Silver Jewelry - Affordable And Adorable Classic Jewelry

By Author: Sima Menora
Total Articles: 30
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The rising price of gold and platinum has diverted attention towards affordable silver jewelry. The same design and look of excellent gold jewelry can be obtained with silver jewelry or gold-fill jewelry. Further, silver jewelry suit all people with different color tones. Some people don't like the yellow color of gold and hence, they prefer silver jewelry. Flashing stones and gems can be used in silver jewelry to create an attractive piece. Many people prefer to design silver jewelry with Swarovski crystals that add more beauty to the jewelry.

Silver is mined in several countries, but the major contributors are Mexico, Peru, and Australia. Pure silver that is 100% silver cannot be used in making jewels. Any metal in its noble form cannot be used to create jewels, as the metal is too soft to craft. Depending on the metal that is used with silver, several types of silver are used in silver jewelry industry.

Popular and real silver jewelry is made of sterling silver. This contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% metal alloy. This combination is perfect to make silver jewelry that lasts long. This combination is referred ...
... as 925 hallmark. When you see the shopper claiming the jewelry as Sterling Silver, then you can be sure that it is the best silver. This jewelry can also be used for regular use. Ireland silver is more pure containing 95.85% silver and 4.16% copper. As this silver contains a greater percentage of silver, jewelry made of Ireland silver are expensive.

Silver jewelry is different from silver plated jewelry. Silver plated jewelry is made using a different base metal. Then a thin, fine layer of silver is coated on the surface to give a silver finish. The process used is called electrolysis and the result will be a silver plated jewelry. If you don't have enough money to buy Sterling silver jewelry, you can settle down for the cheap alternative, silver plated jewelry. However, this plated jewelry cannot be used regularly as the silver plating wears off easily. When a low quality base metal is used for silver plated jewelry, you cannot use the jewel when the coating starts wearing off.

(shanti - you can add this if you want) If you want to go for the gold look at a fraction of the price a much better bet is gold-fill jewelry. This is an alloy of %9 gold with silver and other metals but since it's an amalgam it doesn't peel off with time and wear. It looks and feels like real gold at a price much closer to silver.

Other types of jewelry in silver industry are made of Alpaca silver and German silver. These are not silver and these alloys do not contain silver. These alloys are given the name silver because of the grayish silver like look. If you hear the retailer saying the jewelry is made of Alpaca silver or German silver, beware that these alloys never contain silver.

Instead of spending lot of dollars on gold and platinum, many people are showing interest in buying silver jewelry. The quality of silver used in the jewel should be assured before you buy it. More and more new designs are evolved in silver industry and you can find many necklaces, bracelets, ear rings, anklets, and brooches made of silver. Unlike gold jewelry, silver jewelry needs more care as silver tarnishes over a period of time. It should always be kept in a jewelry box or airtight container and can be polished by rubbing gently with a soft cloth.

Sima Menora is the author of this article on Jewelry. Find more information relating to Silver Jewelry, and Necklace here.