925 Sterling silver

925 Sterling silver

by Ardamun

Sterling Silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. It melts at 1640 degrees Fahrenheit. Sterling Silver is one of the most popular metals in the jewelry trade. People with allergies to other metals can safely use this metal.

The Timeless Elegance of Sterling Silver

Silver in its natural state is 99% pure, too soft and malleable to be used effectively for any practical purposes. A multi-faceted metal, it is used extensively for coins, utensils, storage containers, jewelry and other decorative pieces. It is alloyed with copper or zinc to toughen up. Sterling Silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. It melts at 1640 degrees Fahrenheit. Sterling Silver is one of the most popular metals in the jewelry trade. People with allergies to other metals can safely use this metal.

Sterling Silver is incorrectly referred to as solid silver, which it is not. The United States Stamping Act of 1906 has set a standard of 925 parts of pure silver with 75 parts of added metal, preferably copper. As per this Act, any article stamped ‘sterling’ is assured of a particular quality standard. Sterling Silver is durable and long lasting and so is a popular metal for rings, necklaces, bracelets, cuff links, belt buckles, body jewelry and much more.

Origin of Sterling Silver

The reference to Sterling Silver was first made in England, in the 13th century, with regard to .925 grade of silver. There are different theories as to the origin of the word ‘Sterling’. By one school of thought, it emerged from the Old French word ‘esterlin’ and transformed to ‘stiere’. ‘Stiere’ means strong, firm and immovable in Old English.

Another school of thought mentions an area in Germany known as ‘The Easterling’ According to them Sterling Silver was first known as Easterling Silver and was used as a local currency. The towns in the Easterling area started trading with England around the 12th century and paid for the English cattle and grain with their local currency, which was in the form of 92.5% silver coins. Of a reliable high quality and hardness, these coins came to be known as ‘the coins of the Easterlings’ in England.

To set similar standards for English coins, King Henry II invited metal refiners from the Easterling to make silver coins for England. The silver produced by these refiners were later adopted as standard alloy throughout England and the term ‘Easterling Silver’ was thought to have abbreviated to ‘Sterling Silver’.

According to another theory, mint marks on Sterling Silver had included a star and hence it is a corruption of the term ‘Starling’ silver.

Sterling Silver as Dining Regalia

The century between 1840 and 1940 was the time when it was fashionable to use Sterling Silver flatware to set the table. During the height of its popularity from 1870 to 1920, flatware included up to a 100 pieces. From the usual three courses, the dinning experience went up to ten courses, and sometimes more! The courses included:

* A soup course
* A salad course
* A fruit course
* A cheese course
* An antipasto course
* A fish course
* The main course
* A pastry or dessert course

There was an implement for every kind of food. Etiquettes dictated during the Victorian period that no food be touched by hand while eating. One could not use the same spoon, fork or knife for different courses and foods. There were teaspoons, coffee spoons, demitasse spoons, bouillon spoons, gumbo soup spoons, iced tea spoons, dinner forks, place forks, salad forks, pastry forks, shrimp or cocktail forks, terrapin forks and dinner knifes, place knifes, butter spreaders, fruit knifes, cheese knifes. These were elaborately decorated silverware. Sterling Silver serving pieces included carving knives and forks, salad knives and forks, cold meat forks, punch ladles, soup ladles, gravy ladles, casserole serving spoons, berry spoons, lasagna servers, macaroni servers, asparagus servers, cucumber servers, tomato servers, olive spoons, cheese scoops, fish knives and forks, pastry servers, petit four servers, cake knifes, bon bon spoons, sugar sifters or casters and crumb removers with brush. There were various pieces for tea services like teapots, trays and salvers, goblets and a variety of cups.

The popularity of Sterling silver was so high that it spilled to the business world with its paper pins and clips to calling card boxes to cigarette cases.

The use of Sterling Silver as dining regalia reduced after the World War II. It was increasingly becoming difficult to maintain a large staff required for fancy dining, such as a ten-course meal.

The Tarnishing of Sterling Silver

Though Sterling Silver is highly popular for designing jewelry it gets tarnished easily. Chemically speaking, silver does not react with oxygen or water at ordinary temperatures. The copper content of Sterling Silver does react with oxygen. Silver reacts with sulfur and the tarnish is black silver sulfide on its surface. Silver blackens faster with the higher levels of airborne sulfur pollutants.

Tarnishing can be removed from Sterling Silver in many ways:

* Serious collectors of Sterling Silver prefer the hand polishing method of removing tarnish. It brings out the beautiful luster of silver without marring its patina. Use well-known products as inferior products may cause scratches. Ensure the piece to be cleaned is free from dust and grease before applying the polishing product. Use a soft cloth to hand polish. After polishing, use dishwashing liquid to remove excess polish. Rinse in hot water and buff with a soft cloth.
* If the tarnish is in extreme, you may need to take your silver piece to a jeweler. Using the jeweler’s wheel to remove tarnish may also remove the patina, which gives antique silver its glow. Serious collectors do not prefer this method.
* People use products, containing thiourea, in which they dip their Sterling Silver pieces. The piece attains its brightness by conversion of silver sulfide to a white substance. This is also not a preferred method.

