Saturday, December 13, 2008

All You Need To Know About Wholesale Sterling Silver And More! (Sterling Silver Jewelry)

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry is very much in style and is a great seller at retail stores, online gift sites, festivals, craft fairs, and trade shows. There are more than a few wholesale sterling silver sites online that sell everything you may need, from .925 sterling silver jewelry, to sterling silver jewelry making supplies like French wires, fasteners, and findings. A state issued sales tax identification number is necessary to make wholesale purchases, plus registration of your business for account set up. All this can be done online in a matter of a few minutes relatively easily. If you wish, you may also ask for to be placed on a mailing list for catalogues as well as the email special promotions. There are some wholesale sterling silver vendors who only sell to distributors and other wholesalers, while others only sell to resellers and retailers. Whichever you are, you should have no problem finding a wholesale sterling silver dealer to meet your specific needs.

One of the most popular metals, sterling silver has a wide range of uses, jewelry being one of the most popular. Besides silver is also used for silverware, silver dining services, and at one time was used in the making of coins. Artisans bought wholesale sterling silver to use in their original jewelry creations, or to make other fine pieces of art. Wholesale sterling silver can be used to make earrings, rings, pendants, body jewelry, bracelets, necklaces, chains, and watches. Semi-precious and precious stones are often utilized in the making of sterling silver jewelry as well, and truly complement the finished piece.

The making of sterling silver jewelry goes back several centuries, and is an art that has been passed on to others by teaching to successive family members, and through jewelry making apprenticeships.

As there are quite a few wholesale sterling silver vendors, be sure to shop comparatively before you settle on making a buy. There are diverse grades of wholesale sterling silver available, and purity may differ, or may be combined with other metals, such as nickel. Always remember, shop around, and teach yourself so that you understand exactly what you are getting. Sterling silver jewelry is a top seller, and you want to select the best quality that there is to keep your customers coming back for more. Irrespective if you are a wholesaler, distributor, or retailer looking to buy wholesale sterling silver jewelry, jewelry making supplies, or other pieces made from sterling silver, the internet is your best bet to find exactly what you are looking for!

Article Source : EzineArticles.com

Sterling Silver Jewelry

How to Select Silver Jewelry (Sterling Silver Jewelry)

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Silver is a very common precious metal that we see today. Silver looks great with the black evening dress as it shines brilliantly reflects light on its white surface. Nevertheless, when selecting a piece of silver jewelry you do well to learn the difference between pure silver, sterling silver and silver coated jewelry because they make a significant difference in quality and price of the jewelry you are purchasing.

Pure silver which usually still contain traces of other elements is not a good choice for making jewelry because it is too soft and malleable. This means that whatever shape that is formed with pure silver would not stay permanent. Instead what we would want is sterling silver which is made up of 925 part silver to 75 part alloy such as copper, nickel or zinc. The added elements give sterling silver increase strength and durability. Sterling silver jewelry looks shinier than pure silver but it does need maintenance and cleaning. Keeping your sterling silver jewelry in a dry and sealed bag would ensure that the shine would last longer.

Silver coated jewelry often marked by its lower and cheaper price is jewelry that is coated with silver but the base material is something else. This method is often used to cover for cheaper and inferior material like steel that is prone to bend, breaks, stretches and the finish that can wear off.

This is not to say that sterling silver can't be coated. Some jewelers use an electroplater to coat sterling silver with pure silver to prevent tarnishing while maintaining the stability of the jewelry. So choose your silver jewelry carefully for they can even serve as priceless heirloom for years to come.

Article source : EzineArticles.com

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Monday, November 24, 2008

How to Repair Silver Jewelry (Sterling Silver Jewelry)

Sterling Silver Jewelry

When buying a piece of sterling silver jewelry, it is so beautiful and shines. In time, that necklace loses its luster, and eventually tarnishes and becomes black. You can however clean it and restore its luster.
  • Polish sterling silver by rubbing or buffing it regularly with a soft cotton cloth.
  • Consider using a chemically treated cloth that you can buy anyplace that Sterling silver jewelry is sold as it makes the job easier.
  • Understand that while sterling silver dips are fast and easy, many dips will remove the color from many gemstones that adorn the article. Also, if you leave the piece in too long, or fail to rinse it well, residues will remain when it dries. If you do use a dip, dip it in and out very fast and rinse it immediately in clean water followed by an immediate buffing to bring out the shine.
  • Repair a broken clasp by purchasing a replacement clasp. Clasps can be bought online or at a local craft supply store. Make sure you buy the same style and color as the broken one. If you have never been happy with that particular clasp, then buy an upgraded clasp that you would find easier to use.
  • Check the chain to notice how the links were put together. You will need to know this, so that you can assemble the chain after you repair it.
  • Place the chain on a ceramic soldering board and use tweezers to put the two ends back together and squeeze the links until they are closed. Using your tweezers fit the two ends of the chain back together. Then squeeze the links closed.
Source : wikiHow.com

