How to Buy Silver Jewelry

Tips on buying silver jewelry

1. Given its low cost, you will find a much larger range of jewelry items and designs in silver than in gold or platinum. You can also find ornamental decorative items such as frames, desktop accessories and cufflinks for men in silver.
2. Silver is a soft metal and cannot be used in its pure form. It is usually mixed with other metal alloys in order to make it sturdier. Sterling Silver is silver with a purity of 92.5 %. This means that in every 100 grams of sterling silver, there are 92.5 grams of pure silver and the remaining 7.5 % is made up of the other metal alloys. Such jewelry will usually be marked "925". Good quality silver jewelry will always be made form sterling silver.
3. Silver jewelry can be machine made or hand made. Machine made silver jewelry items usually show a better overall finishing. Handmade silver jewelry can be much more expensive than a similar item that has been made by a machine, or in other words, mass-produced. The cost of a silver bracelet of a specific weight in sterling silver with some engraving can fluctuate significantly depending upon whether the object has been made by machines or crafted by hand. Usually the handmade item will cost much more.
4. Silver jewelry will tarnish over time. This is because the alloys used in the silver react with the air and create deposits that tarnish the surface of the item. Silver jewelry requires regular cleaning and polishing to maintain its sheen. Well-polished silver has a sheen that is even more brilliant than that achieved by gold and platinum! Most sterling silver jewelry will have a coating of a lacquer to protect it from tarnishing. All coatings will wear off with time, and the jewelry will acquire a dull look if not polished.

Caution

There is no such thing as higher quality silver that can be used in making "expensive silver jewelry". Sterling silver has the same cost everywhere subject to some basic differences due to local duties or levies. The only justification of a sterling silver item costing significantly more than another of similar weight can be that it is "hand made".

Where to buy silver jewelry

You can buy silver jewelry from a number of jewelers online. Try these links for some good deals and offers—

TimelessSilver has a very good range of plain silver jewelry as well as stone-studded silver jewelry. They have a large selection for both men and women.

BuySilverJewelry has a premium range of silver jewelry including rings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants.

ASilverConnection offers sterling silver earrings, necklaces and a range of rings and bracelets in silver for men.