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.
Useful tips
To determine without the involvement of a professional what metal was used to make the product, you can use the only reliable method. This method is analysis using nitric acid;
- Apply one drop of nitric acid to the metal part of the jewelry;
- If the product turns green, you have silver-plated brass or cupronickel, the price of which is significantly lower than silver;
- If it turns creamy, you have sterling silver;
- If it turns black, then this means pure metal.
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.
Bracelet with charms. Checking Chinese silver.
Hi all! I'll tell you about my experience of buying silver jewelry on Aliexpress. I ordered a bracelet with charms. I came across a store. There are a lot of orders and positive reviews too. The bracelet is very reminiscent of a bracelet from a famous brand. The price is not too bad. I ordered 1 bracelet and 6 pendants. The total cost was $48.41 (approximately 3165 Russian rubles). Everything came in a compact package. The seller indicated a low price. Customs had no questions.
All products were packaged in individual ziplock bags. The seller included 4 bags for storing jewelry. The bags are great! Very pleasant to the touch.
Now about the decorations. Let's look at the bracelet first. I ordered a 19 cm bracelet. With a small margin so that the charms can move freely on the wrist and do not rub the skin.
The color of the bracelet is very light (more like white gold). I think over time it will begin to darken and take on a more familiar silver appearance. The bracelet has a p-lock clasp. The lock holds both parts of the bracelet quite securely and opens with little effort. The mechanism closes with a slight click. Let's see how he shows himself after a while. I hope it won't let you down. Putting on a bracelet with one hand is problematic; it takes practice. There is a sample inside the clasp.
Next are the charms. The seller has a ton of them. You get tired of scrolling, and then the painful moment of choice comes. I want this one, and that one, and all at once. This is the beauty of this decoration. You buy the base (bracelet), and then buy additional charms. With or without reason. There is even a small table of what they can mean. Therefore, when giving someone a bracelet, you can design it with meaning:
“a cat with a raised paw brings good luck and happiness; balloon - a quick solution to problems; a frog with a crown is an eastern symbol of immortality and wealth; clover - luck and money; tree is a symbol of life in all cultures; peacock - wealth in the family; owl is a symbol of wisdom; heart is a symbol of love; butterfly - rebirth (shedding the cocoon); swans or doves - eternal love and fidelity. etc."
Piggy. It is made in the form of a pendant. There is some kind of pebble/glass inside the pig. It looks very interesting.
a sample is also present.
Cat. Also the pendant. The chains look flimsy.
In the photo, you can see a black spot above the sample. This is the result of testing the silver for authenticity. More on this a little later.
Balloons
Made very carefully. I was afraid that in the seller’s pictures they looked beautiful, but in real life they would be a quiet horror. The stones hold tightly, there are no sagging or scuffing. 925 standard is present everywhere.The whole company assembled:
Total weight 25 g.
Next, let’s check if it’s silver. I found 3 ways on the Internet to check it at home.
1. Magnet. Real silver is not magnetic. In my case, only the bracelet clasp was magnetic. The charms and the bracelet itself remained motionless.
2. Iodine. Real silver will leave a dark stain, which will be difficult to remove later. The method is not very good, you can damage the decoration, use it on an inconspicuous area from the inside. My camera couldn't capture it. The following method gave a more pronounced result.
3. Sulfur ointment. It also reacts when applied. It leaves behind a black mark. The ointment is sold at any pharmacy.
It turned out 3 out of 3.With a high degree of probability, we can conclude that this is silver.
Conclusions: 1. Very decent product quality. 2. You are absolutely free in your choice. 3. The bracelet looks expensive and stylish. 4. Price.
We will continue to collect 
Thank you for your attention!
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.
Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage
Store sterling silver in designated dark areas. Let it be a pouch made of a thick, opaque material, such as leather or suede, or a separate compartment in your jewelry box.
It is impossible to clean such things using mechanical force. It is better to use special compounds that can be purchased at a jewelry store, or contact the jeweler directly. Experts recommend cleaning your sterling jewelry at the first sign of oxidation.
A great way to return a shiny look to sterling items is to boil it in a soda solution. For a glass of water, a tablespoon of soda and food foil at the bottom of the container are enough. Boil for 15 minutes.
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.
Is there real silver on AliExpress?
The content of the article
To answer this question briefly, we can say with confidence: “Yes!” Silver products on AliExpress are distinguished by a wide selection and shapes. And their prices are much lower than in regular stores in the city. Plus free delivery anywhere in the world within 2 weeks or a little longer.
Silver has long been valued and was once more valuable than even gold. But due to the fact that impurities began to be added to it, it ceased to be so significant. Despite this, people still strive to purchase it for their collections.
Silver on AliExpress is inexpensive, since due to the multi-million Chinese population, labor is not at a premium there. Therefore, products manufactured in China differ in price range from products from Western countries.
