Silver is one of the most popular metals in the world, discovered in ancient times. Centuries ago, it was worth more than gold, as the pure silver metal alloy was prized in the market due to its rarity. But, over time, people began to dilute the substance with other impurities. Therefore, there are now a sufficient number of samples of this substance.
Where did the name “sterling silver” come from, what is it? There are the following versions of the origin of the name. According to the first, the metal was so named because of the pound of sterling, which was in use in the Middle Ages. In the mid-12th century, King Henry 8 of England issued a decree according to which a coin made of 925 silver came into use. This alloy was considered equal to ordinary silver, from which money was then made. This pound sterling was used for large purchases.
The second version states that silver, which contained only 8% impurities, was produced in the Esterling region in Saxony (Germany) since the 11th century. The name came from this subject. The coins that were issued in the northern region of the country were used to pay with England during allied actions. The then ruler of the country liked these strong coins so much that he soon put them into use. Actually, two versions of the origin of the name of the metal follow from each other.
925 sterling silver
Sterling metal is popular because it consists of 92.5% pure silver, and only 7.5% of it is copper. The alloy in question is very difficult to melt, since it requires a certain temperature and special exposure. But the metal ultimately becomes very durable, high quality, and has a long service life. In the Middle Ages, these coins were used for trade.
Some customers ask about what 925 sterling silver is. This is silver coinage that has been melted down so that it does not lose quality. The alloys are just as strong and reliable. Therefore, 925 metal is considered the most popular at present. This substance is used to make not only precious jewelry, but also cutlery, statues, and candlesticks.
What is sterling silver: the history of the origin of the alloy
To understand what sterling silver means, you should start with the history of the origin of the alloy. There are different opinions on this matter, but there are several popular hypotheses.
The most common version is that the metal was created specifically for minting pounds sterling and only later began to be used in the manufacture of jewelry. Silver coins were popular for some time and served as payment for purchased items. 1 pound corresponded to the weight of 240 such coins, so it was very easy to determine the authenticity of the money.
Such an alloy was a sign of reliability; coins were used to pay for expensive purchases.
Such things were an attribute of luxury and prosperity
The second assumption about the appearance of the metal is that the alloy began to be called so in honor of the oldest German family of Easterling, but was used specifically for minting silver coins after the agreement on joint work between the Germans and the British was signed.
There are several other hypotheses that are also worth talking about. For example, the historian Pinchebeck believed that the metal got its name from the combination Easterling Silver, which was used to designate the German 925 silver alloy. The mass was particularly hard and was used for melting money. Therefore, the name was later changed to Sterling Silver (coin silver).
Another researcher from Oxford believed that this was the popular name for the Norman penny, on which small stars were used - sterlings.
Each version has the right to exist and only one thing can be said for sure - the metal was used to make money and was hard enough for this.
The difference between regular silver and sterling silver
What is the difference between the silver we are used to and the one we are considering? Precious metal, due to hydrogen sulfide in the air, becomes dull. It is the loss of beauty due to tarnishing that is considered the main disadvantage of jewelry made from noble substances. But sterling silver does not have this disadvantage. The fact is that the less copper in the alloy, the less susceptible it is to the influence of sulfur compounds.
Since ordinary noble metal is soft and ductile, it is used exclusively for jewelry and is not used in the production of dishes and interior items. Therefore, all expensive silver tableware sets and coins are made of sterling metal. As you can see, it is easy to distinguish it from the usual one, if it is not a decoration.
Sterling silver from China
According to reviews from numerous buyers, 925 sterling silver from China is of good quality. Jewelry made from this alloy does not turn black, does not deform and retains its original appearance.
Today, sterling alloy is often found on the Chinese market, with manufacturers using the material extensively. In addition to the classic option - creating jewelry such as bracelets, rings, chains, pendants, the alloy is used for the manufacture of decorative elements, accessories, including the production of silverware.
It is important to note here that the exported alloy does not differ in properties and quality from products offered in other countries. Jewelry and other things made from such silver are of high quality, and the cost is superior to European prices for metal.
