Making Silverware Jewelry

By silverware we typically mean a plush dinner set in silver metal that is brought out on the dinner or supper table during special occasions like Christmas, engagement, wedding, or some other kind of ritualistic event.

Silverware

Seven pieces of cutlery make up a typical European silverware set – coffee spoon, dessert spoon, fruit knife, dessert fork or fruit fork, soup spoon, knife and fork. The North American silverware dining set is a bit different and comprises 5 pieces of cutlery - teaspoon, dessert fork or fruit fork, soup spoon, knife and fork.

You can opt for either expensive or inexpensive silverware sets. Those that are at the lowest rung of the broad spectrum are simple elegant pieces that can be found in any silverware store or in online shops.

And if you are eyeing ornately decorated and intricately carved hand crafted exquisite silver ware dining sets, you have to head towards the boutique stores or again browse through the catalogues of online stores. You need to have deep pockets and have to shell out huge amounts for laying your hands on the latter kinds of expensive silver tableware.

While purchasing silverware you need to feel the texture of the cutlery in your hands and also keep in mind the kind of table setting which you are planning. These last two points are indispensable in making a right purchase.

Silver Jewelry

Silver jewelry has been in vogue right from ancient times and dates back to some 6000 years in the hazy past. In fact silver had been the staple metal for creating beautiful jewelry before the advent of gold and has enjoyed boundless popularity from times immemorial to the contemporary age.

Ordinary pure silver is rather soft, ductile and malleable. It is prone to breakage and bending and therefore jewelry created with it is not very strong or durable.

Sterling Silver

So nowadays silver is mixed with other stuff to give rise to alloys which are strong, tougher than pure silver and more durable and yet pliable enough to be easily made into jewelry. 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper are combined to give birth to sterling silver – the alloy that is commonly used for jewelry purpose nowadays.

Sterling silver has a nice shine and polish and glow and does not tarnish with age nor is it rendered black with the passage of time, unlike normal pure silver.

Market Demand for Silver Jewelry

Silver jewelry is popular and has a loyal customer base because of its affordability. In fact it is the only of the precious metals that is reasonably priced even now and it is way cheaper than gold. Because it is a white metal, it is a preferred choice and a cheap alternative for super expensive platinum.

Making a Jewelry Box

People store away their expensive tuxedos and evening gowns with a lot of care, but when it comes to storing their jewelry, most people simply stash away their collection inside drawers, on countertops, in some random box or inside cupboards very carelessly and in a higgledy-piggledy manner after returning from a party and later on cant find accompanying pieces of a particular set.

It is important to store away your collection of jewelry carefully, safely and in one particular place so that you don’t lose them or so that they may not get damaged or stolen. Your jewelry storage needs the same amount of attention and care as your expensive attires.

One of the best places to store your jewelry is a jewelry box. Don’t try to force all your jewelry pieces into one jewelry box. You can store your rings in a jewelry box specifically made for rings and bracelets or necklaces in others designed exclusively for bracelets or neckwear. 

Or you may consider investing in a jewelry organizer which can store all your different jewelry pieces together. This is ideal for those who own few select pieces of jewelry.

Before rushing off to purchase an ornate and intricately carved jewelry casket or trying to create a simple jewelry box on your own, you need to decide what the items that will be going inside it are and what will be their quantity or size. Once you are sure about this you can purchase or make a suitable jewelry box.

The latter is made of different kinds of materials, the chief among them being wood or plastic or metal and is available in various sizes, shapes and for different storage requirements. Jewelry boxes are equipped with inlays, multiple drawers, chests, recesses, secret chambers and pretty designs. They are often fitted with tiny compartments for storing little nick nacks.

Jewelry boxes make for ideal girlie or feminine gifts. Young girls love musical jewelry boxes engraved with cartoon character themes.

Jewelry boxes for adult women are created out of costly wood like walnut, oak, maple, teak, mahogany or ceramic with glass inlays, multiple swing doors, a pretty musical chime clock and intricate patterns in front. These are extremely sturdy, protect your precious jewelry from the elements, look graceful and are showpiece decorative items by themselves.

While selecting or purchasing a jewelry box, don’t just harp on its beauty and elegance, see to it that it is functional and choose a color that will be in contrast with the color of the metal to be stored in it. Don’t choose a silver colored jewelry box for storing white metal jewelry.

