Silver definition
noble metal
noun
CHEMISTRY
- a metal (e.g. gold, silver, or platinum) that resists chemical action, does not corrode, and is not easily attacked by acids.
Silver is a fine, noble metal that can be traced back as far as approximately 3000BC. Our fascination with silver has endured to this day. This is not only thanks to its aesthetic properties, but also its practical applications which are possibly lesser known but play an essential part in many industries. For example, did you know that silver has the highest electrical conductivity of any metal? Did you also realise that silver has antibacterial properties which can actually be used tokillbacteria? So you see there is much more to silver than meets the eye – literally!
Silver in its pure form is extremely soft and can be quite impractical for some jewellery purposes due to its lack of strength. It does however have its place and is ideal for sculptural work, casting grain and also enameling where pure metal is preferable to prevent contamination which can interfere with the adhesion of the enamel itself. Most bullion on the market is alloyed material which has additional ingredients to give it strength or anti-tarnish properties for example.
Best types of silver for jewellery
Here is a rundown of the different types of silver used in jewellery making, that we sell here at Cooksongold:
Fine Silver Wire
Fine silver – (99.9% pure) The purest silver on the market. It is extremely soft, is beautifully malleable and solders easily with minimal tarnishing.
Britannia Silver Sheet
Britannia silver – (95.8% pure) Slightly softer than sterling silver, Britannia silver is alloyed with 4.2% copper and is often used for decorative Britannia silver coins. The durability and price of Sterling Silver have made Britannia silver a less popular option for jewellers and silversmiths today.
Sterling Silver Sheet
Sterling silver – (92.5% pure) the most popular type of silver sold for jewellery purposes. Sterling silver is alloyed with 7.5% copper to give it strength and durability, and it has the colour and working qualities that we are all most familiar with.
Argentium Silver Wire
Argentium silver – (93.5% pure) Alloyed with germanium for increased tarnish resistance and a whiter finish, similar to fine silver. It also has great durability and strength.
So how do you know which type of silver to buy?
Your choice of silver should be determined by what you intend to use it for. So if you’re looking for the best type of silver for jewellery, here’s what you should consider:
As a general rule, and unless you have a good reason not to use it, most people opt for sterling silver which is a good multipurpose material and has the most extensive range of products and permutations within the Cooksongold stock. The downside of sterling silver is that over time it will tarnish and it is also prone to fire scale/stain which occurs during heating which can cause unsightly marks on the surface of the metal. Both of these problems are due to the presence of copper within the alloy which solves some problems but ultimately creates others.
Argentium silver was developed to combat tarnish issues amongst other things and will produce a cleaner, whiter finish when polished, so no need for any silver or rhodium plating to achieve the perfect shine. If you are planning to make something with a large surface area on show, it might be worth using Argentium silver to lessen the impact of tarnish and fire stain. Do bear in mind that tools used for Argentium need to be kept separate from your standard jewellery tools to avoid cross contamination.
What is the best type of silver for jewellery shaping projects?
The softer the silver, the easier it is to shape, so if you are considering doing repousse or chasing work, then fine silver will give you some wonderful results. Fine silver can also be successfully used to make jewellery but will dent easily, so is best reserved for earrings and pendants which won’t have to withstand too much impact on a daily basis.
Whatever the project, there are so many different types of silver perfect for the job. Just make sure you do a little research into the working properties of your metal before parting with any cash. And if you are unsure, we have our technical team on hand who will be able to answer any questions or queries you might have. For more information like this on the different kinds of jewellery supplies, head to the buying guide section of our blog.
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