the way, if you're hesitant about shopping online, use a credit card. This gives you protection should you ever need help with a refund or whatever.