SILVER GRADING AND SILVER JEWELRY PRODUCTION

Silver is graded by its fineness. There are basically two grades of silver, 999 and 925. 999 is termed fine silver, as, at 99.9% silver, it is as pure as it gets. This is the silver used for bullion bars and investment. Being too soft for most practical purposes, it is made into an alloy. The result is called sterling silver, or 925 silver, as it is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals such as copper. The alloy actually enhances the properties of the silver, making it more durable while leaving it ductile. 925 sterling silver is the standard used for making silverware and silver jewelry. When fine silver is used in jewelry manufacture, such as in hilltribe silver, the solder used forms an alloy with the silver, so the finished product may be between 95% and 99% pure, but it is still classed as fine silver.


Once the jewelry craftsman has the silver, the next step requires a design and a primary object from which to make a mold. The mold is then cast so it can be filled with molten silver to produce the finished item.

There are two methods of casting, investment casting and die casting.

Investment casting, also called lost wax casting, was evolved in the Middle East some 4,000 years ago. First a wax model is covered in plaster (the 'investment' material) then heated in a furnace until the wax melts and can be poured out or 'lost'. The mold is then filled with molten silver, allowed to cool, and the mold broken off to leave the silver object. This is the original method of casting, still preferred today.

Die casting, or the die struck method, is a much more recent method of casting, dating from around the time of the Industrial Revolution. This process involves forcing the molten silver into a metal die using compressed air until the metal solidifies and cools. Die casting produces items of better dimensional accuracy and a superior surface finish.

Die stamping is a production method that involves stamping a sheet of silver with a die to produce cut-out pieces that can be made into lightweight accessories such as earrings. The dies are relatively expensive to make, so this process is used for mass-producing pieces such as coins.

Electroforming: a more recent innovation that allows for the production of complex, hollow, three-dimensional shapes that would be difficult if not impossible to realize by other methods. The process requires specialized equipment, but the resulting product can be, for example, an intricate, lifelike flower or fern with perfect contours and immaculate finish. Not to be confused with electroplating, though the end product is something like an electroplate with the core metal removed. An early example of electroforming is the crown made for England's Prince Charles in 1969.

Strictly speaking, in silver jewelry production none of the above methods qualifies as handmade (though investment casting is not too far removed) but the production of silver jewelry by any means is a meticulous process, requiring multiple skills from the design concept right through to the polishing and setting of the finished item.

THE SPECIAL QUALITIES OF KAREN SILVER

Silver holds an important place in the life of the Karen people. Migrating from Tibet through Burma over the centuries, they have settled in the hills and mountains of northern Thailand, where they live close with nature.

The Karen have relatively few material possessions, but silver is their currency and their worldly wealth. It is collected and prized throughout their lives, used for dowries, and worn as an adornment and a symbol of status and prestige for its owner.

Karen silver is special in that it is 'fine' silver with a purity of up to 99.9% compared to 925 (92.5%) sterling silver. It has a color and feel all of its own, cool and satiny, it tarnishes less readily than other kinds of silver and can be kept white and shining by simply cleaning with lime juice.


Karen silversmiths have high status in their community and each family may be involved in the design and production of a host of fine individually handcrafted pieces.

Karen designs reflect the people's closeness to the land and water, with motifs inspired by plants, animals, flowers and the natural environment they inhabit. Each item is handmade throughout, rolled, shaped and engraved using traditional methods with the simplest of tools.

As each item is unique, there are literally thousands of designs: accessories such as rings, beads, bracelets, bangles, charms, spiral circle dangling earrings, ear hoops, toggles, clasps, strands, hairpins, hearts and pendants. Such is the variety of shapes and motifs that the piece may have a classic, contemporary or ethnic feel.

Of course, the intricate beauty of each piece makes it fine as a standalone accessory, but the design can be coupled with a suitable gemstone or the silver used as a setting.

Karen silver beads are probably the most popular item as they come in a wealth of sizes and can be made into necklaces and bracelets and sewn onto clothing to the wearer's individual taste.

Author : Michael Briton

Type of Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is the main type of silver used in jewelry, ornaments, and dinnerware today. Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% metal alloy. This silver is always stamped or hallmark as 925. The hallmark is depend on the percentage of pure silver in the sterling silver i.e. many silver jewelry from USA is 90.0% pure silver, so it is stamped 900 on the silver.

Fine Silver - is 99.9% pure silver. This silver is too soft to use for make the jewelry.

Alpaca Silver - is a metal alloy that is not silver at all. The Alpaca silver is combined with copper, nickle, and others metals. It's also called nickel silver, German silver, new silver and paktong. Frequently, the Alpaca silver is used to make the music instrument, but some manufacturers are used it to make jewelry. Because of its visual similarity to sterling silver jewelry and the price is not expensive, many consumers like to choose this instead real silver. Its stainless finish make the jewelry is easy to clean, requiring only lemon juice or mild soap to remove marks or tarnishing. On the others hand, the consumers that want the real silver and don't know the different between alpaca silver and sterling silver should beware some seller sells the alpaca silver jewelry and tell that is the real silver jewelry.


Mexican Silver - is called for describe the silver which made from Mexico. The Mexican silver is contained more than 90% pure silver. Most of silver jewelry from Mexico today is actually sterling silver.


