There are so many different types of costume and vintage jewelry, whether it be pins and brooches or necklaces and rings. You want to know Which settings are most durable? Which jewelry clasps are best for securing and easiest to manipulate. How long is a choker necklace? What type of metal? A good understanding of jewelry terms and jewelry components makes it so much easier to buy the “right” jewelry when you shop. Today, We will focus this article on purchasing sterling silver jewelry.
Silver has been used to make jewelry since ancient times. Did you know the western hemisphere uncovered more productive silver mines than the European mines? More silver has been mined since the late 1700’s than in all prior centuries combined. Now you ask, What is Silver? Silver is a soft metal in its pure form. It is much too soft to be used for jewelry and other items. So, one needs to mix the “pure” silver with other metals to make it more durable. A popular silver mixture, called an alloy, is known as sterling silver. Copper is the most common metal used to round out the 7.5 percent alloy balance in sterling silver.
Jewelry sold in the US cannot...