A great fashion statement and accessory, affordable, and available in a vast selection of designs from ethnic motifs to contemporary avant-garde styles, silver Jewellery continues to capture the attention of women around the world and increase in popularity year after year. With its bright white colour and ability to be polished to a beautiful shine, silver has adorned mankind since ancient times and also been used as a form of money. Silver is the most reflective of all precious metals and silver earrings tend to light up a woman's face.

Less expensive than gold or platinum, sterling silver is an excellent choice for a first-time Jewellery purchase and allows the wearer to own several rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings that can mix and match to her wardrobe. Silver Jewellery is fun to wear and you'll find a variety of styles and designs from trendy sterling anklets and toe rings to sophisticated and sleek neck collars, bracelets and earrings.

Today most (over 90%) silver is used in industrial applications. Compounds of silver are used to make mirrors, electrical contacts, dental fillings, coins, and electroplating. Over 40% of all silver mined in the United States is used as silver nitrate and silver halide in photographic developing. The Kodak company is the single largest consumer of silver in the world.

In recent years silver has lost much of its value as a reserve metal as well as a traded commodity. However, its low price often means it acts as a leading metal in jewelry fashion--silver craftsmen are free to experiment with new and innovative designs, which are later duplicated in more expensive gold and platinum once the "style" is safely established. Silver is popular among younger people attempting a less formal look in their accessorizing, and among those who simply find gold and platinum too old-world and ostentatious. Silver is also the brightest reflector of any metal (except for liquid mercury) and can be polished to a high sheen that even platinum can't achieve. In fact, the chemical symbol for silver, Ag, is derived from the Latin, argentum, meaning "white and shining."

The finish on silver can be high polished, matte or brushed (rubbed with an abrasive), satin (a smoother matte), sandblasted (rough matte), oxidized (chemically blackened), or antiqued (chemically "aged"). Silver is often said to have a "patina," a worn-looking finish that is achieved through frequent use and handling, and which is particular to the wearer's skin chemistry. In its pure form silver is almost as soft as gold, and is therefore usually alloyed with copper for strength. Karatage is not marked because legally anything called "silver" or "sterling silver" is 92.5% pure. Sometimes silver from south of the border is designated "Mexican silver," which runs anywhere from 90% to 99% pure. Purity is really not something to worry about with silver.