Why is 925 silver jewellery hallmarked?

We are often asked why silver jewellery has hallmarks on it. In the UK the most common hallmark is a 925 stamp. In other countries you may see hallmarks with the words 'silver' or 'quality silver' in capital letters. Although the types of hallmarking used internationally vary, the principle behind the hallmarking system for silver jewellery remains the same.

Let us first look at the law as it stands. In the UK nearly all high quality 925 sterling silver jewellery must be stamped with a 925 hallmark. A rigorous body of laws, dating back from Medieval times, governs the system and legal requirements of hallmarking. More recently the 1999 European regulations and directives have introduced further requirements to the Hallmarking Act 1973.
Only those 925 silver items specifically excluded by law may legally avoid the requirement of a hallmark. Similar laws apply all around the world and are usually just as firm as those in the UK. Where hallmarking laws exist you inevitably find an official body tasked with carefully monitoring the hallmarking system and empowered to issue hefty penalties for any breaches.

Now that we know what the law is, we can look at why it exists. In essence hallmarking laws are designed to protect the consumer. High quality 925 silver is a combination of 92.5% silver and the remaining 7.5% is composed of another alloy, added to increase durability and resistance to damage. Unscrupulous jewellery merchants and retailers were tempted in the past to reduce the total level of silver in this combination. Furthermore, the dishonest producers and sellers escaped punishment because it is impossible to assess the total percentage of silver in an item of jewellery without chemical testing it.

Although it is fine to sell silver jewellery which contains less than 92.5% silver, such jewellery can not be branded as 925 silver. 925 sterling silver has a reputation for excellence and is justifiably the consumer's preferred choice. It contains a high percentage of silver while the 7.5% alloy added to the mix enhances the quality and strength of each item. The benefits of passing-off inferior silver jewellery as 925 quality are therefore patently obvious.

The hallmarking system was designed to resolve the problems of dishonest traders and to address the drop in consumer's confidence in 925 silver. A third party - such as the current main Assay Offices of London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh in the UK - would analyse and stamp each item of 925 jewellery. As this third party carried out all chemical analysis themselves, and then issued the hallmark stamp, all items stamped with the 925 hallmark were guaranteed to conformed to the required legal standard. Furthermore, heavy fines and criminal sanctions were introduced to ensure public trust in the hallmarking scheme.

The hallmarking scheme remains in operation today in the UK and most countries around the world use a similar system to ensure customers can buy 925 silver with confidence.
As an interesting historical side note the silver jewellery hallmark originated in the early Middle Ages in England. At first only the Goldsmith’s Hall in London was able to mark silver – thus the word hallmark, being a mark given in Goldsmith’s Hall, came into common use.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley Shameli, the author of this article, is a director of http://www.purdicejewellery.co.uk. He also contributes to the Purdice Jewellery library of interesting jewellery facts at http://www.purdicejewellery.co.uk/qanda.asp.

Hot Wedding Trend: Platinum Wedding Rings

In our hungry-for-anything new pop culture world, celebrities are often the ones that can start a hot fashion trend seemingly overnight. With their heavy media exposure, they are often photographed wearing the latest styles in fashion and jewelry.
Platinum engagement and wedding rings are the latest celebrity trend that has taken the jewelry industry by storm. Several high-profile newlyweds have taken a shine to the cool elegance of platinum.
“Platinum is like our relationship in that it is strong, precious and timeless,” says Nick Lachey about the custom made platinum wedding rings he and his wife Jessica Simpson tied the knot with.
It seems that view of the lustrous metal is shared by other celebrity couples as well such as: Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Adam Sandler and Jackie Titone, as well as, popular actresses Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson.
Celebrities are especially fond of pairing fancy colored diamonds with their platinum rings. Also, the three diamond platinum engagement ring has quickly become all the rage among new brides.
So, if you’re looking to buy diamond jewelry online, whether it’s for a special occasion like a wedding, or a gift for a special person, consider platinum jewelry as one of your best and brightest options.



