Warning – don’t buy silver jewellery before reading this

There are many different names for silver jewellery on the market today. So, what are all these types of silver and what do they mean?

This article will educate you so you understand what the different terminologies are when you are buying silver jewellery or silver articles.

What is silver?

Silver is a metal which has been used for hundreds of years. Silver is mined from many countries but the biggest producers are Mexico, Peru and Australia.

Silver in its pure form, is normally considered too soft for everyday use. Therefore, other metals are added to the pure silver such as cooper.

The different types of “Silver”

Sterling silver is the main type of silver used in jewellery, ornaments & dinnerware today. This is solid silver. Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% metal alloy.

Sterling silver is hallmarked as “925”.

Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver and is normally considered too soft to use for most items. It is also solid silver.

Silver plating is common and sometimes dishonest sellers try to pass this off as sterling silver. It’s also call electroplated silver or silver coated as well. Silver plated items are made using a base metal, normally brass or nickel, which is then put through an electroplating process. Electroplating is a process which adheres a very very thin layer of pure silver onto the base metal.

The result is a sterling silver looking item at a much reduced price. It may look like sterling silver but the silver plating tends to wear off quite quickly exposing the less than beautiful base metal.

Alpaca Silver or German Silver is not actually silver at all. It is a greyish looking alloy which resembles silver. It is sometimes referred to as nickel silver, paktong, and new silver. It is also used as a base for silver plated items because of its appearance. If you want real silver, stay away from this. Also, beware of sellers selling this as “fine jewellery” to consumers that don’t know the difference between sterling silver and alpaca silver.

Mexican Silver is silver is used to describe silver made in Mexico. It must have more than 90% pure silver content to be Mexican silver. Most silver jewellery from Mexico today is actually sterling silver.

Britannia Silver has a pure silver content of 95.85% and no more than 4.16% copper. This silver is marked in the U.K. and Ireland as "958 silver." It is an even more pure form of silver than sterling silver. Hence it’s higher valuer.

Antiquing of Sterling Silver Jewellery

Antiquing is very common in the silver industry today and is the practice of applying a finishing process to sterling silver to give the item an appearance of age. As well as giving the item an appearance of age, it also helps to produce a contrast which makes the details of intricate designs stand out better.

All About Celtic Jewelry

The Celts have a long history full of traditions and rituals. An extension of these traditions that lives on today is Celtic jewelry. A reflection of their rich history and culture, Celtic jewelry make beautiful Celtic jewelry that usually consist of intricate Celtic symbols and designs. Celtic rings, for example, have very intricate patterns of knots, spirals, chevrons and scrolls with each carrying it's own meaning. Such uniquely designed jewelry possess irresistable charm and appeal to both men and women of all cultures, not just the Irish. Well-made, authentic Celtic jewelry make perfect gifts for anyone who loves jewelry.

Many jewelry designs of the ancient Celts carry great significance. We will explore the most popular jewelry designs and the meanings behind them.

First, the Celtic spiral. The Celtic spiral represents eternity. Spirals are a common Celtic symbol and any type of jewelry can have a spiral inscribed.

Next we have the Celtic cross, which came about two centuries before the Christian cross. It is a popular piece of jewelry that is believed to increase knowledge, wisdom, and fortitude.

Another popular design used in Celtic jewelry are Celtic knots. The intricacy of these designs make them both fashionable and timeless jewelry works of art. There is no definite information on the actual meaning of looping Celtic knots but these are believed to ward off evil spirits or bring eternity and interconnectedness to its wearer. The lack of documentation on these designs simply add to the mystery and widespread appeal of these wonderful jewelry pieces. Claddagh rings are beloved Celtic symbols and its meaning is the well-documented. Claddagh designs consist of a heart (representing love) and are topped by a crown (representing loyalty) which are both held by two hands (representing friendship). It should certainly be of no surprise that Claddagh rings make popular engagement and wedding bands. The symbolism and beauty of these rings have resulted in a growth of newlyweds-to-be buying these as wedding rings around the world. It is also known to be a great gift between good friends. Often, the gift is given along with the saying "Let love and friendship reign". How a Claddagh ring is worn carries deep significance as well. When the ring is worn on the right hand with the heart facing outward, it shows that the wearer is unattached. If the heart is turned inward, it shows that he or she is already attached. When the ring is worn on the left hand with the heart turned inward, it shows two loves joined in marriage.

With the timeless elegance and history behind Celtic jewelry, it is certainly an excellent reason for anyone looking for jewelry to choose it over traditional jewelry pieces for their loved one.

silver jewellery

Jewellery (see American and British English spelling differences) signifies items of personal adornment, such as necklaces, rings, brooches, earrings and bracelets. Jewellery may be made from any material, such as gemstones, precious metals or shells, besides other materials, depending on cultural differences and availability of materials. Jewellery may be appreciated because of geometric or other patterns, or meaningful symbols. (Items such as belts and handbags etc. are considered to be accessories rather than jewellery.)

The word jewellery is derived from the word jewel, which was Anglicised from the Old French "jouel" circa the 13th century. Further tracing leads back to the Latin word "jocale", meaning plaything. Jewellery is one of the oldest forms of body adornment; recently found 100,000 year-old beads made from Nassarius shells, are thought to be the oldest known jewellery.

Jewellery is sometimes seen as wealth storage or functionally as holding a garment or hair together. It has from very early times also been regarded as a form of personal adornment. The first pieces of jewellery were made from natural materials, such as bone, animal teeth, shell, wood and carved stone. More exotic jewellery was probably made for wealthy people or as indications of social status. In some cases people were buried with their jewellery.

Jewellery has been made to adorn nearly every body part, from hairpins to toe rings and many more types of jewellery. While high-quality jewellery is made with gemstones and precious metals, such as silver or gold, there is also a growing demand for art jewellery where design and creativity is prized above material value. In addition, there is the less costly costume jewellery, made from lower value materials and mass-produced. Other variations include wire sculpture (wrap) jewellery, using anything from base metal wire with rock tumbled stone to precious metals and precious gemstones.