Silver

We have a range of baby's and children's bracelets, anklets, earrings, pins, chains and necklaces in both sterling silver and silver plated, some of which are rhodium or platinum coated for brighter shine and longer life. We also have silver jewelry for new mothers.

Silver possesses working qualities similar to gold but achieves the most brilliant polish of any metal. To make it durable for jewelry, however, pure silver (999 fineness) is often alloyed with small quantities of copper. In most countries, Sterling Silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper) is the standard for Jewelry and has been since the 1400s. Copper strengthens the silver and makes it durable for uses such as in jewelry. There were times when silver was considered more precious than gold, for example, in early Egypt. Despite Silver being considered to have magical powers, at various times, owning silver was restricted, especially in the form of jewelry.

What is rhodium plating?

Many contemporary jewelry items especially those made of white gold, are electroplated in rhodium to enhance shine and durability. The article explains this process to the readers and gives them some tips on maintaining their rhodium-plated items.

Sometimes, platinum or silver jewelry is rhodium-plated. In the case of platinum, it is because rhodium is a bit brighter than platinum, so it is used to enhance the shine. For silver, it is a little bit different. Silver is actually more reflective (shinier) than rhodium, but silver is also a much softer metal, and can be scratched very easily. So the owner of a rhodium-plated silver piece is trading a small bit of shine for a longer, scratch-free life.

Throughout history wearing silver was often more a social privilege rather than a right and reserved for the upper classes. Today though, the most creative designers are attracted to sterling silver due to it's price and the fact that it is soft and malleable and can be formed into infinite shapes. Silver is possibly more fashionable to younger generations than gold ever was, with retail outlets popping up in shopping centres everywhere, specialising in sterling silver jewelry.