Sterling silver is an excellent choice in estate jewelry. Long lasting, easy to care for, and so beautiful. Buying estate jewelry sterling silver can be a lot of fun but it can also be confusing.
Whether you are looking at sterling silver for a gift for that special someone or looking to add to your own jewelry to make that fashion statement, its important you understand the terms that are used throughout the industry. Once you understand the terminology you will be better equipped to choose quality pieces of sterling silver jewelry and youll be able to complete your purchases with a lot more confidence.
It doesnt matter whether you are buying on line or at your local store. It doesnt matter if you are buying in the USA or Canada or in Europe or China. The terminology used to describe silver are the same around the world.
Sterling silver jewelry has always been popular and remains so today. Sterling silver estate jewelry has also shared its time in the limelight but in recent years its popularity has exploded. Thats because buyers are looking for something a little more unique than modern sterling silver can offer. Everyone knows how beautiful sterling silver is and how durable it is, thats one of the reasons its such a popular choice. And of course lets not forget how affordable it is!
Silver has it history into ancient times, but has not survived as well as gold. Unlike gold which has no ill effects from age and exposure sterling silver does. It deteriorates over time. Throughout history sterling silver has experienced bursts of popularity where it was far more vogue than wearing gold jewelry. Today is one of those periods in time!
Silver is the most common of all the precious metals. Fine silver is pure silver but it not commonly used for jewelry because it is way too soft and bends and breaks far too easily. Instead fine silver is mixed with copper. 925 parts of silver are mixed with 75 parts of copper which is just enough copper to firm up the silver to make beautiful jewelry. This 925 grade is called sterling silver throughout the world and is recognized as the purest form of silver available for jewelry.
This is the mark you are looking for. Either that or the actual sterling mark. Both will guarantee you that what you are buying is sterling silver and not some cheap base metal like nickel which will wear and look awful very quickly.
Silver has many benefits over gold. It is much lighter weighing about half as much as gold. It is much more flexible but not as malleable so it allows for beautiful jewelry creations. Lastly it is much less expensive yet it will last you your lifetime and probably those of a couple of more generations. Two exact pieces one in silver and one in gold. The gold piece will cost 5 to 6 times more than the sterling silver piece.
Current fashion trends which include a lot of black or dark materials have added to the popularity of sterling silver as it looks very well with black. In fact it has much more of a dramatic impact than gold does.
Silver likes to be worn. It helps keep it shiny and beautiful. Left hanging for any length of time means youll need to polish it to remove the tarnish. In our fast paced world silver is an excellent choice. Just as we have wash and wear clothing silver is an excellent grab and wear style of jewelry.
So the next time you are in the market for some quality sterling silver jewelry be sure to check out estate silver jewelry!
A little bit of history
Although body piercing jewelry was not popular until about 20 years ago, it actually has a very long history. In ancient Egypt, only the royal family had the right to have body piercing. In fact, only the Pharaoh at that time had belly button piercing, any other people with a belly button ring would have been executed. For Egyptians, body jewelry was a way of embellishing the beauty of human bodies. On the other hand, around 2000 years ago, as mentioned in Bible, body piercing jewelry was very popular among nomadic tribes as a sign of wealth. Also, the roman warriors used to get nipple piercing as a sign of strength and virility. However, in the last 400-500 years, body jewelry has been restricted to mainly ear piercing until the last two decades.
Choices of metal
There are many choices for the metal used to make body jewelry. Since piercing could be in sensitive and delicate area of the body such as lip and tongue, the material has to be biological inert to prevent corrosion and infection. Common metals for making body jewelry are surgical steel, titanium, niobium, platinum and 14kt and 18kt gold. The primary reason for the above metals to be popular with body jewelry is that they are hypoallergenic and are absolutely safe to wear. Sterling silver body jewelry is not recommended because would tarnish and some of them contain nickel, which some people are allergic to. It is recommended to use surgical steel right after the piercing during the healing period to allow a faster healing process and minimize the chance of infection.
Types of body jewelry
Since the resurgence of body jewelry, many types of body jewelry became available in the market. The common body jewelry categories are navel rings, lip and tongue labrets, nostril rings, eyebrows barbells, ear plugs and nipple rings. In fact, the piercing technique employed by most of the body jewelry store is so mature and safe that you can put body jewelry wherever you want!
Fashion vs. Fine Jewelry
A decade ago, body jewelry was a symbol for rebellious and hip youth. Nowadays, however, it is a common trend just like earrings. This is shown by the fact that many celebrities are wearing them and the number of body jewelry piercing stores in the shopping mall is constantly increasing. This is a major fashion trend which we are now at the beginning of. As body jewelry becomes mainstream accessories, the style and quality are expected to improve tremendously. Body jewelry with natural semi-precious stones such as topaz and peridot are currently available in the market, soon body jewelry with gold and genuine diamonds will be as popular as diamond stud earrings. In fact, 14k and 18k gold body jewelry are good choices for gift to someone who are already part of this fashion jewelry trend resolution since they are truly precious and fashionable at the same time.
Everyone allures the beauty of sterling silver jewelry that not only symbolizes the power of our rich ancient traditions and heritage that we carries on with proud but also make us feel a part of it. It is the narration of old Celt history of ancient European to remind their greatness and well-developed self.
If you are a lover of Celtic jewelry, you possibility know about the different patterns and designs used in creating beautiful earrings, rings, pendants and bracelets that are a judicious blend of ancient history with a touch of modernity. Also known as the Claddagh jewelry, Celtic jewelries have different symbols and elaborate pattern that make them really out of this world. Celtic cross jewelry, Knot jewelry and claddagh jewelry are clinching the interests of jewelry fans with their exclusive designs and styles. Thats why; men and women of all ages wear this jewelry with pleasure and delight.
Traditionally, Celtic crosses are made in abundance by jewelers that retain their importance till that. Historically, a Celtic cross brings greater understanding, wisdom and stamina for dealing trials and hardships of the life whereas; Celtic spiral denotes eternity and is quite popular among the believers. Thus, these are the most admired items of Celtic jewelry items.
Representing true love and faith to each other, Celtic rings are the most sought wedding rings these days as they denote undying dedication and commitment to each other. Celtic bracelets are also a popular form of jewelry that carries great art called knots that symbolizes perpetuity. Friends also exchange such rings and bracelets to showcase their loyalty and common trust.
Neck wears and pendants are a fashionable form of Celtic jewelry that has become an essential part of the jewelry gathering. You can get designs and patterns according to your preference thats include spirals, knots, crosses, serpents and dragons anything that fulfills your need and define you more as a person. Carrying deep religious messages, these neck wears with such strong symbols look really classy and elaborate.
Celtic jewelry is a special and different jewelry line that has a hidden message along with their outside beauty. Like its intricate design and pattern, Celtic jewelry spreads the message of love, truthfulness and attachment to your loved ones. So, till now if you havent got the happiness of wearing this precious jewel, go get one as it is the perfect blend of yesteryears and modernism. Choose the reason that suits you the best.