Silver Guide

Take A Shine To The World's Most Lustrous Metal...

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Silver often comes second place on the podium of precious metals. However, at Bevilles, we create stunning silver rings, silver bracelets, silver earrings, and other silver jewellery that still holds a candle to the brilliance of gold.

Looking for top quality silver jewellery? Visit a Bevilles store near you to find the perfect piece.

The History Of Silver:

Like gold, silver has held a top spot in the world economy for thousands of years. Silver found its way to this mantle as one of the seven metals of antiquity—the elements that forged the modern world we know today. It's value has underpinned trade, craftsmanship, art, and science throughout all of recorded history.

Silver also has an interesting symbolic history in religion and folklore:

• A silver bullet is a symbol of purity—the one thing that can kill certain creatures of the night.
• In the Bible, Judas Iscariot was said to have betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
• Silver was used in projection in the early days of cinema, leading to the metonymy, the silver screen.

Silver also has many applications in the modern world outside of trade and bartering:

• Silver is highly conductive, and is a key element in new and emerging technology, such as solar.
• Silver's antibacterial properties make it an ideal coating for medical instruments.
• Aboard the International Space Station, astronauts drink water purified by ionised silver.

The rarity and beauty of silver also makes it a popular base for silver jewellery and tableware. Naturally, silver is far more abundant than gold, but is much rarer as a native element in its pure form. More often than not, silver is mined and processed as an alloy, leading to less pure, but equally brilliant results.

Silver Standards:

Besides rarity, silver shares other properties with gold. It is a relatively soft and malleable metal, and is ideal for making silver jewellery. For this reason, silver needs to be combined with other metals to create an alloy that is stronger, more robust, and more resistant to damage.

There are several popular silver alloys in the silver jewellery market. Here they are from most expensive to least expensive:

• Fine silver reserved for international commodities trading. It is the most pure standard of silver, containing 99.9% silver.
• Britannia silver was developed in 17th Century Britain to heighten the sterling silver standard. It is an alloy of 95.8% silver and 4.2% copper.
• Sterling silver is the most common type of silver, and the most readily available in the jewellery market. It is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
• Coin silver was traditional made from melting down old silver coins, and has a purity of around 90% silver and 10% copper.
• Russian, Scandinavian, and German silver are all below 90% purity.
• Silver-filled jewellery is made from a sterling silver shell that is filled with less pure silver.
• Silver-plated jewellery is usually reserved for cheaper costume pieces, and features a very thin plating of silver over other metals.

Caring For Silver Jewellery:

All types of silver jewellery require some kind of care and attention to ensure that they are always looking their most spectacular. Silver oxidises and tarnishes over time, and must be polished and cleaned frequently.

In the busyness of your day-to-day life, it's easy to forget how precious jewellery is. Here are some tips for daily care:

• Remove your silver jewellery before sleeping, bathing, or doing physical activity.
• Store all silver jewellery pieces separate to prevent accidental damage and scratching.
• Never use chlorine, bleach, or other household chemicals to clean your silver jewellery.

Here's what you should do to keep your pieces looking their best:

1. Rise your silvery jewellery with warm water to remove any surface dirt or grime.
2. Using a Silver Jewellery Cleaner, clean your jewellery thoroughly but gently.
3. Rinse off your silver jewellery with warm water a second time.
4. Polish your jewellery with a silver polishing cloth until it is restored to its former glory.