From a few dollars to tens of thousands, the world of silver jewelry is vast and deep.
Silver, although common and easily accessible, still confuses many people. Here are some of the questions and answers to unravel the mysteries surrounding silver:
- Why is gold more expensive than silver, even though they have always been mentioned together?
- Why do some silver jewelry items cost only a few dollars while others can be priced in the tens of thousands?
- Is tarnished silver indicative of poor quality?
- How do you clean tarnished silver?...
This
article aims to answer all your questions about silver!
1.What is Silver?
"Silver,"
like "gold, platinum, and rhodium," is a commonly found precious
metal.
Humans have a long history of using silver, and its applications are extensive. It can be found in household utensils, jewelry, decorations, and even medical research.
Similar
to gold, silver has a "soft" characteristic. Silver with a purity of
90% can be easily bent with your teeth.
Additionally,
silver has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. The misconception
that "pure silver feels cool in the summer" is just a rumor.
1.Is 925 Sterling Silver Not Pure Silver, While 999 Silver Is?
The
silverware market has become more standardized nowadays, with businesses
generally labeling their products as either 925 silver or 999 silver.
However,
this can be confusing. What kind of silver is considered pure silver?
In simple terms, 925 silver is a silver alloy with a silver content of 92.5%, and it can be referred to as pure silver when it meets this standard.
Currently,
the majority of silver jewelry on the market, especially in Europe and America,
is made of 925 silver.
On the other hand, 999 silver is a silver alloy with a silver content of 99.9%. In the market, 999 silver is commonly known as fine silver.
Fine
silver is often used for silver locks and bracelets for children. However,
excessively pursuing fine silver doesn't hold much significance because the
appearance and price are similar, and excessive purification can lead to
unnecessary chemical pollution.
If
we must differentiate, 925 silver is slightly harder than 999 silver, and it
oxidizes (which will be explained later) at a slower rate.
Therefore,
if you want to create intricate and detailed silver jewelry, 925 silver is generally
the preferred choice.
In
summary, both 925 silver and 999 silver are considered pure silver. The choice
between them for specific silver jewelry depends on the complexity of the
design.
2.Are Tibetan Silver, Miao Silver, and Thai Silver Really Pure Silver?
In
the past, Tibetan silver had a silver content of around 30%. However, nowadays,
most items claiming to be Tibetan silver are actually made of white copper
alloy with very low silver content.
Generally,
we do not consider these items as silver. Miao silver usually has a silver
content between 20% and 40%, and its purity is not very high. However, it is
primarily sold for its craftsmanship.
If you appreciate it, you can buy it, but if you are concerned about the silver content, it's better to avoid it.
As for Thai silver, it is an antique
technique that involves the reaction of sulfur compounds with silver, forming a
black oxide on the surface to create a retro feel.
In summary, items labeled as Tibetan silver or Miao silver are not pure silver. Thai silver, on the other hand, is a technique, and its silver content can vary.
However, items using the Thai silver technique are usually made of 925
silver or 990 silver, with most being pure silver.
2.Why Does Silver...
1.Why Does Silver Tarnish and Turn Green?
Firstly,
it is normal for silver to tarnish.
Silver
slowly oxidizes in the air, forming a brown-black compound calledsilver oxide.
If silver comes into contact with sulfides, it quickly turns into black silver
sulfide.
This
principle was used in ancient times to detect poison using silver needles, as
many toxins contain sulfur.
If
silver turns green, it is likely due to a higher copper content in the silver
jewelry (common in Tibetan and Miao silver pieces). The green color is caused
by the formation of copper oxide during oxidation.
Because
silver oxidation is difficult to avoid, it is normal for silver jewelry to
tarnish over time.
To delay the oxidation process, modern merchants often electroplate a layer of gold, platinum, or rhodium onto the surface of the silver.
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| Many designer brands use silver plating or platinum plating for their products |
However, this step
was rarely performed in the past since silver was commonly used as currency,
and people were aware that silver would tarnish.