A big advantage of Chinese products is that they have craftsmen who can create not just excellent things, but real masterpieces from not too expensive metal. Pandora bracelets are in demand among buyers. You can buy Pandora at an affordable price on Aliexpress.
How to store and care for the product
Basic tips for proper care of sterling silver:
- the storage location should be a dark and dry place to eliminate the risk of the sun hitting the surface of the metal (it darkens as a result);
- Although sterling silver products do not lose their visual appeal for a long time, it is not always possible to follow all the rules for storing them. If the metal is darkened, you should clean it with a soft cloth soaked in coin cleaning liquid (you can buy it at a household chemical store).
- Under no circumstances should mechanical cleaning be carried out; it will only scratch the surface of the product;
- when a special liquid does not help, you should make a solution consisting of hydrogen peroxide, ammonia and tooth powder. After the execution, it is necessary to wipe the metal with a clean, dry cloth.
Advice! If you doubt your cleaning abilities, you should contact a jewelry salon. They will professionally restore the natural appearance of the product.
Advantages and disadvantages
Its main advantages are beauty, strength and ductility. It oxidizes slightly, and products made from it are durable enough to be used daily. Sterling alloy has a bactericidal effect, does not cause irritation and does not leave marks on the skin.
But, due to its characteristics, it requires certain care and special storage conditions: sterling silver products will have to be cleaned periodically, and jewelry should be kept in a dark, dry place, since they darken when exposed to sunlight.
Products should be protected from contact with aggressive household chemicals that contain ammonia or chlorine, otherwise the item may lose its attractiveness.
Chinese sterling silver
The main suppliers of products made from sterling silver are the countries of Southeast Asia. China ranks first among them. The volume of supplies is growing every year, because the quality of the jewelry produced is in no way inferior to that of products produced in other countries.
Sterling silver from China is cheaper than its European counterparts. This is due to the fact that labor in this Asian country costs much less than in Europe.
But still, you should be careful when buying Chinese jewelry. Since some sellers pass off low-quality material as high-grade metal. When purchasing a sterling gold item online, it is worth reading the comments and reviews before purchasing the item. Chinese silver is cheaper than its European counterparts, but not cheap! This means that all cheap jewelry is fake.
Consumer reviews say that 85% of gold from China is of good quality. The country is famous for its jewelry craftsmen and extensive experience of technologists.
Where can you buy or sell
It is better to buy products made of precious sterling metal in trusted jewelry stores. This way you will be insured not only against counterfeiting, but also against purchasing an item made of a low-quality or even harmful alloy, even if it corresponds to the declared standard.
Recently, the range of sterling silver jewelry has been expanded with items from China. They are relatively low in cost and mostly meet international quality standards, but there is a high risk of getting a fake.
You can hand over a sterling alloy product to a pawnshop or a buyer. Try posting sales information on message boards. Silver is not often counterfeited, and a jeweler can always carry out the necessary quality checks, but this will require additional costs.
How much does 1 gram of this silver cost today?
Silver is traded on the stock exchange, like gold, so its quotes change all the time. To receive up-to-date information on the price of metal, use our online chart.
The table below also contains up-to-date silver price data.
| Price 999 standard according to the Central Bank | Market value of the sample today | Scrap price | Price in jewelry |
Price
Every year the demand for sterling gold increases, which leads to an increase in prices for products made from this metal. Experts predict a continuation of this trend: a decrease in prices should not be expected in the near future. The price of the noble metal per gram is $0.8. This means that finished precious items, taking into account the difficulty of manufacturing and markups, cannot cost less than $5.
| Regular ($/g) | Sterling ($/g) | Chinese sterling ($/g) |
| 0,5 | 0,8 | 0,7 |
Table 1 - comparison of the cost of regular, sterling and Chinese sterling gold.
Differences of Sterling Silver
Silver – lat. argentum, Old Slavonic - silver, English. - silver - the 47th element of D.I. Mendeleev’s periodic table - a malleable, ductile metal of a silver-white hue.