About The Author
Copyright 2004
Donna Monday One special moment. One special ring. http://www.1-love-rings.com

The Secret Of Silver Jewelry

When we talk about precious metals we usually mean gold, platinum and another pure metal, fine silver. Silver is one of the original materials of value mentioned in the Bible, together with other originals such as precious gemstones that existed from the beginning of time.
This explains part of the attraction associated with these 'non-virtual' commodities - they existed for a very long time in human history, and presumably even before. Used throughout all generations and nations they have been and are one of the preferred ways to display symbols of value and are used as objects of beauty and style in jewelry. As a form of personal expression and 'street art'.
Thinking of fashion styles we tend to look at clothing, hair styling and makeup first. However accessories are a major part of the outfit. Jewelry one of its coolest forms.
Why is silver jewelry one of the constants that remain throughout history? What is the real mystery and the secret of silver? It's not only its cool attraction -- it is one of the commodities that existed before paper money, and it will retain it's value after currencies are gone.
In a world that goes more virtual by the minute we keep a few valuables that have their own pre-set value outside our current reality. Currencies will go virtual, jewelry will not.
To give you an idea about the differences of investments in tangible and intangible products and how it works out in real life, let me give you an example that nearly did cost me $25.000 in the past.
During the first oil crisis I lived in New Zealand for a few years and had to invest my assets in appropriate channels at that time. Because back then not only oil prices went up, also other commodities such as gold and silver increased slightly in value and I decided to invest some money in metals.
After locating a company that advertised selling of gold bullion, I went to their downtown store and asked a clerk to purchase gold for about $25.000. I never did this kind of investment before and was a bit unsure about where to keep it safe from curious people and for the possible event of burglars in the house.
Knowing what was on my mind the clerk asked me that memorable question "would you like to have this in gold options, stocks or physical bullion?" He went through great lengths to explain me the advantages of "gold papers" that follow the value of gold at any time, so increase in value if the gold price further increases. There would be no necessity to actually touch physical things, and I could cash in the papers at any time.
I almost agreed to his offer, when suddenly a small yet bright thought of warning flashed my mind. Something that a goldsmith I met before told me years earlier, he said: "If you ever buy gold, remember the reason why you buy it, and do not buy virtual gold, but the real thing only".
This thought won in the end because my adviser taught me many basic things about jewelry and metals, and I highly respected his opinion. Turned out he was right. Less than 6 months later, the company I bought the bullion from faced bankruptcy and all their options, shares and other papers lost all of their value. I still had my physical gold however, that increased in value by about 10% at that time.
With that example fresh in mind, I personally still make distinctions when I buy personal products that enhance my lifestyle today.
Yes I invest a lot in software for example that enhances my virtual PC desktop, and helps websites function the way they should, and also loose a lot of it every few years when a harddisk or server crashes. I also enjoy the latest designer clothes, however they wear out and generally get damaged by usage over time.
However I keep a small collection of silver and gold jewelry in the same fresh looking condition as I originally bought it many years ago. These items never wear.



About The Author
George Ahrens is editor at BlueOceanJewelry.com where you can find a fresh breeze in style of unique silver jewelry with a touch of smart elegance and sophistication. New designs with colorful precious gemstones that express vitality and dynamic energy. Bold statements of style, fun and timeless elegance. Latest Trends First http://www.BlueOceanJewelry.com

Silver Tarnish and Removing Silver Tarnish

Each year we get hundreds of emails from silver jewelry lovers. They find that their lovely silver jewelry has tarnished. Many sellers do not clearly explain the process of silver tarnishing to buyers and buyers are shocked to see their gorgeous silver jewelry gradually change color to a darkish dull shade of yellow, brown and even black.
So what exactly is silver tarnish? Can the process of silver tarnish be slowed down or eliminated? What about anti-tarnish platings, are they really useful? How can silver tarnish be removed? and finally Can tarnished silver jewelry look good? In this article we provide simple and lucid explanations for these and other questions. We have been as non-technical as possible and hope that this would interest as most silver jewelry lovers. We have mentioned silver jewelry in this article though, tarnish occurs on all silver objects like spoons, watches, cups etc and not just on silver jewelry.

What is silver tarnish? Silver tarnish is a natural process that occurs on the surface of silver jewelry. Tarnish starts as a light yellow discoloration of silver, it then starts to change to darker shades of brown as the tarnish gets to be more severe. In extreme cases the tarnishing of silver could look very dark and almost black. Tarnishing occurs due to certain climatic conditions and also due to certain ingredients that are present in some materials. One such chemical that causes silver to tarnish is hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and things that contain this chemical will cause silver to tarnish quickly. Materials that stimulate silver tarnish are wood, felt, rubber bands, food items like eggs, onions etc. High humidity in the climate also hastens the silver tarnish process. Looking at these factors that cause silver tarnish, you will realize that the process of silver tarnishing can hardly be avoided.

