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| Recognized for its value and appeal in any form, Silver is one of the precious metals that has used throughout the ages for currency in the form of coins, household accessories and Jewelry. The Shine and natural beauty of silver adds the essence of elegance to any setting. A touch of silver will compliment any individual’s appearance with a look of distinction and sophistication. Brief Silver History A visit to any museum or rare coin collector, will show how Silver has been valued since ancient times. There are numerous priceless artifacts in the form of either accessories, coins and of course Sterling Silver Jewelry. Fine Silver in any form lasts a very long time and actually increases in value depending on the quality of the metal and the work. Many people have silver heirlooms like tea sets; flatware or candle sticks that have been passed down to them by grandparents, these silver pieces will increase in value as they are passed down generations. Sterling Silver: On it own pure silver is a very soft metal and can be easily bent much in the same way pure gold can. In order to ensure durability jewelry craftsmen add an additional non-silver metal to create sterling silver. Sterling Silver is an Alloy that has over 90% silver content. The remaining amount that is anywhere from 7-10% of the total is usually copper. Copper is another precious metal that adds unsurpassed durability without compromising the shine of the silver. An Alloy is any combination of two or more metals. This combination is made in order to serve manufacturing needs, associated with the end product. In the case of Silver, the main goal is durability of the product. As with all precious metals, the addition of another component to create an alloy does not decrease value. However, the labor and craft involved in manufacturing does affect the cost of any piece of jewelry. At Kriskate.com, we have some of the finest pieces of Sterling Silver Jewelry from the best craftsmen in the world, which will guarantee you top valued Silver Jewelry. How To Judge the Quality of Your Silver Jewelry? As all precious metals, silver must have a stamp or mark of quality that indicates purity and fineness. Much like the markings on gold jewelry which have stamps of value (10K, 14K and 18K), Silver has the following purity or fineness markings. When a piece of Jewelry is Silver plated it will not have the purity stamps mentioned below, since silver plating is a low value technique to look like the true item, but does not have the durability to last generation to generation as Fine Sterling Silver Jewelry can. .925 Sterling Sterling Silver Ster. All of the above marks indicate a high level of pure silver; you should look for these marks when inspecting Silver. In general, only accept pieces of Silver Jewelry with the appropriate quality stamps to ensure that you receive the best quality when you buy silver jewelry. Silver Care As with anything of value, the way we care for an item affects how long it will last. When we buy a new car, we keep it clean and make sure not to damage it in any way. Silver jewelry needs to be cared for in order to make it last and keep it radiant and bright. Did you know? Besides mercury, silver is the most reflective metal in the world. Silver is a precious metal that can be polished to higher levels than platinum. As with other jewelry, caring for silver has certain dos and donts that are critical. Washing dishes with jewelry can dull the finish of silver, exposure to common chemicals such us bleach and ammonia can damage silver. Swimming in saltwater can tarnish a piece of silver jewelry and contact with chlorinated water found in swimming pools can cause serious damage. Helpful Tip: Remove any fine silver jewelry when doing household work and before swimming in order to protect this precious metal from corrosion. Fine Jewelry can get scratched and dented when engaging in physical activity and heavy work. In order to prevent this keep your silver jewelry wrapped in a dry and non abrasive cloth and have it boxed to ensure that it will last forever. Cleaning and Polishing Your Silver To prevent tarnish buildup we recommend that you clean your silver jewelry as tarnish appears. Most hardware and department stores have silver cleaning kits that gently clean your silver. The thing to look for is a silver polish is that it is specifically made for fine silver, low on abrasives and recommended for high quality silver products. Remember: In order to avoid scratching your jewelry, be sure to use a cloth that is most suitable for polishing jewelry. |
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