Types of Silver Jewellery
Silver has always been a striking metal for jewellery and can often look classier than typical gold or white gold jewellery. However, not many people know that there are actually many different types of silver out there that can be used to form your trinkets and necklaces.
Fine silver, which is 99.9% pure, is often too soft to be used in items that will be handled or worn a lot, and as such it is impractical to make jewellery with. To combat this it is alloyed with copper to give it strength and durability- whilst still keeping the attractive shine and colour that makes it so popular.
Sometimes other metals can be alloyed to reduce tarnish, or fire scale which creates a lot of competition in the industry. However, copper is still the best loved alloy for sterling silver to create jewellery that is strong, attractive and- quite importantly- doesn't tarnish or leave the unsightly green marks on the skin which cheaper or fake variations inevitably do. However, on items such as rings that are regularly coming into contract with things, sterling silver can become quite battered- but, a simple silver polish available at most jewellers will clean it up in no time and have it looking as good as new.
If you do want a gold look, though, silver can easily be coated with a thin layer of gold to alter the colour but still maintain the durability and cheapness of silver.
But what are the alternatives to silver?
Obviously the first to come to mind is gold- traditional, attractive and with that added gleam that makes the wearer look chic and wealthy. This does cause a few problems though- not everyone earns the salary to dress themselves in gold and this can lead to people buying the cheaper gold plated items or even plain metal with a gold coat which eventually will end up chipped and have the exact opposite effect on your look that gold should have.
White gold is very much the same as standard gold, but mixed with another metal such as nickel to make it cheaper to buy and gives it a paler appearance- which some people prefer to the stark, bright colour of normal gold. Although, studies show that one in eight people have a mild allergic reaction to the nickel in some white gold- which means they can sometimes get a small rash from prolonged wearing of it.
Surgical steel is a good alternative for those who want the silver shine and appeal, but with the added bonus of knowing that it won't irritate those with more sensitive skin. Surgical steel does have a bigger affinity with items such as earrings or other piercing items due to the fact they will actually be going through the skin and a good piercer will always recommend surgical steel over silver when it comes to earrings and the like. However, a surgical steal necklace? Bracelet? Not a very common sight! So, silver is always a better alternative for those fashionable pieces of jewellery like necklaces and bracelets or rings. Also, in terms of setting stones into the metal, silver can 'go' with a much wider range of coloured stones than gold can, leaving you to pursue a wide range of colours to match your skin tone, hair colour or even the outfit you are wearing at the time!