Silver or, as it is now more usually described, sterling silver is without a doubt one of the most pleasing of all the precious metals. When fashioned into sterling silver jewelry, it is beautiful, versatile, timeless and affordable. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sterling-silver-jewelry-is-a-timeless-beauty.html

When choosing the best Silver Jewelry be sure to check that it is marked .925 or Sterling silver, or [sterling]], these are the standard marks for sterling silver which is comprised of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of other metal(s) usually copper. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sterling-silver-practical-beautiful.html

In the same way that pure gold is too soft and impractical to use for jewelry, so to is pure silver. The usual metal to be added is Copper and occasionally, Germanium, Zinc and Platinum are added to the pure silver.

Silver jewelry has been crafted, admired and worn since approximately 3000BC, At Ur, in Sumeria, examples of ancient silver jewelry were found in Queen Pu-abi's tomb (now known as Tall al-Muqayyar), the queen's body was adorned with jewelry made from silver, gold, agate, [lapis lazuli]], carnelian, and chalcedony beads.

The Ancient Greeks, the Ancient Egytians and the Romans used silver for coinage, weapons, and tableware as well as jewelry, it is still always fashionable today.http://ezinearticles.com/?Silver-Jewellery---A-Brief-History&id=157537

This guide will look at the best ways to select your silver jewelry and discuss some of the many styles available.

Silver is THE most reflective metal known, closely followed by gold. This means that when light strikes it, most of the light is reflected back from the surface.http://www.thatchamjewellers.co.uk/pages/precious-metals.html Because of this, when jewelry is made from sterling silver it is extremely bright and shiny.

To keep the looks of silver jewelry, it will occasionally be necessary to polish it. This is very easy to do and will remove any tarnish which may appear. N.B. Silver itself does not tarnish, it is the other metals added which oxidize and cause this effect. The best cloth to use is one of the special silver polishing cloths available from most jewelers.http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sterling-silver-practical-beautiful.html These cloths are treated with safe polishing chemicals and should therefore never be washed even when they appear dirty.

Silver jewelry stays shiny for longer if you wear it frequently, unless your sterling silver jewelry has a particularly delicate setting, such as filigree, it will be robust enough for prolonged wear.

Many people prefer silver to white gold or platinum because it is much cheaper, equally attractive and, provided it is kept shining is very difficult to distinguish it between these other precious metals.

Indian artisans have been handcrafting silver jewelry for almost 5000 years! http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-jewelry/history.html It is therefore little wonder that they are experts in their craft. Indian designs are among the most beautiful available and no serious collector of silver jewelry should be without some Indian items in their collection. The styles will include a vast range of stunning semi-precious stones such as, Rose Quartz, Turquoise, Moonstone, Amethyst, Pearls, Druzy Quartz, Citrine, Garnet, and Lapis.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to visit India, you will be able to see the jewelry being made and select some wonderful items. There are many other sources available if this is not possible and it is a good idea to check out the internet first to compare styles and prices. http://www.indiasilverjewellery.co.uk/ Indian Silver Jewelry is becoming very popular now and it is worth looking in ethnic and arts and crafts shops as well.

Native American Silver Jewelry

Silversmithing is a fairly recent development in the making of Native American Silver Jewelry and there are some truly beautiful items for sale. http://www.native-languages.org/jewelry.htm A look around on the internet will enable you to see the different designs available, many of which will feature Turquoise, Coral, Malachite, and Onyx.http://www.navajosilversmith.com/

The beaded finish surrounding the settings of many of these pieces add an individual and attractive style to the items.http://www.southwestsilvergallery.com/ Again, if you are lucky enough to be able to visit the area where the jewelry is hand-made, you will have the unforgettable experience of being able to buy direct from the makers.http://www.eaglerocktradingpost.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07COclNQIz4&feature=related

In this video from Rock925 presenter Tanya Kara shows some of the fabulous new lines in sterling silver jewelry from Rock925. She explains how, with the use of Rhodium plating as a finish, the sterling silver jewelry is kept shiny and tarnish-free and also how it is more scratch resistant than untreated silver.

With gold at it’s highest price for years, many manufacturers are putting precious stones in a sterling silver setting as a more affordable alternative.http://www.stonesandsilver.co.uk/sapphire_ruby_emerald_.html Some are natural gemstones and some are genuine gemstones created in a laboratory, it is almost impossible to tell the difference. So if you would like the appearance of the expensive, designer jewelry worn by the rich and famous, it can easily be yours without the expense. Many celebrities prefer to wear copies of their expensive items crafted in silver and man-made gems while leaving the originals safely locked away in a vault.http://www.replicasilverjewelry.com/research.asp?anclassid=0&searchkey=tiffany

To see some fine examples of replica jewelry check the internet sites and the television shopping channels as well as the shopping malls. If you select your silver jewelry carefully, only an expert will be able to tell that you haven’t paid the cost of a house for it! There are very often copies of famous brands like Tiffany, Gucci, Cartier and Chanel. You will be able to have the pleasure of wearing a beautiful and expensive looking piece of jewelry without the cost. Whichever type of sterling silver jewelry you choose, if you treat it with a little care, it will look great and give you pleasure for years.http://www.tiffany-sterling-silvers.com/