Silver - The Precious White Gold!

Pure silver (Ag) has a melting point of 1761 (F)/ 961 (C) and its specific gravity is 10.49 units, whereas sterling silver has a melting point of 1640 (F)/ 893 (C) and its specific gravity being 10.36 units.Silver is the most popular metal, owing to a number of factors.

(1) It is a precious metal and therefore anything made in silver has intrinsic value.

(2) Silver is a relatively cheap metal with which to work, taking into account the amounts required to produce small pieces of jewelery.

Pure silver, which is known as 'fine silver', is, like fine gold, a very soft metal and is therefore of little use to the jeweler in this form, except as a plating metal. It is therefore alloyed with other metals to produce harder silver alloys. Silver Alloys:

Sterling Silver

Britannia Silver

This is a higher standard of silver alloy containing 958.4 parts fine silver and 41.6 parts copper. {This standard was introduced in England by Act of Parliament in 1697 to replace sterling silver as the obligatory standard for items of "wrought plate". - Wikipedia

One distinct disadvantage of silver is its affinity for atmospheric sulphur, which produces a golden brown stain or tarnish film. When silver is subjected to successive heating, be it for soldering, annealing, casting, etc., the copper in the alloy oxidizes and forms a grey stain on the surface of the metal. 

What is 10K, 14K, 24K Gold

There are many metals that are used for making different types of jewelry, including golden jewelry, silver jewelry and diamond jewelry. The market research says that more people, especially women these days are found wearing silver chains, sterling silver jewelry and silver pendants.

Whether it is gold, silver or diamond, their values are measured in karats. Ideal Metal for Jewelry

Gold is an expensive and a valuable metal. The metal does not decay and tarnish. Gold is a very pricey metal. The mixing with nickel, silver and zinc also increases the rigidity and solidity of gold.

24 karat is the pure gold. The second next in purity is 18 karat consisting of 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of other elements, thus equating the purity of 75%. The purity of 12-karat is 58.3% marked and has 12 parts of gold and 12 parts of other elements, mounting it purity to 50%

10-karat comprises 10 parts of gold and 14 parts of other additional elements. This the most impure form, consisting of 41.7% gold. The color can be changed by adding different metals and exhilarating colors to pure gold. Greenish cast gold is prepared by adding silver.

Silver jewelry

If you look up at sterling silver ornaments, including silver chains and silver pendants, you will find a mark of "925" that states that it has 92.5% pure silver in it.