Cosmicgems: Why Sterling Silver Jewellery is Popular?

Thursday 29 November 2012

Why Sterling Silver Jewellery is Popular?

By and large, sterling silver jewellery happens to be the most sought after item by customers. The jewellery product is often stamped as sterling silver or 925 silver to distinguish it from other grades of purity. There are several reasons for the popularity of sterling silver pieces throughout the world. This blog post highlights the key factors:

Most countries in the world including USA & UK have recognised sterling silver as the standard in making and selling silver jewellery. In America no pieces can be sold as silver jewellery unless there is 925 purity of silver in the article. Although there is no such legal compulsion, both jewellers and customers in England consider sterling silver as the right hallmark. In the Far East sterling silver is sold more than any other articles containing lesser quantum of purity. Across the globe sterling silver is making inroads into the jewellery market. Sterling silver jewellery has alternate names such as 925 silver, 92.5% silver and 0.925 silver.

Beauty of sterling silver jewellery lies not only on the main metal that is contained therein, but the kind of alloy that are mixed to silver. As you are aware an article of 92.5% silver is composed with an alloy of 7.5% of other metals chiefly copper and zinc. Using expensive alloys such as Platinum gives sterling silver a shiny finish and more than that a great degree of nobility. Never the less the jewellery industry continues to develop new types of alloy sometimes replacing the expensive ones with cheaper alloying metals in order to cut cost of manufacture.

Argentium jewellery is one of the standard and affordable piece where an alloy consisting copper, zinc are meshed with Germanium, a grey-white semi-metal that is known for its crystalline quality and retention of lustre. Though the final product does not bring out these qualities the addition of Germanium gives an added value, as this particular metal is less toxic. On the other hand, Palladium silver jewellery is on the opposite side of the cost structure. In this case, Palladium, an expensive silvery-white jewellery metal is added to the alloy with a minimum of 3% and perhaps more, the rest being copper, zinc and other alloys. Palladium added sterling silver retains high degree of lustre, hardness, nobility and lasts for generations.

A key reason behind much of the sparkle of sterling silver is the manner in which piece of jewellery is coated with other metals. In England, 925 jewellery is plated with a coat of 24 Karat gold. Carrying an industry name of Vermeil this type of jewellery gives a big boost to sterling silver genre in Western Europe. Rhodium plating is resorted to by many jewellers to get the same effect at fairly less cost. But there is a caveat: Rhodium wears off after five years or so. Yet another coating that gives silvery finish is to apply 999 fine silver over the sterling silver article. This procedure known as Flashing is less cumbersome out of the three methods, and also much cost-effective to boot. However, in order to avoid tarnish that normally sets in when a fine silver finish is made, industry adopts the use of anti-tarnish methods.

Last but not least important reason for the popularity of sterling silver jewellery is the manner in which the article ages. Over time, 925 silver collects patina due to exposure to moisture, acidic environment resulting in oxidization, giving silver jewellery antique and vintage look. If you have jewellery that has patina over it, then it is indeed a treasure. This can be sold for a higher price. But when buying gem & jewellery you have to more cautious; more so when it is sterling silver appearing as aged ones, as newer articles can be made antique by immersing these in a solution of potassium sulphite or bleach powder.