Does silver tarnish mean that the silver used is not good? Surely not, because silver tarnish is a natural process and occurs with silver of all purities. Silver jewelry is generally made from silver that is around 92.50% pure and this is done to increase the hardness of silver. Sterling silver as it is normally referred to (925=92.50% purity), is an alloy of silver and other metals. The tarnishing of sterling silver has nothing to do with the percentage of silver in the alloy. It would be safe to assume that all silver will tarnish.

Can silver tarnish be removed? The answer to this question is, yes. It is possible to clean tarnished silver jewelry and the procedure followed will depend on the degree of tarnish that is present on the silver jewelry. Reputed companies sell silver polishing solutions that can be used for removal of silver tarnish. Most of these can be used at home to remove light to mild silver jewery tarnish, however keep a few points in mind when buying or using these silver polishes. Check only for reputed brands and do not stress on low prices as these cheap polishes could destroy your silver jewelry. Read the complete instructions on the container before purchasing it. You can then judge the suitability for your particular use and select the right silver polish. For example, do not get a silver tarnish removal lotion meant for severe tarnish, if your silver jewelry has only mild tarnish. Some polishes might emit fumes that could irritate the eyes and nose, so use them in well ventilated areas. The instructions could also advise the use of gloves when handling the polish so ensure that you follow all recommended precautions. In the case of very severe tarnish on your silver jewelry, professional help is recommended and home remedies might not be possible.

What are the different types of silver polish available? We will answer this question without referring to any commercial brand names. Silver tarnish polishes can be classified as two broad types, the first is the type where the silver jewelry will have to be washed clean after the polished is applied as instructed on the container. The second type is the polish that is meant to be applied to the jewelry and left, this type of silver polish is supposed to form a protective layer on the silver jewelry. This layer will reduce the rate at which the silver jewelry will subsequently tarnish. More importantly, silver polishes would also be classified according to the severity of the tarnish that they are supposed to handle. Choose the right type depending on the degree to which your silver jewelry has tarnished. Anti tarnish polishes meant for severe and stubborn silver tarnish are obviously more abrasive too.

Can the way silver jewelry is stored influence the rate of tarnish? This is an important aspect that is ignored by many silver jewelry lovers. Never wrap your silver jewelry in newspapers or plastic as these will cause your jewelry to tarnish severely. Add rubber bands to the list of material that should not be used to pack silver jewelry. Wrap each jewel in anti-tarnish tissue (available at most jewelry stores) and then seal them in polyethylene bags. This is one way in which tarnishing can be minimized. Tarnish absorbing cloths are also available and can be used in the same way. Anti-tarnish strips work in a slightly different way. These strips absorb tarnish producing gases and are made from paper that contains activated charcoal. They do not emit fumes or vapours but absorb the gases that cause silver to tarnish. Finally, we will talk about the famous Silica Gel granules that are man made and absorb moisture from the air. High humidity is one of the causes of silver tarnish and these granules that contain numerous tiny crevices 'suck' excess moisture from the air. Hydrosorbent Silica Gel granules are used in medicine containers too and have been around for many decades. The important thing to note about these materials is that they have a life span during which they will prove effective. Read instructions when using them and ensure that they are changed as and when recommended. Silica Gel granules can be made to change color when they are fully 'soaked' with moisture and become inactive.

What are anti-tarnish platings? Silver jewelry manufacturers have for many years plated silver jewelry with metals like rhodium, gold and even platinum with an effort to eliminate tarnishing of silver. The idea is to protect the silver from tarnish by forming a layer on the surface of silver jewelry. Newly plated silver jewelry looks gorgeous and appears very much like gold or platinum jewelry. However the truth is that, the plating will wear off with time and expose the silver underneath. The rate at which the plating on silver will come off depends on many factors like the humidity in the atmosphere, the chemical composition of sweat (of the person wearing them), the frequency with which such silver plated silver jewelry is worn and also the chlorine content in the water. Once the plating starts coming off, the jewelry starts to look patchy and cheap. This is because the peeling does not occur uniformly throughout the jewel. This is something that you need to be aware of. Such jewelry cannot be polished and your best option would be to get it professional re-plated. This could be an expensive proposition for silver jewelry.

Can tarnished silver jewelry look good? The answer to this question is not a simple one. Depending on the design of your silver jewelry, tarnishing can add to it's good looks or make it appear cheap and lousy. Antique style silver designs will look more classic and valuable when the jewelry tarnishes. An occassional mild silver polish applied to such jewelry would leave some traces of tarnish on the jewel and give it an ancient authentic look. On the other hand sleek modern designs for silver jewelry will not look good if silver tarnish sets in. Most silver jewelry lovers are aware of this and therefore spend premium budgets on classic antique style designs. High end craftsmanship for silver jewelry is not easy to find as most sellers cater to low priced markets. Even gemstones used in silver jewelry are in most cases,low grade reject quality gemstones. There are just a few high end custom jewelry manufacturers for silver jewelry and their merchandise is highly valued among lovers of silver jewelry.

