16 Quick & Easy Facts About Silver

1 - Silver jewellery is usually an alloy 

 

Sterling silver is actually an alloy composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals. Although fine silver or pure silver exists which is 99.99% pure silver, it is too soft to be used on its own for most purposes. By combining other metals, it gives sterling silver its durability and strength, making it perfect for jewellery that stands the test of time. 

 

2 It is a hypoallergenic metal

Good news for those with sensitive skin: Hypoallergenic means that it is relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Its composition minimises the risk of allergic reactions, making it a great choice for people who struggle with metal allergies. 

3 Silver must be hallmarked by law

Silver jewellery must be marked or stamped at one of the four assay offices to indicate its purity. For sterling silver this will be a 925 mark. This stamp will also indicate which office stamped the article and which brand/ business created the piece. Silver items that weigh less than 7.78 grams however are exempt from such rules. 

4 Sterling silver tarnishes

Tarnish, that natural darkening that occurs over time, can actually enhance the beauty of sterling silver jewellery. What happens is that silver reacts to the sulfur in the air which forms a silver sulfide which is the tarnish we see. While some people love the antique look, if you prefer a shiny finish, a quick polish can easily restore its original lustre. 

5 Silver was 1 of the first discovered metals 

The first major centers of silver mining and craftsmanship were in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and Greece where the first coins were fashioned over 5,000 years ago. Civilisations have long used silver coins as currency to trade for products & services. Silver has been used for thousands of years for coins, jewellery, religious objects & tableware. 

6 Argent means both silver & money in French

In fact, the words silver and money are interchangeable in many languages.

• Latin American Spanish - plata

• Hebrew - kessef

• Thailand - Ngern

Which is perhaps unsurprising given that US coins (dimes, quarters and half-dollars) contained 90% silver until 1965.

Argentina even derived its name from the Latin word, Argentum, meaning silver, due to the great amount of silver that was found there by European explorers. 

7 Silver can be recycled 

Precious silver is extracted from used sterling silver materials like jewellery. No purity is lost during the extraction, so the original jewellery and new jewellery are of the exact same quality.

8 Antibacterial properties

You may know that silver has been used in medicinal settings due to its antibacterial properties. Some bandages/ dressings also contain silver for this reason. Silver is also incorporated into a variety of medical devices such as implants, further ramping up the demand for this precious metal. 

9 More valuable than gold in Ancient Egypt 

The Egyptian people once believed that silver was of much higher value and importance than gold. Sterling silver jewellery was rarer and worn thinner than its chunky gold jewellery counterparts.

10 No word rhymes with silver

Interestingly, silver is one of the words in the English language that has no other words that rhyme with it.

12 Silver is the highly reflective

Polished silver reflects 95% of the visible light spectrum & it's often used to make mirrors, by applying a thin layer of silver to the back of glass.

We've used this reflective metal in mirrors, telescopes, microscopes, and solar cells, allowing us to explore the depths of the universe.

13 Silver is the best electric conductor of the elements. 

It is used as the standard by which other conductors are measured. On a scale of 0 to 100, silver ranks 100 in terms of electrical conductivity. Copper ranks 97 and gold ranks 76. This capacity to be not only an excellent conductor of electricity but also heat has made silver highly valuable for industrial purposes such as electronics and solar panels. 

14 Silver is highly ductile & malleable.

Silver is a great metal to work with and create beautiful designs from because it can easily be shaped. Silver can also be easily drawn into very thin wires which can create some beautiful designs by weaving tiny threads together. 

15 Silver is actively traded in world commodity markets with its price continually fluctuating. 

16 Silver is relatively rare

While gold is rarer than silver, silver is still relatively rare which drives up its value.