Therefore,
when silver items turn black, it's not a cause for great concern. I remember
when my great-grandmother showed me her silver dollar from the Yuan Shikai era,
and I said, "It has turned black!"
Her
response was calm: "Isn't that normal? Just give it a wipe."
2.Does Pure Silver Become Whiter with Heat?
Generally, silver with a purity of over 95% will turn white when heated, while silver with a purity below 95% will turn black.
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However, this test is not very meaningful
because if silver is gold-plated, it will also turn black when heated.
Moreover,
I don't recommend conducting destructive tests like this. Even your Tiffany
silverware would turn black when heated.
3.Why is Pure Silver Considered Good for Ear Piercings?
After
getting their ears pierced for the first time, many girls are advised by
merchants, mothers, or grandmothers to wear pure silver earrings, claiming that
it helps care for the ears.
There
is some basis for this claim. Silver ions and certain compounds have exhibited
inhibitory effects on various microorganisms. Silver itself is generally
skin-friendly, with a low risk of allergies.
So, wearing pure silver jewelry can reduce the likelihood of infection after ear piercing to some extent. From this perspective, it can indeed be beneficial for the ears.
However, it is not a guarantee for everyone because some people are allergic to metals. They may be allergic to silver but not to gold, or vice versa.
In such cases, individuals need to try different metals to find out which precious metal is more compatible and suitable for them.
Personally, as long as it's expensive, I'm not allergic to anything.
4.Can a silver teapot really sterilize and reduce inflammation?
This claim originated from the fact that in earlier times, European aristocrats used silverware for dining, and their rate of illness during epidemics was lower than that of ordinary people who used iron or tin utensils.
The principle behind this is similar to what was mentioned earlier – silver does have certain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Some antibacterial medical supplies also add silver ions. When I was young, I often used nanosilver antibacterial agents after falling down.
However, the antibacterial effect of silver ions is certainly limited. As a daily item, this effect should be considered as an additional function rather than something to rely on too heavily.
So, if you are feeling unwell, it is better to seek medical attention. For regular disinfection and sterilization needs, alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are sufficient.
3.What should you do with silver?
1.How do you maintain tarnished silver?
Now that we know tarnishing is inevitable for silver, proper maintenance is important.
I once read a book called "The Butler's Guide Illustrated" that mentioned one of the important tasks of a household butler is to polish silverware.
Silver cutlery should be dried after use to effectively prevent tarnishing.
If tarnishing hasoccurred, you can use a silver polishing cloth to clean it.
A silver polishing cloth is inexpensive, usually costing just a few dollars on certain online platforms, and it can be reused multiple times, making it cost-effective.
Whenever I see various magical methods on social media, such as heating with aluminum foil or soaking in vinegar and saltwater, my blood pressure rises.
Why are brands reluctant to provide a two-dollar silver polishing cloth when selling silver?
Do they find joy in seeing consumers conduct chemical experiments?
Of course, some people have also expressed that some silver items have many intricate corners that are difficult to reach with a silver polishing cloth.
In that case, you can purchase silver cleaning solutions and soak the items for a while to restore their shine.
Additionally, the sponges used for nail polishing during manicures can also be used to polish silver, providing a quick and effective result.
Therefore, whether you choose a silver polishing cloth, silver cleaning solution, or a nail polishing sponge, all of them can solve the issue of silver tarnishing.
2.Can you buy silver teapots and silver bowls? What is the best option?
You can buy silver tableware, as long as you have the means.
Silver is edible (in trace amounts, of course, swallowing a silver piece is not recommended), so as long as it is pure silver, the risk of toxicity is minimal.
Using silverware for eating and drinking may not contribute to longevity, and its weak antibacterial properties and specialized sterilization procedures certainly cannot compare to other methods. However, using silverware for daily use poses no significant safety concerns.
Moreover, it adds a sense of ceremony to one's personal use, evoking the style of the old aristocracy.