There are many jewelry craftsmen in China who do their work efficiently and conscientiously.
These works are exhibited on the AliExpress website, but to find them you need to spend a little time searching.
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.
Manufacturing technology
Sterling silver is produced by melting pure metal at 893 °C. At this temperature, the added copper does not simply mix with the main component, but completely dissolves in it, forming a so-called solid solution.
But simply mixing the components is not enough - after melting, it is first fired to eliminate heterogeneity and increase the strength of the metal. But the resulting alloy will not have the necessary ductility, so the next stage is hardening. The procedure increases the required parameter of the substance.
The sterling alloy is then subjected to aging by heating to 300 °C, which increases its strength by 2.5 times. And finally, the resulting product is bleached, removing any slag deposits that have appeared.
Purchase rules
Before purchasing jewelry, you should make sure of its quality. Often, jewelry that is passed off as jewelry from Tibet has nothing to do with it. In this case, the name is used as a brand in order to attract buyers.
Each product is accompanied by a document indicating the percentage of pure metal and impurities. If the buyer has doubts, then he should refuse the purchase altogether or check the jewelry with a jeweler if the purchase has already taken place.
Today, nickel, tin and copper are added to the alloy. Nickel gives jewelry its unique color and shine. Tin helps preserve the appearance, since this metal does not corrode easily.
If there are a lot of impurities in the product, then a dark or gray film will quickly form on its surface. It will be difficult to clean the jewelry from plaque even with the help of special means. It is better to take such jewelry to a pawnshop or store under warranty.
It can be difficult to recognize a fake; often unscrupulous jewelers apply a film of silver to the surface of the product, which gives the jewelry a characteristic color and shine. But the film quickly wears off, and stains form on the surface of the jewelry that cannot be removed.
How to buy a quality product:
- it is worth purchasing jewelry in large jewelry houses or stores;
- carefully study the mark;
- ask a jeweler for help;
- compare with another silver product.
The analysis will help to recognize a fake, but you should not place high hopes on it; it is better to check the product with an expert. The jeweler will conduct an examination and issue an opinion, but you will have to pay for the work.
Where to buy
Fans of lunar metal products have their own preferences: some love sparkling white sterling silver, others prefer blackened silver coated with alloys, some are delighted with the mere sight of the openwork patterns of filigree items.
For black silver you will need to go to the northern provinces of Thailand. Chiang Mai craftsmen are famous for their work using the niello technique; in the very center of the city there is a whole block - Walai Road, which is unofficially called the “silver bell district”. Chiang Rai also boasts the products of its craftsmen. This is traditional silver minted by the artisans of the Karen tribe, which is why it is called Karen silver. It is the north of the country that is rich in authentic products; they are found in almost every shop and market. Original products can also be bought in Bangkok; there are several large stores in the Khao San Road area.
In all the resort towns of Thailand, tourists are offered a large assortment of products, but their prices are inflated and truly rare valuable items usually do not end up there. If you are not planning to go to northern Thailand, because... this is quite far and will take a lot of time, then it is better to buy jewelry in official stores or factories where they are delivered during excursions. In this case, you have a better chance of buying a quality product.
You should not buy silver items on the beach, from street vendors, or at huge discounts in strange stalls. Silver is not a fruit to be sold at a price below the market price.
The uniqueness of Thai jewelry
The reason for the uniqueness of all Thai jewelry can be not only low prices, but also an unusual shape, as well as exclusivity. You should remember that no matter what you choose - rings, necklaces, brooches, bracelets - everything will be unique. Very often, precious and semi-precious stones such as pearls, amethyst, garnet, and topaz are used in jewelry. The most interesting are products using 2-3 different stones at once. Thus, you can be absolutely sure that no one else will have a similar ring or earrings.
The current white color and low prices of silver help it remain the most beloved precious metal of many jewelers and simply connoisseurs of jewelry. That is why Thailand has become a real paradise for all lovers of silver and items made from it. Tourists come to this country every year in order not only to relax, but also to acquire a couple of precious jewelry, since it costs much less here. Moreover, they do not require special care. If your silver jewelry becomes tarnished, simply wipe it with a cloth containing a special liquid and all problems will be solved.
In the end, if you really should buy yourself some kind of ring, vase or kitchen set made of noble metal, because over time these items will not only become decorations for you or your home, but will also give you the fabulous magic of sunny Thailand.
Advantages of jewelry from Tibet
Tibetan silver has been distinguished for its quality for many years. The ligature was prepared only from copper and silver without adding other impurities. Due to this jewelry:
- They served for a long time.
- Didn't wash out.
- Easy to clean.
- Did not cause allergies.
The jewelry had an antique design and looked deliberately simple, but there was an appeal in this simplicity. Jewels inlaid with stones looked massive, with the effect of antiquity. As a result, silver from Tibet gained a following and became quite popular in the market.
