Silver is one of the rare elements that form the group of precious or noble metals. This group also includes gold, platinum and five platinum group metals.
Like all noble metals, silver under normal conditions is not exposed to air, water, or any other factors that usually lead to rapid corrosion and oxidation of “ordinary” metals. In addition, silver is quite rare in the earth’s crust and has a number of other remarkable properties, which classifies it as a precious metal.
History of discovery
Silver has been known to people for a long time. Historians first noted its significance around the 4th millennium BC. e. Then the first jewelry appeared from this noble metal, which was used as exchange currency.
Over time, people learned the properties of this material and began to use it to purify water from impurities. Shamans and clairvoyants valued this metal, calling it a protector of the soul. Ritual knives and sacred weapons were made from it. Astrologers called this material moonstone. He was supposed to show the way to lost travelers, drive out evil spirits and darkness along the way.
Types of silver
Depending on the method of surface treatment of a silver product, the noble metal is called as follows:
Sterling Silver Classic 925 silver with a smooth shiny surface without additional coating. The name was given in honor of an ancient English coin - sterling, which was minted from high quality silver.
Silver ring SL collection MY STORY (go to the SUNLIGHT catalog)
Matte Silver Silver with a rough, less shiny surface, which is obtained by heating the metal in sulfuric or hydrochloric acid to reduce the copper content in the surface layer of the alloy and produce an unusual decorative effect.
Silver ring SL collection SATIN TOUCH (go to catalog SUNLIGHT)
Blackened silver Silver with a chased pattern or engraving, coated with a special composition of lead, sulfur, and copper oxides, which acquires a black color after firing. This method of decorating jewelry was invented in Russia by craftsmen from Veliky Ustyug in the 17th century. Blackened silver does not tarnish and is less demanding on wearing conditions. A modern analogue of this method is silver oxidation technology, which also gives products a beautiful aged look.
Rhodium-plated silver Silver, coated with a thin but durable layer of rhodium, a platinum group metal, looks expensive and impressive, becomes more wear-resistant and does not tarnish.
Characteristics and properties
Material properties:
- Metal color: silver-white. A black coating may be observed in cracks, chips, and recesses.
- The more impurities a material contains, the faster it oxidizes in open air.
- Hardness index - up to 3 on the Moss scale.
- Density indicator - up to 12.
- Melting point - 961°C.
- Boiling point - 2162°C.
- High ductility and thermal conductivity.
Cutlery and jewelry cannot be made from pure silver because the metal is very soft. Most often, jewelry is made from an alloy of silver (92%) and copper (8%).
This material cannot be called toxic, but if you take drugs with a high content of it and do not follow the dosage, you can harm the body. Various unpleasant symptoms may develop:
- conjunctivitis, irritation of mucous membranes;
- change of normal skin color to purple;
- the appearance of spots on the face.
If you continue to use drugs with a high content of this metal, it will gradually accumulate in the body and combine with other trace elements. This will lead to a rapid deterioration of the general condition.
Jewelry with silver (Photo: Instagram / serebro_blesk_26)
Metal mining
In nature, the material occurs in the form of nuggets. More often it is found in lead and copper ores. Initially, the process of obtaining this metal consisted of 2 stages:
- ore mining;
- carrying out oxidative melting.
After this, a material with the least amount of impurities was obtained. Mining process now:
- Once silver-rich ore is discovered, one or more deep holes are drilled into the ground. For this, special drills are used.
- Explosives are placed in the holes. The charges are activated.
- Ore saturated with noble metal ends up on the surface of the earth.
Workers can only collect consumables for further cleaning and remelting.
The resulting silver is marked with different numbers. This is the so-called noble metal sample. The main types include:
- Sample 720. This is low grade material. 1 kg of alloy yields 720 g of silver and 280 g of copper.
- 800 purity: Another low grade material that cannot be used for jewelry as it has a yellow tint.
- Sample 830. The same can be said about this type of argentum as about 800.
- Sample 870. This metal is often used for counterfeiting jewelry. It is passed off as white gold and sold for much more.
The best samples are 925, 960, 999.
Silver markings on jewelry
The sample is indicated not only on paper tags that are sold along with jewelry. Marking is also required on the accessories themselves, so that you can see what percentage of metal they contain. The sample number is placed in different places:
- on a clasp or earrings;
- in the inner part;
- closer to the clasp.
If the product is very thin, then the sample is stamped on a small molten plate. On cookware, markings are placed on the back of the handle.
If there is no marking, this is a fake that contains no metal. Most often, unmarked products are made of medical or stainless steel. If your accessory is made in Russia, in addition to the sample number, there will be a small stamp on the jewelry.