It also enhances the prestige when giving silver tableware as a gift. I once gave a silver water bottle to an elder, and it led to them proudly showcasing it whenever they went out to play mahjong.
As for what to buy, I personally recommend purchasing silver with a purity of 925 or higher, as it provides greater safety with a higher silver content.
By the way, many people nowadays like to buy vintage tableware, and I have bought them myself as well.
However, before using vintage tableware, I suggest putting it in a disinfection cabinet for sterilization. After all, it is not about relying on silver's "sterilization and disinfection" properties. It's just that these items have been around for a while, so it's essential to disinfect them properly before use.
3.How can you ensure that you are buying genuine silver?
Whenever the topic of buying gold or silver jewelry arises, the issue of authenticity cannot be avoided.
You might have seen in movies and TV dramas that shop assistants bite the silver given to them as a tip. This is because both gold and silver are precious metals that become softer as their purity increases, and this wisdom from our ancestors still holds some truth.
However, this method can only provide a rough estimate, as you wouldn't know the difference in softness when biting 925 silver and 999 silver.
So, as the old saying goes, you need a certificate.
Of course, nowadays, there are many unscrupulous merchants who provide fake certificates as well.
If you are unsure, you can send the item to a jewelry and gemstone testing institution in your province for further verification. You can easily find their contact information with a quick search.
4.Was it really possible in ancient times of China to receive ten taels of silver as a tip for good service?
No, it was not possible unless the person giving the tip was foolishly wealthy.
Let's take an example from the Water Margin (a Chinese classic novel) where Song Jiang gave Li Kui ten taels of silver when they first met. What does that represent?
According to some reference materials, during the Northern Song Dynasty in Kaifeng, the capital of China, around two-thirds of the population had an average monthly expenditure of about 15 guan.
Considering that 10 guan is equal to one tael of silver, receiving ten taels of silver would be equivalent to the entire household expenditure of an average family for six and a half months.
If a rich person suddenly gave you six and a half months' worth of living expenses, wouldn't you excitedly hold onto their leg and exclaim, "Thank you! You gave me so much money. Your boyfriend won't be angry, right?"
My conversion may not be very accurate, but it is sufficient to demonstrate that ten taels of silver in ancient times was indeed a considerable amount of money.
In reality, people who are foolishly wealthy are rare, so don't be deceived by TV dramas.
Apart from the high cost of silver, another reason is that in ancient times, gold and silver were mainly used as semi-circulating currencies for paying taxes, salaries, and foreign trade.
Ordinary people used copper coins and iron coins for daily transactions, and at most, they would use some small silver pieces.
The scenes in TV dramas where people pull out piles of silver ingots would rarely occur in ancient times.
5.What silver items have collectible value?
This question is a bit difficult to answer.
Although both gold and silver are precious metals, silver is not as valuable as gold.
This is mainly because gold and silver have different production levels, and there haven't been significant breakthroughs in gold mining and smelting technology, making the cost higher.
Silver, on the other hand, has higher production and is easier to refine, leading to a significant price difference.
For example, the current international price of silver is 0.815 USD/gram, while the price of gold is 58.49 USD/gram.
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| Chaîne d'Ancre Punk silver bracelets，by Hermès |
Moreover, in the current market situation, gold is repurchased based on real-time prices, while silver is usually repurchased at a slightly lower price than the real-time price.
This means that even if you buy silver bars or ingots without any additional craftsmanship costs, you will lose a portion of its value when exchanging it.
Therefore, considering silver as an investment to preserve value is not practical.
Regarding which silver items can be collected, at present, silver items with high artistic value have greater collectible value.
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| Panda Silver ornaments/decorative pieces，byBuccellati |
For example, Tiffany bird's nests, Buccellati silver statues, and intricate traditional silver jewelry from ethnic minorities in our country are relatively more collectible.
However, if you simply want to wear silver jewelry in your daily life, you can buy whatever you like without worrying about these factors.
After discussing so much, I believe everyone has gained some understanding of silver.
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