Before we wind up this informative article on silver tarnish and the procedures for removal of silver tarnish a few random thoughts from our team of designers and craftsmen.
The moment you notice a yellowish tint on your silver jewelry, use a mild phospate free detergent and water to gently wash the jewelry. Then immediately dry the jewelry with a soft cloth, pat gently rather than using vigorous rubbing to dry the jewel. These are the first traces of silver tarnish and if handled well, will not develop into more severe silver tarnish.
Do not use toothpaste to clean silver jewelry. The abrasive particles in the toothpaste could scratch your jewelry. Ironically, toothpaste is very often used to clean tarnished silver jewelry as no one cared to clear this issue.

When applying silver polish, shake the container well before use. Do not use old polish that is mostly dried, as such lotions could be very concentrated and abrasive.
The old saying still holds true, when wearing jewelry for an outing or special occassion '......... let your jewelry be the last thing that you put on, and the first thing to come off when you get back home..........'. Remember hair sprays and other powder packs can also tarnish silver jewelry.
When cleaning your tarnished silver jewelry give due thought to the gemstones in the jewelry. Certain gemstones require special care when cleaning and the silver polishes and vigorous cleaning could affect the gemstones. In cases where your silver jewelry consists of expensive gemstones, seek professional help for cleaning tarnish on the silver.



About The Author
Ms.Tuk is Senior Executive at http://www.kaisilver.com the world's leading online provider of high end custom jewelry. All jewelry is custom made in yellow or white gold with gemstones of your choice. You can even send us images of your favourite designs to be custom made.

Wholesale Silver Jewelry

Wholesale Silver Jewelry, The Complete Report.
As the demand for gold jewelry increases by the day, manufacturers of good quality wholesale silver jewelry are gradually turning to gold jewelry production or closing business. It is now important that buyers and manufacturers of wholesale sterling silver jewelry understand each others concerns and problems. In this article we look at both sides and provide suggestions that would be helpful to both sides.
Here are the most important questions that need to be answered when buying or making wholesale sterling silver jewelry.
(a) Is the design provided by the buyer or does it belong to the manufacturer? This will have a direct impact on the final price quoted by the seller. There is an initial overhead to be borne for design and mould charges and this will be added to the price tag of the first piece. If the initial order for wholesale silver jewelry is a large one, this initial charge is spread over a large volume and therefore does not increase the price per piece significantly.
(b) Why is the first piece priced high? One of the main reasons is explained in (a) above and involves the initial design and mould charge. Subsequent orders for the same design will use the same mould and therefore be sold at a lower price. In many cases the buyer of wholesale jewelry would first prefer to order a single piece and then place a wholesale sterling silver jewelry order after receiving the first piece. In such a case the seller would like to protect himself from a situation where the buyer buys only the first piece from him and then looks for another seller to place the final order. The seller would thus like to recover all initial overheads from the first piece itself.
(c) Why does the price fall as the volume increases? Large orders of wholesale silver jewelry provide the seller with the economies of scale. Production is much easier as the design and moulds can be reused to manufacture the jewelry. Craftsmen do the production of the same design multiple times thus reducing the chances of breakages and other losses. In cases where the wholesale silver jewelry also includes gemstones or diamonds, the seller gets a better price when bulk purchases are made. All these factors combine to enable the seller provide a better price to the buyer as the volume of the order increases.
(d) Are gemstone options limited? If you buy your wholesale silver jewelry from a seller who is also the manufacturer, there is no reason why the gemstone options should be limited. However, there is a price range within which, most buyers would like their silver jewelry to remain and this might influence the gemstone selected. Wholesale sterling silver jewelry made with gemstones like aquamarine, tourmaline, ruby and sapphire would be quite expensive and have a limited market.
(e) Should silver jewelry be plated? Plating on silver can be done with rhodium, white gold, yellow gold and even platinum. Plated wholesale sterling silver jewelry will look awesome when new but the plating will wear off with time and the jewelry might look quite shabby. The plating wears off in patches and in many cases the jewelry becomes a piece of junk. All silver jewelry manufacturers will provide plating at a small additional charge.
(f) Is the craftsmanship always bad? This need not necessarily be true but once again the market price point influences the decision. Wholesale 925 silver jewelry is produced by a mechanized process, however it is possible to provide good handfinishing in the final production phase and improve the quality of the jewelry. This adds to the price tag and is therefore avoided in most cases.
(g) What are benefits of good metal weight? Wholesale silver jewelry is normally made with a low silver weight to save costs. This causes the jewelry to bend and twist at the smallest impact. The gemstones and diamonds will also be loosely mounted and could drop off at any time. A good silver weight on the other hand adds to the long term durability of the jewelry and the final consumer need not keep spending money for frequent repairs and modifications.
(h) How big is a wholesale order? As the number of manufacturers for wholesale silver jewelry decreases, those remaining in business set higher volume requirements to confirm orders. This could pose a problem for buyers as they might be left with inventory of unsold stocks. Many buyers of sterling silver wholesale jewelry would like to make smaller lots of jewelry to test the market and large orders might not be suitable in such cases.



