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What is Sterling Silver?

You’ve heard the term “Sterling Silver”, typically when referring to fine dining flatware, serving pieces or quality jewelry, but what exactly is sterling silver?

Sterling silver is an alloy (a combination of metals) containing 92.5% of pure silver and 7.5% of other metals.  Typically the other metal selected for the alloy is copper.  Fine silver as compared to sterling silver is 99.9% pure silver and considered too soft for large pieces and implements. Sterling silver as it is stronger is the preferred metal for silver jewelry, flatware, and quality silver serving pieces and decorative items.

In recent years, alloys other than copper have appeared being used with silver.  Some of these alloys are being made from zinc, platinum, germanium and include other elements such as silicon or boron. These new alloys have appeared in an effort to find a combination that inhibits tarnish which is the bane of any sterling silver owner. Copper however, continues even to this day, in being the preferred alloy for sterling silver manufacture.

The term sterling silver originated in northern Germany in the 12th century. At this time, the term sterling received its meaning from possibly several sources:  (1) the purity level of 92.5% pure silver, (2) possibly from the term of sterling in regards the common name of coins of the time, or (3) from sterling meaning sturdy, firm, or immovable. Regardless of how the term sterling has come to us through the years, today the term sterling silver simply denotes quality and that a 92.5% purity of silver has been used in a creation of the product.

All sterling silver will tarnish over time when exposed to the air through a simple oxidation process. Sterling silver is still considered the best precious metal for decorative and quality serving products such as coffee sets, decorative bowls, elegant dining flatware, serving pieces, and pitchers.

If you have silver pieces in your cabinet that no longer hold their decorative charm, appear dated, are unusable due to breakage, or sterling silver jewelry that you no longer cherish, now’s the time to consider contacting Cash for Silver for a free appraisal of the silver value. We make it easy to turn your quality silver pieces into cash! Find out how to send your silver to us and get a free quote. We’ll even return your pieces to you at no charge securely if you decide that you have chosen not to sell.

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Library Post – What is Sterling Silver?

You’ve heard the term “Sterling Silver”, typically when referring to fine dining flatware, serving pieces or quality jewelry, but what exactly is sterling silver?

Sterling silver is an alloy (a combination of metals) containing 92.5% of pure silver and 7.5% of other metals.  Typically the other metal selected for the alloy is copper.  Fine silver as compared to sterling silver is 99.9% pure silver and considered too soft for large pieces and implements. Sterling silver as it is stronger is the preferred metal for silver jewelry, flatware, and quality silver serving pieces and decorative items.

In recent years, alloys other than copper have appeared being used with silver.  Some of these alloys are being made from zinc, platinum, germanium and include other elements such as silicon or boron. These new alloys have appeared in an effort to find a combination that inhibits tarnish which is the bane of any sterling silver owner. Copper however, continues even to this day, in being the preferred alloy for sterling silver manufacture.

The term sterling silver originated in northern Germany in the 12th century. At this time, the term sterling received its meaning from possibly several sources:  (1) the purity level of 92.5% pure silver, (2) possibly from the term of sterling in regards the common name of coins of the time, or (3) from sterling meaning sturdy, firm, or immovable. Regardless of how the term sterling has come to us through the years, today the term sterling silver simply denotes quality and that a 92.5% purity of silver has been used in a creation of the product.

All sterling silver will tarnish over time when exposed to the air through a simple oxidation process. Sterling silver is still considered the best precious metal for decorative and quality serving products such as coffee sets, decorative bowls, elegant dining flatware, serving pieces, and pitchers.

If you have silver pieces in your cabinet that no longer hold their decorative charm, appear dated, are unusable due to breakage, or sterling silver jewelry that you no longer cherish, now’s the time to consider contacting Cash for Silver for a free appraisal of the silver value. We make it easy to turn your quality silver pieces into cash! Find out how to send your silver to us and get a free quote. We’ll even return your pieces to you at no charge securely if you decide that you have chosen not to sell.

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A Bad Valentine’s Day Gift Could Net You Sterling Silver Jewelry

Valentine’s Day is normally a time for love and sharing. People give candy, flowers, and gifts of all sorts, including fine jewelry…maybe even some lovely pieces of sterling silver jewelry, perhaps?

However, as with all gift-giving occasions, it is also a time for gaffes. Whenever one person is tasked with giving something to another, there is always the possibility that something will go awry. And one Hawaiian jeweler wants to help people capitalize on the fact that some gifts should simply never be given.