Metal for Jewelry Making

In this article I shall try to enumerate the most popular picks among metals for creating jewelry.

Gold

Gold is definitely the eternal favorite among jewelry making metals and has won hands down on the popularity charts, down all the ages. All the countries separated by geographical barriers and cultural differences are united on this one common front – fondness for the precious yellow metal that has a very high resale value and emanates a dull yellow shine.

It is also one of the toughest metals, second only to titanium and platinum and can therefore, securely hold precious gemstones in its fold. The carat ranges from 10 to 24. 22 carat gold jewelry is the maximum possible purity that you can expect, but it is rather soft. Most jewelry stores stock 18 to 20 carat gold jewelry which is tough and extremely durable. Gold can be mixed with other alloys to create rose gold and white gold.

White Gold

When normal gold is mixed with palladium or silver and given a rhodium coating to impart a white glow, the alloy is called white gold.

Platinum

A very dense, heavy, super strong/tough and 95% pure

White metal that has warmed its way into people’s heart despite its astronomical cost is platinum. It is one and a half times more expensive than gold, but can securely hold precious gemstones better than any other metal.

Silver

It is much more affordable than gold and therefore more popular. Pure silver is rather soft and ductile and prone to breakage. That is why an alloy called sterling silver has been created out of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper to impart toughness. Sterling silver does not tarnish with age.

Stainless Steel

Chromium and steel have been mixed to create this anti-corrosive and rust resistant metal that is slowly picking up its way along the popularity charts because of its dirt cheap cost, durability and hardness.

Titanium

A silver white durable lightweight metal that is making waves in the jewelry industry thanks to its hardness (tougher than gold, thrice stronger than steel, toughest metal on earth) is titanium. One cannot solder titanium.

Tungsten Carbide

A highly strong, durable, very heavy, scratch resistant white metal used for making wedding rings for men is tungsten carbide.

Other metals and alloys that are and have been frequently used in the present and in the past for making jewelry are brass, copper, nickel and bronze.

Jewelry Making Silver

With the soaring sky high prices of gold, people are finding it difficult to stay true to their passion for gold and as far as platinum jewelry is concerned, it is even more expensive than gold and therefore way beyond the budget of middle class people.

But that doesn’t mean that people have stopped purchasing jewelry. Rather customers are giving gold jewelry a miss and flocking towards silver jewelry which has been around for as long as gold, but got overshadowed by its golden glitter.

USP of Silver Jewelry

The best thing about silver jewelry is that although it is a precious metal and a favorite with the jewelers while creating ornamental pieces(because of its malleability and ductility) right from times immemorial, it is way cheaper than gold. So if you are flinching under budget constraints, stop fidgeting and head for silver jewelry that is just as beautiful, mysterious and exotic as gold.

Gold vs. Silver Jewelry

Many young women are of the opinion that gold is clichéd and yellow metal looks cheap. White metal is the “in” thing right now and spells effortless sophistication, class and elegance. If gold is high on the bling factor, then the USP of silver is its understated elegance.

If yellow metal stands for royalty , richness, luxury, pomp and over the top splendor, white metal like silver ,which is an excellent substitute for platinum or white gold, stands for grace, charm, affordable elegance and quiet beauty. Gold bedazzles all.

Silver appeals to the discerning through its elitist shimmering and soothing white color. Silver jewelry is perfect for those who believe less is more and attracts connoisseurs through its minimalist appeal and affordability. The difference is rather like the one between the sun and the moon. Besides it boasts of a 4000-5000 years of heritage.

Sterling Silver

100% silver can be very soft and too ductile for creating jewelry pieces and it is prone to breakage and bending. That is why sterling silver jewelry is created from silver that is 92.5% pure and the rest 7.5% is filled up by copper. Thus sterling silver is basically an alloy that ensures hardness and durability.

USP of Sterling Silver Jewelry

Unlike normal ordinary silver which tarnishes and becomes black with the passage of time, sterling silver alloy can stand up to the march of time, will never deteriorate in color or magnificence and maintain its shine, polish and luster for years and years.

It is also low maintenance, easy on the pocket, requires hassle free storage and can hold precious gemstones just as well. So, it’s time to ring out gold and bring in silver (preferably Larimer sterling silver).