Silver bells,

Silver bells,

It’s Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling

Yes, we have rings . . .

so come visit us b’fore Christmas Day!

At the Gold Market Jewelers we have a great collection of Silver Jewelry to choose from, featuring White Ice (Diamonds with Silver) and Stackable Expressions this month which make excellent and affordable gifts for the holidays.

Buying Guide
Sterling silver is the standard for beautiful high-quality silver jewelry. Sterling silver contains 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper, so its fineness is designated “925″. It also may say “Sterling” on the back of the piece.

Look for the fineness mark and the maker’s mark on the underside of the silver item you are considering to ensure the quality.

History
Silver is one of the first metals to be used by humans. It is also the most reflective of all the metals and can be polished to a higher sheen than platinum. In fact, the chemical symbol for silver, Ag, is derived from the Latin word “argentum,” meaning ‘white and shining.’ It is extremely malleable and resists oxidation from exposure to the atmosphere. Silver also has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance. Silver is widely distributed in nature, but the total amount is quite small when compared with other metals. Unlike gold, silver is present in many naturally occurring minerals.

Silver ornaments and decorations have been found in royal tombs dating back as far as 4000 BC, and silver has been used, along with gold, as money for centuries. Today, over 90% of the silver mined is not used for jewelry, but in industrial applications. Compounds of silver are used to make mirrors, electrical contacts, dental fillings, coins and electroplating. Over 40% of all silver mined in the United States is used as silver nitrate and silver halide in photographic developing.

Silver can be polished, matte, brushed, satin, sandblasted, oxidized (blackened using chemicals) or antiqued. Silver is often said to have a patina, or worn appearance that is achieved through frequent use and handling. In its pure form silver is almost as soft as gold, and is therefore usually alloyed with copper. Alloys of silver with copper are harder, tougher, and more fusible than pure silver and therefore, are used for jewelry. The proportion of silver in these alloys is stated in terms of fineness, which means parts of silver per thousand of the alloy.

Care & Cleaning
Although wearing your silver jewelry often is the best way to prevent tarnish from building up, regular cleanings of all your silver items will prevent tarnish and keep your silver bright and sparkling.

With proper care, your fine quality silver will last a lifetime. To minimize scratches and other damage, store your silver jewelry either in a cloth pouch or in a separate compartment in your jewelry box. Avoid exposing your silver to household chemicals when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, or when swimming in chlorinated water, as these chemicals can damage silver.

Care should also be taken to prevent silver tarnish build-up, a dulling that naturally occurs when silver reacts with sulfur or hydrogen sulfide in the ambient air. To clean your silver, use polishes formulated specifically to remove tarnish such as Hagerty Silver cleaner which we carry at the Gold Market. Tarnish is most easily removed when it first becomes visible.

At the Gold Market Jewelers, not only can you find a vast selection of quality .925 silver, but you will also be delighted by our unique and stylish silver jewelry styles. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more. Enjoy the luxury of fine sterling silver jewelry at affordable prices.