Despite long wear, the jewelry did not wear off. The products were worn for a long time without any damage to their surface.
Earrings, rings and bracelets were easy to clean; it was enough to wipe the product with a suede cloth or rinse it in water to clean it of dirt and dust that had accumulated on the surface.
Earrings from Tibet
Tibetan silver does not cause allergies. It contains no metals that are poorly tolerated by the human body.
Copper in combination with silver, which was part of the ligature, helped create exquisite weaving and outlines. But in recent years, jewelry from Tibet has become a rarity. It is difficult to buy a truly high-quality product: often what is passed off as silver has nothing to do with the precious metal.
Is it worth buying “Tibetan silver”?
The so-called Tibetan silver has become increasingly popular in recent years. What is it and is it worth giving in to the temptation to buy the jewelry you like?
Tibetan silver is an alloy of metals containing silver, which is used in the manufacture of original jewelry.
The name is not accidental. This alloy and style was invented in Tibet. But later, due to their high popularity, these jewelry began to be made all over the world and few of them can be attributed to real, unique Tibetan silver.
Real Tibetan silver consists of almost 30 percent of this precious metal. The rest of the alloy is tin, copper and zinc. Previously, nickel was present in the composition. It was then discovered that this metal can cause various negative health effects. Therefore, now conscientious manufacturers do not use nickel in production.
Products made from Tibetan silver have an original, unique design. They look like antique silver, darkened by time. The high demand has led to a veritable wave of counterfeit jewelry that only claims to be silver, but may actually contain no silver at all.
Moreover, when analyzing some products sold under this well-known brand, it turned out that they could be harmful to health, as they contain hazardous substances. Significant amounts of lead were found in some samples. There were also those that contained arsenic.
If the jewelry contains a lot of lead, it can cause high blood pressure, cause nervous diseases, deterioration of memory and attention, and aches in muscles and joints. There may even be a decrease in fertility.
Long-term contact with low-quality products can cause even more serious and dangerous consequences in children. Their body weight is small, so even a small amount of lead will be much more harmful to a child than to an adult. In severe cases, contact with lead in jewelry leads to delayed development and growth, changes in behavior, deterioration of memory and attention. Possible diseases of the liver, kidneys and hearing organs.
The presence of nickel in the alloy can lead to allergies.
More and more fakes are appearing, which only superficially resemble the original products, but are often much inferior not only in composition, but also in quality. Some of them, to make them look like the original, are coated with a coating or layer of silver. But over time, this layer wears out and the decoration loses its visual appeal.
Nowadays, the brand “Tibetan silver” refers to products that are similar in design or silver color to the original items.
To avoid falling for the tricks of scammers or unscrupulous manufacturers, you need to consider a number of factors:
- Typically, when selling such products, a document is attached that indicates the content of various metals in the alloy. Of course, not all products are marked in this way, but if there is no such reminder, this is a reason to think about whether it is worth purchasing such an item.
- When purchasing, you should pay attention to the manufacturer and the country from which the product was brought.
- It is better to purchase jewelry in jewelry stores.
- Costume jewelry sold in our country is not subject to mandatory certification. But proven, honest manufacturers undergo voluntary certification, which initially speaks in favor of the product they produce.
- Too low a price should also alert a potential buyer. A product consisting of 30% silver cannot cost a penny.
- You can seek advice from specialists; only a jeweler can accurately determine the quality of the purchased product.
Tibetan silver, unlike silver products, is much easier to care for. Does not darken, does not wear out. The reason is that tin, the main component of the alloy, immediately oxidizes in air and is coated on the outside with a film of oxides that is resistant to external influences. It is enough to wash the jewelry in soapy water or wipe with a soft cloth. Real Tibetan jewelry hardly fades and does not cause allergies. The material of the jewelry does not deteriorate over time from constant wear, unlike products coated with silver.
Care
In order for sterling silver to always retain its beautiful, original appearance, you need to know how to store it correctly and what kind of care is needed. Proper care is the key to ensuring that jewelry never loses its original appearance:
- Jewelry should be stored in a dark place and where there is no high humidity. If silver is frequently exposed to sunlight, the metal will become darker;
- The most effective cleaning method is to rinse the jewelry in warm water. You need to add dishwashing detergent to the water, and then rinse the product again and wipe it with a cloth.
Versions of the origin of the name
- The main version of the etymology of sterling silver is the one that says that it came from a coin used in England in the 12th century - the sterling;
- There is another explanation - this name comes from a famous family from Germany - the Easterlings. Money was minted in honor of this family, and the British allegedly took a fancy to these coins and they entered into a trade agreement with the Germans.
If we adhere to the second version, then the ancestors of the silver sterling coin are the Germans, not the British. Later, this coin became widespread throughout the planet.