Areas of application
Now about 50% of silver is used in industry. This is due to the special properties of the material. Main areas of application:
- Electronics manufacturing. In this area, metal is used due to its thermal and electrical conductivity. Small amounts of this material can be found in old Soviet switches. To create long-lasting electrical circuits on boards, argentum is dissolved. This is how silver nitrate appears, which is applied in a thin layer to the boards. It is used to create supercapacitors. The thinnest silver layer can be found on DVDs.
- Chemical production, soldering. Silver has a high tensile strength. Therefore, it is suitable for joining various metal parts. In this case, you can use Ag alloys with other metals and impurities. Due to the antibacterial properties of the material, it is suitable for connecting drinking water pipes. Without silver it is impossible to obtain formaldehyde and ethylene oxide.
- Medicine. The antibacterial properties of silver have been known to people for a long time. Previously, vessels for storing liquids were made from it. The water was purified from various bacteria, becoming healthier and tastier. People believed that if you wear accessories made of this metal, you can be cured of various diseases and cleanse your body of impurities. Today, this material is used to destroy pathogens, disinfect medical instruments, and surgeons’ workplaces. Often this metal is added to alloys of instruments for performing operations. With the help of Ag ions, patients are treated for infectious diseases, bones and joints are strengthened.
Silver is used to make various medical preparations.
Medical instrument (Photo: Instagram / surgical_instrument)
How to determine the authenticity of silver
The easiest way to verify authenticity is to find a hallmark. You can also take the jewelry to a workshop or pawnshop, where experts will tell you what standard the product belongs to and conduct an assessment. Before purchasing, be sure to inspect the links and the appearance of the product so that there are no scratches or damage.
You can also conduct an experiment at home to identify the real metal in the product. To do this, place the decoration in boiling water. If the accessory is made of real silver, it will maintain the temperature of boiling water for several minutes and become as hot as water.
Another way to check the authenticity of a home is to try to attract the product with a magnet. Silver of the highest standard is not attractive. Also, after contact with a silver product, look at your hands, if they are stained, this means that there is too much zinc in the product.
You can also check the authenticity of the product using iodine. Drop a small amount of the product and watch the reaction of the metal. If it is real, then a dark spot will remain on the surface. If the item is made of real silver, there will be a speck on it when you rub the chalky piece.
But many jewelers have learned to fake samples and pass off products with low silver content as high-grade. You can determine the authenticity of a product by looking at the stamp. If the product or decoration is made of soft metal, then the sample will be soft.
To find out the authenticity of an antique product, you need to turn to professionals. Indeed, in past centuries, one sample was produced in specific years and placed in one place of branding. It is also worth considering that hallmarks differed in different countries. In Russia, on silver goods one could see the outline of a woman’s face in a kokoshnik, the hallmark number and the sign of the State Inspectorate. Fraudsters do not know about these nuances, and therefore, before you buy an antique item, you need to make sure of its authenticity.
Often, manufacturers of fakes transfer the mark from silver jewelry to costume jewelry. Only masters can check whether the mark is real. Only upon closer examination can traces of soldering be noticed. For this you will need a magnifying glass.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
- Silver jewelry goes with any outfit. The same cannot be said about gold. Gold items can ruin a person's appearance. It often overshadows the appearance of clothing, attracting increased attention.
- It is customary to wear gold jewelry for large celebrations and ceremonies. Silver is suitable for any holiday, business meeting, interview.
- Silver jewelry is suitable for both men and women. There are no predominant factors for gender differences.
- Durability, strength, wear resistance.
This metal has no serious drawbacks, except that it darkens over time.
The cost of silver depending on the sample
The cost of different silver samples is subject to change annually. You need to choose which silver to buy based on your budget. If finances allow, you need to choose high-quality jewelry.
The main factors that influence the price of silver products:
- metal price rate on the international exchange;
- try;
- product weight;
- trade fair;
- the presence of decorative elements and stones;
- markup in a retail store.
To understand whether the price offered for silver jewelry is adequate, you need to compare its value at a pawnshop. The price of finished jewelry depends on the standard of the silver and how many impurities it contains. The higher the standard, the higher the price of accessories. If we talk about antique things, the amount of pure metal is not always taken into account; the cost of the product is determined by its condition, weight and year of manufacture.
Silver is a noble metal, jewelry made of which looks attractive on the body of women, men and children. But in order for the product to serve you for a long time, you need to choose high-quality, high-quality accessories. The article described which silver samples are suitable for jewelry, dishes or decorative elements.
