Silver has always been a valuable metal every since it was discovered long ago before 4000 BC. Its popularity has done nothing but grow steadily throughout the ages as it possesses a unique ability to be able to keep with the current fashions of the times. The uses of silver range widely from being used in film and computers to an invisible coating on thermal windows. Silver has been used in the currency of many countries and powers of the world. However, the basic most notable use of silver is its beauty and appeal as an item of jewelry. However, the history of silver carries it’s own allure.

The first major silver mines were recorded around 4000 BC located in Anatolia (which is now Turkey). This was mostly the main source of silver for many of the growing cultures in that area of the world and others that would trade for silver. Around 3000 BC there are records of more intense efforts to mine silver as its value expanded worldwide. The Chinese are said to have improved on refining the silver around 2500 BC to make it even more alluring and sought after as well as easier to excavate. Throughout the passing years, mines in Greece became the main producers of silver for the rest of the world. This continued for many centuries till Spain came into power with it’s own deposits of silver that brought them power in trading. Spain became a main supplier of silver for most of the main countries in the area and used it’s silver to trade for valuable spices and other goods.

Silver began to accelerate throughout the world when North America and South America were discovered. Mexico and Peru were discovered to hold silver mines which dwarfed the silver deposits that had recently been mined to the east. Soon it was said that more than three quarters of silver in the world was mined from Peru and Mexico.

With new technology came new ways to mine silver along with new refinement processes to enhance it’s value to an even new extent with its uses as well as beauty.
Today, Mexico and Peru still produce the most silver in the world today. Australia comes in a distant third. It’s said that 1/5 of all the silver in the world comes from Mexico alone.
With all the mining of silver throughout the world came different styles and different ways to wear silver. Silver has always been known to enhance the beauty of precious stones such as diamonds when they’re set into a ring or necklace. Many powerful men and women throughout the ages would wear magnificent silver jewelry items to show off their power.

Silver jewelry comes in a different variety of styles and textures. The usual silver that is seen on jewelry is usually highly polished and reflects the light beautifully. However, silver also comes in a different variety of different finishes such as rhodium. It gives silver the characteristic of white gold with it’s silver but slightly darker finish.

Sterling silver jewelry is always made of silver which is 92.5% pure, it is composed of 925 parts of pure silver and 75 parts alloy, usually copper. Sterling silver jewelry always has the stamp of sterling silver on it, accompanied at times with the name of the designer or jewelry manufacturer. The word "sterling" is the most respected in the jewelry business today. Since pure silver by itself is too soft, another metal such as copper is added to it, to give the silver its added stiffness and other qualities. The resulting mixture which results is composed of 925 parts pure silver in every 1000 -- this proportion never varies -- it is fixed by law

Care

To keep your jewelry sparkling you’ve got to take care of it! Cleaning your jewelry is an important part of its care.
No matter how careful you are with your jewelry daily life will take its toll on it – grime and dirt, hair spray residue, soap film – they all cause a residue to build up on your jewelry making it dull and unimpressive.
Cleaning your jewelry should be done with a little caution. Some stones such as turquoise, pearls, or opals, do not fair well with harsher cleaners. Use only warm soapy water and a Q-tip to gently clean these stones or gems. Rinse and polish. Toothpaste also works well.
Place a small amount on a soft bristle brush, scrub, rinse well, then polish with a soft cloth.
Sterling silver jewelry is beautiful. However, overtime it will tarnish and not look so beautiful. It is important to clean your sterling jewelry regularly. There are many silver cleaner dips on the market which can be used for jewelry that has no stones or gems.Do not let your jewelry soak for long periods of time in cleaner. The moisture can damage some jewelry