subject: Purchasing Silver.ag Silver Jewelry [print this page] If you love silver jewelry, the good news is that this metal is so popular that there are many different pieces that you can choose from. The bad news is that it can be difficult to separate quality pieces from those that will not hold up to long term wear unless you know a little about this beautiful material.
Pure silver has a few characteristics that do not make it good for making jewelry or other items. It is harder than gold but in its pure form is still very soft and malleable. This may mean that pure silver will not hold up well to daily wear.
Another issue that many people have with their pieces is that they can tarnish. This is a process by which the surface will darken. Tarnishing occurs as the surface of the metal reacts to the oxygen in the air. Copper turns blue green and silver turns a deep gray that is almost black.
If you are purchasing silver jewelry you should make sure that your pieces are not made from pure silver. Instead, look for something known as sterling silver. This is made of an alloy of silver and copper. The copper makes the metal harder and it is then more likely to hold up to daily wear and tear. Sterling silver items are sometimes coated with pure silver or rhodium in order to make them look as shiny as possible.
If you are looking for high quality silver pieces you want to make sure that they are made from durable silver alloy. You can find pieces such as rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets made out of this material. Some may be made only from one metal and others may be made from a combination of silver with accents that are made from other metals.
Finding the pieces you want is actually quite easy. There are stands in many different cities that will sell these pieces to you. Look in outdoor markets and you will likely find vendors with beautiful silver jewelry that is also very affordable. You can also find pieces online as well and they are becoming more widely available in regular shops as well.