For the most part, jewelry is a safe bet for gift-giving, but one never knows. There was a time when I bought a silver ring at an outside craft fair because I really like the design. When I picked it out, the design of this silver ring was pleasing to me and had caught my eye. It was not until later on that day, as I was out and about wearing my new silver ring, that I noticed what it really depicted.  The tiny shapes on the ring were actually mice or rats. Now, I have nothing against rats or mice, but for some reason, I really did not want to wear them on a silver ring and I regretted the purchase. But at least this was not a gift that I gave to someone else.

Winners of the essay contest sponsored by this jeweler will win lovely pieces of tasteful sterling silver jewelry. The person who sends in the very best essay will win the grand prize of personalized sterling silver rings. And as an added bonus, the grand prize winner gets to pick out the design and inscription for these sterling silver rings. Then there will be three runners up who will be awarded sterling silver pendants.

However, winners will not be able to use any of these sterling silver prizes as Valentine’s Day gifts this year because the contest ends on February 15, 2009. But the good part of this is that there is time for last-minute entries, to if you get a Valentine’s Day gift that is a doozy this year, you can still turn in your essay.

Even after you turn in the essay, you will still have a gift that you really do not want on your hands. If that gift is silver or sterling silver jewelry that you think it just hideous, you can sell silver to a silver buyer. That way, you can get cash for silver and you can use that cash to buy yourself something that you really, truly will love.

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The Sterling Silver Dancers

Taking a cue from the Silver Dancers, the Sterling Silver Dancers, who range in age from 40 to 73, are also out there getting people revved up about the San Antonio Spurs. Their leader is the oldest woman in the group, Irma, who is 73. Irma is known for her enthusiastic dancing at Spurs games and has even been seen on YouTube. This goes to prove that if you do what you love, you will get promoted in some form of fashion. Irma went from being a fun-loving fan in the stands to being he captain of the Sterling Silver Dancers. And all because she just like to have a good time. Whenever she saw the Spurs’ Silver Dancers strut their stuff, she would so what came natural and join in the fun. She probably never dreamed that this would lead to her very own moment in the spotlight.

This silver-haired dancer’s moves got the attention of the Silver Dancers’ choreographer. They Spurs asked Irma to dance at a Spurs game and to bring along some friends. Before she knew it, Irma was recruiting women for a dance team. There are about 20 women who call themselves the Sterling Silver Dancers and as noted, they all are not quite silver-haired, since the youngest members of the group are in their 40s.

The ladies of the Sterling Silver dance team made their debut at a San Antonio Spurs game this past spring. And there were plans to have them back out on the court to dance again next season. It is great the San Antonio Spurs are not opposed to some audience participation. They would be commended for knowing a good opportunity when they see one. Of course the ladies of the Sterling Silver Dancers immediately spread the word about their big performance. And of course local news stations picked up the news. As this is a good human interest story, the Silver Dancers were featured on television and in various articles and blogs.

The San Antonio Spurs knew a good thing when they saw it, but do you? Do you have silver lying around your house that is not being used? Do you even have sterling silver flatware and other sterling silver goods that you know have some value, but you have never bothered to find out how much? Now is the time to sell sterling silver to a silver buyer.

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Designing Sterling Silver Flatware

So we have looked at some of the ways that silversmiths create objects made of silver. And as was noted earlier, there was a time when people would go to a silversmith for any kind of silver object–be it decorative silver jewelry or functional silver flatware. These days, we tend to see these things as separate. Even if you were to buy silver jewelry and silver flatware at the same department store, you would have to go to separate sections to find them

The New York Times recently had an article on a man who does not see any need to make this sort of distinction. Stephen Dweck, a jewelry designer who has created templates for earrings, rings and necklaces, decided to turn his talent to designing sterling silver flatware. His designs for sterling silver flatware have a lot in common with his designs for jewelry. And when you think about it, setting a table does have an element of design to it. So it makes sense that a jewelry designer would design sterling silver flatware.

For the article, the reporter accompanied Dweck on a shopping trip where he picked up some sterling silver flatware designed by others. The designer marveled at vintage sterling silver patterns and complimented them for their artistry. Design really does make a difference. When examining a sterling silver pattern from the 1930s, Dweck observed that the pieces of sterling silver flatware had rather thin handles. But as it turns out, this may help those who want to eat less or have a leisurely meal–according to Dweck, narrow, thin handles on silver flatware mean that people will eat slower. And Dweck found inspiration by checking out silver in a range of stores. They went to Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, as well as specialty shops in SoHo.

Just as you can patronize the same place silver objects that are both functional and practical, you can also sell silver to the same place. A silver buyer who buys silver earrings and silver necklaces, will also buy silver flatware and silver coins. They are skilled in testing for the silver content in all kinds of silver objects and will give you cash for silver based on silver content. There is no need to take different kinds of silver objects to different places. You can sell all of your silver to the same silver buyer.

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