Sterling Silver In Fine Jewelry

Photo: Voogme 925 Silver and Moissanite

Frankly, this jewelry lover is happy she bought a few pieces of fine jewelry years before our pandemic hit since the price of gold and jewelry has increased like other consumer goods after our COVID crisis. Plus jewelry, which should not be considered an investment, has always had a hefty profit margin above the wholesale value of the pieces. Jewelry is as much of a luxury buy as designer clothes, shoes, and handbags, which are also marked up to whatever customers are willing to pay.

Photo: Shop LC

That said, there's a limit to what ordinary people can spend to own luxury goods including jewelry. Sadly considering today's elevated costs, I recommend bypassing 18k or 14k gold and diamonds. Retailers are charging astronomical prices without giving us enough value in return. Frequently their jewelry is flimsy with a sky-high price tag attached. Fuhgeddaboudit!

I also recommend skipping overpriced costume jewelry. It has depreciation or zero value.

Pure silver unmixed with other metals

Instead, turn to 925 sterling silver fine jewelry. Don't overpay or overconsume, yet buy a capsule of pieces you love and will wear over and over again with all your outfits from blue jeans to a little black dress. Unlike purses or shoes at least with fine jewelry, you don't end up with depreciation value simply by wearing it! 

Sterling 925 Silver is the jewelry quality standard in most of the world. It is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% another metal, usually copper, sometimes nickel. (Pure gold or) pure silver is too soft to be worn as jewelry. The alloy (whether gold) or silver + other added metals increases the hardness of a necklace, bracelet, or ring giving them strength so they won't blend or dent as easily by wearing them.

Like pure gold, pure silver is a precious metal listed as an element on the Periodic Table. With sterling silver, you are buying fine jewelry! But be aware that sterling silver is softer than gold, so more durable for earrings, necklaces, or signature rings than for everyday rings you might mindlessly bang around as you go about your usual activities. However, if you take care of sterling silver jewelry, it will last a lifetime and for generations.

The current price of 925 sterling silver is $31.24 t.oz. A gram is the smallest unit to measure silver. 925 silver value is between $0.69 and $0.80 per gram.

Usually, there is a quality mark -- 925 -- on pieces of sterling silver. Sterling silver jewelry is required to carry this stamp if there is surface area to put it. The marking can be seen with a magnifier. Sterling silver jewelry is sometimes dipped in rose or yellow gold or another metal to offer yellow-or-rose gold-like jewelry.

Photo: Italo Jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry that isn't worn frequently will tarnish yet is easily and safely cleaned with retail tarnish remover and a silver cleaning cloth. A tissue can scratch the silver.

Leslie Villarreal

Non-tarnish silver alloys also exist on the market. Argentiun Silver is one such brand that sells silver jewelry that doesn't tarnish. The non-tarnish alloys in jewelry are 92.5% silver (or higher), copper, and the addition of the element germanium. Germanium makes the alloy harder and resistant to tarnish. Under extreme conditions, it still tarnishes but requires less maintenance than sterling. The non-tarnishing alloy is also significantly more expensive than sterling silver.

Without a good deal, I'd stick with 925 sterling silver for its more affordable price. If too costly, you might as well save up for gold. It's a trade-off really ... with today's jewelry prices, we're having to spend too much. Yet, life is a series of tradeoffs, and it's a shame splurging on gold jewelry has gotten so stupidly expensive!😠

Photo: Macy's Sterling Silver Set. Mystic Topez

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