Its most significant drawback is the appearance of sulfide deposits under the influence of external factors (for example, hydrogen sulfide, which may be contained in the air). This drawback led to the need to create a metal that is resistant to sulfur compounds. Sterling silver became such a metal, which is used exclusively in the jewelry industry, for the production of figurines and sets.
Bank bars are cast from 999 silver. As for industrial use, either 100% silver in small quantities or low-grade alloys are used in production.
The temperature required to mix silver and copper is 1640 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature required to obtain a uniform alloy. Most jewelry, interior parts, and even statues are made from sterling silver.
It is noteworthy that only one metal can be included in the mixture. To increase wear resistance, improve quality and change color, experiments were carried out using other metals.
For example, copper was replaced with zinc, germanium, platinum, and silicon and boron were used as additives. The fact is that such an alloy is relatively cheap compared, for example, with germanium or cadmium, which prevents products from deteriorating, but significantly increases their cost.
An alloy with aluminum will be inexpensive, but the material turns out to be excessively porous. In addition, a significant drawback of such impurities can be an error in proportions, which will lead to early damage to the product, the appearance of a whitish coating and loss of its visual characteristics.
Therefore, one way or another, the material using copper remained the standard.
Tiffany. Original products, copies or something else?
On the Internet you will find many Chinese sites that offer you to buy copies of jewelry from famous brands at ridiculous prices, and it even happens that such sales are “masked” as sales of these very brands. Don't believe it! Tiffany and other well-known jewelry companies never hold sales, do not sell in bulk, and do not work with all kinds of alloys, but only with 925 sterling silver. On the websites of sellers of fakes, you can see beautiful photos of the originals, but in the end, according to reviews, what you get, even in appearance, is not at all what the seller showed you. Manufacturers of copies do not bother to work out small details, and accordingly, the product looks rough. You will not find any seals or hallmarks on such jewelry, and, most likely, these products will have nothing to do with 925 silver or any other standard. You will be greatly disappointed.
There are a lot of opinions, and all reviews are different. It is impossible to give a definite answer to the question of whether or not to buy Chinese silver. Only you can make this choice. Be vigilant and careful . Before you buy a particular product, look at the comments of users (preferably not on the seller’s website, but on social networks for greater reliability) who have already ordered products from this site, received the package and worn the products. Remember, 925 silver cannot cost less than 30 rubles/g and China does not engage in charity. Don't be fooled. Most likely, chains costing $2.00 for 10 pieces are not made of sterling silver, but, at best, stainless steel.
Sterling silver prices
An analysis of the precious metals market has shown that over the past few years the demand for sterling silver has been growing. Accordingly, prices for products are rising. Analysts agree that this trend, coupled with a decrease in silver reserves on the planet, will continue.
The cost of 925 silver per 1 gram depends on the company and country of origin, the product itself, the method of its sale and the possibility of subsequent redemption.
So, you can buy 925 sterling silver at a pawn shop at a fairly low price - about 20 rubles per gram. If we talk about purchasing finished products, picture frames, candlesticks or jewelry in a store, then the price of silver will already be about 600 rubles per 1 gram. On the stock exchange, one gram of silver costs an average of 55 rubles.
Thus, 925 silver is quite popular and affordable, investing in purchasing this metal as a long-term investment is quite profitable.
Proper care of silver items
Even inexpensive “Uncle Liao” crafts, purchased for a few hundred rubles, can last for many years if you do not neglect these simple rules:
- Wipe the jewelry with a cloth or napkin from time to time. It is recommended to first apply a few drops of special compositions for the care of silver items;
- During long breaks in use, it is necessary to remove the sterling paper in a dark place or place it in a thick case that protects it from light and dust;
- Do not use abrasive or other hard materials when cleaning. Even the best alloys are not resistant to such aggressive influences;
- Typically, this material is extremely inert: it does not react with oxygen or water, which is why rust is completely excluded. However, when exposed to atmospheric pollutants (especially in conditions of low ozone concentrations), a black coating appears. You can remove it with a solution of ammonia, toothpaste and hydrogen peroxide.
In case of deep damage to expensive items, you should contact professional jewelers. They have special equipment to correct even the most advanced cases.
