Silver. The shimmer, the cool shine, the beauty of silver against skin. There is magic in silver that dates back over 4000 years and historians believe the love of silver goes back over 1000 years before that. In fact, silver was one of the first five metals to be discovered on earth.
In ancient Egypt, silver was more highly valued than gold. It was associated with special powers by ancient civilizations; they believed silver brought healing, good fortune, and protected against evil spirts.
And speaking of healing and silver, did you know that silver was perhaps the most important antimicrobial compound before the introduction of antibiotics. During long sea voyages, silver coins were dropped into casks of liquid as an early antibacterial treatment.
Silver is the most reflective element, reflecting 95% of visible light. That brightness led Alchemists to connect it with the moon, the sea, and goddesses that have a moon connection. Alchemists called this bright metal, “lunar”.
But the word we use today, “silver” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “seolfor” and the addition of “sterling” was given by the Normans, who used silver to create their coins which were covered in stars. The Norman word for stars was sterre, which became starling, and now? You guessed it, sterling silver.
Sterling Silver today is known as an alloy comprised of 92.5% silver with 7.5% other metals which is usually copper. The mix of the copper gives it the strength it needs to make jewelry and other products. Fine silver is 99.9% of pure silver and is so soft it would be hard to make anything that would have any strength. The 92.5% is why you often hear sterling silver referred to as .925 silver or .925 sterling silver.
And what about tarnishing? Sterling silver will tarnish due to a chemical reaction between the silver and sulfur compounds present in the air. This reaction forms a layer of silver sulfide on the surface of the silver, which appears as a dark discoloration or tarnish. Factors such as exposure to air, moisture, and certain chemicals can accelerate the tarnishing process. Additionally, contact with substances like perspiration, lotions, perfumes, and cosmetics can contribute to tarnishing. Silver jewelry and items can be polished to remove tarnish, but it’s an ongoing process because tarnish will reoccur over time without proper care and storage so it’s a good idea to keep a polishing cloth on hand.
So when you wear your favorite piece of sterling silver jewelry, whether it be a ring, a pendant, or earrings, you have the assurance that silver has been loved and cherished for thousands of years. For so many reasons and by people as amazing as you. Enjoy the look!