About The Author
Ms.Wan is seniour executive at http://www.kaisilver.com which is the world's largest online provider of high end custom jewelry. Kaisilver created the world's first collection of highend men's ings and also makes the best rendition of the legendary Irish Claddagh ring.

Fashionable Silver Earrings for Anytime and All the Time

It's been said that silver jewelry makes a person look youthful and energetic, while gold makes a person look sophisticated and mature. Hence, silver is a popular choice of the young for their adornments. It is also more practical, as it costs less than gold jewelry and is more widely available. There are more specialty shops that sell silver earrings, rings necklaces and bracelets, for example, than those that specialize in gold jewelry.
Silver jewelry has the impressive quality of being both affordable and stylish. Silver earrings are by no means "cheap" -- in fact, it is highly recommended as a complement to dark clothing, making for a very elegant and chic combination. Silver sets off dark colors and plays more on contrast, which makes for an extremely effective fashion statement. Silver jewelry and black attire is a favorite ensemble of artistes, as well as advocates of the popular "goth" movement.
All over the world, and throughout history, silver is thought of as a complement to gold. Silver as an element has been associated with the moon, while gold has been associated with the sun. The moon makes soft, mesmerizing silver ripples as it is reflected on a still lake. Its close relationship with moon imagery has made silver the color most commonly associated with dreams, fantasy and magic. Folklore has also endowed silver with special powers and healing properties.
Celebrities have also been known to patronize silver earrings. Oprah Winfrey and Sandra Bullock have sported chic chandelier-type silver pieces more than once. It is always interesting and a pleasure to behold the various styles and designs of celebrities’ silver jewelry, especially if it is worn in taste and in style.
A person who is building a collection of earrings should consider investing in a silver earring collection. In addition to being practical, the designs are immensely diverse and it doesn’t hurt to know that silver earrings are all the rage!



About The Author
Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.
samserio@ccisp.netm

What Does The "Sterling" Mean in Sterling Silver?

What the Heck Does "Sterling" Mean?
We hear and see “sterling silver this” and “sterling silver that” almost every day, yet many shoppers do not understand what it really means. Does “sterling” mean “pure”? Does sterling silver jewelry come from a certain part of the world? Is sterling better or worse – or the same – as pure silver? And what does that stamp on the back of my necklace mean when it says “.925”?
By definition and international agreement “sterling” silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% some other material – usually copper. The 92.5% is why jewelry is often stamped with the numbers 925 or .925.
Why Mix Copper with Pure Silver?
Now you might think, “oh, well that means sterling silver is not as good as pure silver”. Well, yes and no. It certainly isn’t pure, but sterling silver is mixed to this exact ratio for some very good reasons. Have you ever seen pure silver after a few years in the open air? If not, take a look at your grandmother’s silver spoon collection. Silver tends to oxidize (tarnish) quickly, leaving it a yucky brown color. The 7.5% copper or other metals used to make sterling silver slow down the tarnishing process.
Secondly, pure silver is a very soft metal. It can bend or break easily. Adding another, more durable, metal to the mix ensures that your silver jewelry will last a lot longer, and look a lot nicer down the road. So really, sterling silver – although not pure – is usually the better option when choosing jewelry.
And last but not least, adding another metal – and thus making the silver more durable – makes the substance easier for metal-smiths, jewelers and craftsmen to handle and manipulate into those intricate rings, pendants and necklaces we so adore.
So there you go… next time you’re shopping for some new jewelry, or buying an anniversary gift for your girlfriend or wife, you will understand exactly what the salesperson means when they say “This is sterling silver”… even if they don’t.



About The Author
Everett Sizemore is affiliated with http://www.nosentrik.com
directories@nosentrik.com