Recently, experiments have been made to replace copper with germanium to give a high resistance to tarnish.

Care of Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver items require great care. The metal is soft and can easily get dented if hit against a hard surface. In case of teapots or similar items, care should be taken that hinges do not get mishandled. Never use a hard brush to clean your Sterling Silver items as it can leave unwanted scratches on the surface.

Sterling Silver products that are regularly polished will retain their sheen and patina and never lose its timeless elegance.

Anklets buying guide

Anklets buying guide

by RITIKA CHANGRANI

Worn around the ankle, found in many designs and styles, material and types, shapes and sizes, the anklet is an ornament sure to catch anyone’s eye! An anklet is also known as an ankle chain or ankle bracelet that is worn around the ankle. They display a radiant sheen, and look elegant, trendy and ethnic at the same time. They add grace to the wearer and complement traditional clothes and outfits very well. The anklet is a versatile piece of jewelry worn around the ankle. Historically, anklets have been worn for centuries by women in India. In the United States both casual and more formal styles of anklets became a fashion statement only around the late twentieth century

Western popular culture sees both men and women wearing casual leather anklets, and the more formal anklets in silver and gold, beads or chains are fairly exclusive to women’s fashion.

ankletsAnklets come in myriad designs, thousands of patterns, many different types, all sizes and are a creative person’s delight, for the variations you can do with this ornament are plenty. You can get anklets made in silver, gold, and many other less precious metals. If you like a slightly different look, then try leather, plastic or nylon. Of courses the material you can use ranges from paper to iron so the sky is the limit. The styles range from the classical Indian designs to the very modern contemporary designs that have a message to give.

Plastic is one material which is cheap and you can get anklets made of plastic almost anywhere. They are good for college or casual outings and you can buy a few to match most outfits. They make a nice style statement and you can get them in many colours, with beads, without beads, and any design you desire. They can be made up at home also. The creative can get creative with making anklets for friends and family and themselves also. You can use thread to weave a colorful anklet and put in some beads to give it that exclusive look. Strands of jute are yet another option for you to get creative with.

When crafting silver anklets, the designers experiment with many different looks and textures, different settings and designs where geometric shapes are incorporated along with different kinds of metal and they finish it with diamonds and precious stones. The unmatched beauty of the anklets and the extrinsic craftsmanship that goes in to their making also makes anklets an ideal gift.

Silver is used in many different types like pure silver, sterling silver and German silver. The designs are available in an antique finish, a rustic finish, a hammered finish and various other styles where the finish gives it that really ethic look. The designs can be complemented using a large variety of semi precious stones, precious stones and gems like the amethyst, rubies, emeralds, aquamarines and sapphires. You have such a range of patterns and styles that you will be lost for choice.

Anklets are differentiated from ordinary jewelry by the silvery hue and an exotic design that is its signature look. If made of expensive material then it also becomes a prized possession. Generally because of its brilliant white metallic sheen and luster, silver is ideally suited to make anklets that stand out as a distinct fashion jewelry item. Accomplished craftsmen around the world have been in the business of creating beautiful silver anklets that have found acceptance all over and by practically all age groups worldwide.

Metal anklets come in two types; flexible and inflexible. The flexible ones are made by tying links in a chain, they are also known as pajeb or jhanjhar in India. You can attach little bells that make a sweet tinkling sound when attached to the chain. Chains are the base for all the designs that one wants to incorporate in to the anklet. Inflexible are flat and stiff to wear. Some people prefer this type although the use is totally dependant on you and your personal style statement.

How to Buy

Log on to the net and you will find that there are sites for every type of anklets and at various price ranges too. There are silver anklets, anklet jewelry, Indian anklets, anklets made of unconventional material to name a few. Then you will get names of anklets manufacturers and their retail outlets or their online shopping sites. You also have silver anklets exporters who specialize in silver anklets manufacturer and export.

If you want to buy anklets then first do your research on the net. There are a lot of things to be kept in mind when buying jewelry or anklets. You must know if you are allergic to any material. If you are allergic to silver, for example, then using an item made of sliver may give you itching or a rash. So go in for anklets made of other materials. Then there are people who are allergic to leather or plastic, even nylon. Take a look at the design that you have liked. Ideally it should not have any sharp points that may snag on your clothes or even cut you skin. Ensure that the design you select is comfortable and safe.

Look for colours and designs which you feel will suit most of your clothes and your dress sense. Look for formal and casual styles if you are in the habit of wearing anklets all the time. Remember the ones with bells make tinkling sounds when walking so ensure that you have silent anklet for places where quiet is required. You can go in for anklets which are loaded with bells for marriages and other functions.

So if you are thinking anklets then think different and let your creative imagination loose – You will come up with a fashion statement of your own. Scout around the market or look up the internet, peek in to the jewelers or copy a design in the magazine, the sky’s the limit. Go for it… today!