Britannia Silver - is 95.85% pure silver and not over 4.16% copper alloyed. First, this silver type was introduce in England to replace sterling silver in 1697. Then in 1972, sterling was approve again and Britannia silver has remain an optional standard silver in UK and Ireland. The Britannia silver is hallmarked as 958, it is an even more pure form of silver than sterling silver. So it’s higher valuer.

Silver Plating - is the method to make the metal jewelry has a look like the silver jewelry. This process is also called electroplated silver or silver coated. Silver plating is normally using for base metal such as brass or nickel. The base metal is plated thin layer of pure silver. Even the plated metal is look like the sterling silver, but it tends to wear off quite quickly exposing the less than beautiful base metal.

Reference :

http://articles.fjewelrystore.com/silver-jewelry/warning-dont-buy-silver-jewellery-before-reading-this.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-alpaca-silver.htm

Picture Credit :

http://www.pinaymistress.com/how-to-clean-silver-jewelry-a-home-made-cleaner.html

Silver Jewelry

Silver has been use for thousands years ago for decoration, being equipment, for trade, and as the basis in monetary system. Silver does not the highest value of all metal, but it is the second only to gold. Even though the silver jewelry is much cheap than gold jewelry, it still valuable and popular from consumer and jeweler who are just starting out and cannot afford to make pieces in gold.


Normally, jewelry silver are made from sterling silver, as alloy 92.5% silver with 7.5% of copper. Thus the silver frequently stamped 925. But in U.S. the silver can contain at least alloy 90.0% silver with other metallic, this silver are stamped in 900.  The reason that the manufacturer do not use pure silver is the sterling silver is harder and has lower melting point than pure silver. Sterling silver jewelry are often plated with a thin rhodium or gold for bright and shiny look.

The most popular method for making the shape of silver is lost wax casting. Lost wax casting is made by put the model of silver jewelry between the several sheet of rubber in the silver box container. After the box container is heated in around 300 degree Fahrenheit, the rubbers are melted and cover all of the model. When the rubber has hardened, the solid block is cut in half revealing a perfect mold of the original desired design. This rubber block can be reused to make thousands of wax copies. Then injected the warm liquid wax with a syringe through a hole cut into the rubber block. When the warm wax hardens, the wax design is created. After that put the wax ring inside the small flask and fill the investment (powdered substance mixed with water that is similar in consistency to liquid plaster) around the wax model slowly to guard against bubbles of air left in the flask. The investment takes about 10 minutes for harden. Next, baking the flask which contained wax and investment in high temperature for several hours for a result of the wax to be lost by melting and evaporation. After the flask is cooled, the caster will place the flask in a casting machine for use a vacuum to draw molten silver into the mold. After the processing of casting machine finished and take a time for silver cooling down and harden, you can take the silver out from the flask and carving the investment out. The last processing is wash the silver, polish, and thin plate with fine silver or rhodium for more bright and shiny.

Reference:

http://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/silver.htm

Picture Credit:

http://www.jewelryschool.net/waxdesign.htm

The Hill Tribes with Handmade Silver Jewelry

While the number of our items are increased, we also upgrade the materials for the best quality of goods. Even though the price of silver is more expensive, many new items that we try to use it instead of metal bead. Most of silver beads that we use are from the north of Thailand, the products from the Hill Tribe.

The Hill Tribes have been highly respected silversmiths for hundreds of years old. They handcraft detailed jewelry components and beads from fine silver. Fine silver is soft 99.9% pure silver as compared to harder sterling silver which is 92.5% pure silver alloyed with 7.5% copper. Silver ingots are flattened into a sheet by pounding with hammers and made into wire by pulling it through ancient draw dies. Thin silver sheets are hammered into black tar molds to make shapes, then soldered and engraved. Because the silver from Hill Tribes are handmade, so the silversmiths cannot make it fast like making by machine and the products are no 2 pieces exactly alike.

The jewelry create by the Hill tribes are objects of classic beauty and symbolic significance. Historically, the Hill tribe people have used silver instead of paper money because they don’t trust in the paper. Even today some of them prefer silver coins, jewelry, silver ingots, and silver pipes and boxes, because they feel that even the time passed by, the silver always retain their value (This thinking become true, seeing from the silver price that increased everyday like gold.). In addition to the value of money, wearing silver jewelry signifies wealth, status and spirituality. It also help to protect the suitors to young women and it adds color and excitement to many rather routine lives.

Because of today's world use the paper money for trade, some Hill Tribes are make silver and beads for trade with the outside world, but some Hill Tribes are still make the silver and beads for their consumption. Selling the products from their skill are helping them to have the income for support their family and their tribes. The Tribal elders fear that they are slowly losing their skills and cultures. Purchasing jewelry made with hill tribe crafted silver can help them to support their silversmith traditions and allow their tribal culture to continue to survive.

Reference :

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art20392.asp

http://www.silverjewelryinfo.com/0604_Thai_Hilltribe.html

Picture Credit :

http://www.thisnext.com/tag/karen-hill-tribe-fine-silver-flower/

http://www.starsterlingsilver.com/thai-karen-sterling-silver-pendants-p-13.html