Sterling Silver Pendants

Silver Ore

What is Sterling Silver? By definition, sterling silver is 92.5% 'fine', or pure silver, and 7.5% other types of metals. Pure, or fine silver is a bit too soft for most jewelry applications, so another metal, usually copper, is added to the pure silver. The resulting alloy is durable enough to be polished and worn, while retaining the beauty and luster of fine silver. Silver is found in silver ores and in ores of other metals like gold and copper. The use of silver is as old as mankind's records.

Silver as Ornamentation

Ancient written documents and archaological finds reveal the use of silver jewelry to be as old and varied as man's history. In many cases silver was considered as precious as gold. In more recent times, silver is often used as a cheaper substitute for gold. This has given silver a bad reputation, since silver is not an appropriate substitute for gold.

The primary difference between silver and gold, as far as jewelry is concerned, is that silver will develop a layer of oxides on the surface over time. When using silver in jewelry, unless oxidation is taken into consideration, the jewelry piece will not stand the test of time very well.

When using gold, larger smooth surfaces are preferred, which highlight the non-tarnishing qualities of the metal. Silver, on the other hand should be worked in such a way to complement it's ability to oxidize. When designed with a non-smooth surface, the metal will develop an 'antiqued' finish. As silver jewelry is worn, continual rubbing against the skin or clothing keeps the higher surfaces polished, while the deeper, recessed surfaces develop a darker color. The handmade pendants and beads are dipped into an oxidizing solution, which turns them completely black, as if they have been weathered for years and then re-polished. This polishes the raised surfaces more than the recessed ones, which enhances the detail of each piece. This is similar to what the item would look like if worn continually. We design our silver jewelry to take advantage of silver's unique qualities.

About Silversmithing Repousse is an ancient form of silversmithing in which a sheet of silver, or any bendable metal, is 'pushed' in order to raise the surface of the sheet in certain areas. The word repousse comes from the French verb meaning "to push back". Chasing refers to making marks on the surface of silver with various hand tools. When the chasing tool is struck with a hammer at just the right angle, the tool moves along the surface of the silver leaving a mark. It takes practice and patience to master the skill of chasing.