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Handmade Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Handmade sterling silver jewelry, throughout history, was one of the most popular types of ornate adornment made for men and women alike. At one time all baubles were made by hand without the use of machines. In fact, the first machines were not used until 1869. Gradually various methods of machine production were developed. In the beginning, these were only used to make simple types of trinkets, such as chains. As methods refined, however, mass production was created for more delicate pieces. The method used for replicating identical pieces is called casting.
 
Sterling Silver Jewelry
During the casting process, a master model is made. The model is typically a type of metal and a rubber impression or mold is fashioned after the metal cast. Not all fine jewelry is made this way. Many of the pieces start as a flat slab of precious metal, which is turned into an original design. Handmade silver jewelry is made using this process. When a jeweler works this way, many different hand tools are used. These tools can include; files, punches, saws, mallets, and pliers. The jeweler also uses a blowtorch to solder (melt and join) the parts of an article together.

Adornments are also made by stamping. In this process, the metal is pressed between two shaped steel surfaces called dies. Dies are expensive to make, so stamping is used only to make large quantities. Stamping usually makes the article in two halves, which must then be joined. Handmade silver jewelry is the least expensive to make. Like other precious metals, silver can easily be made into beautiful and unique adornments. Handmade sterling silver jewelry, according to current United States law, may not contain less than 92.5% silver. The remaining percentage consists of copper. There is no legal limitation on the amount in a silver-plated article. Plating is done by coating a base, or foundation, metal or alloy with a layer of the pure metal. The worth of an ornate is valued simply by the cost of the material in which it is made from. This is called an intrinsic value. Great skill or craftsmanship can add value to a piece as well. The piece can also be valuable if it has an interesting history or was made for or owned by someone famous. This is commonly known as provenance.

Some pieces are worth very little and are meant to be discarded when no longer fashionable. This includes costume and junk baubles. Costume refers to a piece made with non precious metals, or can even be handmade silver jewelry with false gems of glass or plastic and is often created to mimic the real thing. Junk refers to pieces that are inexpensive and not well made. In these junk pieces, rings become bent, necklaces break, and false gems frequently become loose and fall out.

Handmade sterling silver jewelry has been used ever since the 1200's. At that time merchants in northern Germany were making coins containing a high percentage of the shiny precious metal. The coins made in England contained very little. Since both types of coins were commonly traded in England, the English began to distinguish the better quality German made coins from their own coins by calling them easterlings, because they came from the east. It is likely that the common name for the German coins gradually became the word known today as sterling. The quality of the metal also became known in commercial silver as well. The standard for English sterling was set in the 1500's by Queen Elizabeth I. It is now accepted as a standard all over the world.

The precious metal is used to make many decorative pieces of considerable value. Since it became so expensive, there were attempts to make substitute for items such as handmade sterling silver jewelry. "Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights" (Micah 6:11). The first substitute for solid sterling was silver-clad copper, known as Sheffield plate, because it was primarily made in Sheffield, England. Introduced in 1742, the plating is made by adding a thin sheet of the precious metal to a sheet of copper and rolling them into one sheet. This plating was used for making buttons, coffeepots, candlesticks, and similar inexpensive items including personal handmade silver jewelry. Electroplating was discovered in 1844. During this substitution process, a bar of the precious metal and an object made of cheaper metal are placed in a chemical solution. When an electric current is passed through the solution, silver gradually coats the metal object. Until the appearance of banks, people used jewelry as a way to store and protect their wealth. It could be dismantled and melted down for the value of its materials. Today, that practice is still in effect, and those that spend wealth on jewelry are making a wise investment.

Sterling Silver Jewelry


Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Sterling Silver Bracelets Will Sparkle On Even The Ugliest Wrist (Sterling Silver Jewelry)

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling Silver Bracelets have a magnetic way of drawing attention to even the most drab and uninteresting personalities. Their exquisite shine sparkles in all kinds of light highlighting women's clothing beautifully. You will find it to be a crowd pleaser too because:

1. It is highly versatile in design and style.
Sterling Silver Bracelets can be worn with the most beautiful evening dresses or adapted to the more basic clothing options. They can be dressed up or down to fit your needs at the office, a dinner party, or at home. In addition, the bracelets come in all types of designs that make it easy to find some that match your tastes whether you have conservative interests in jewelry or more eclectic tastes.

2. Dress in keeping with high fashion.
The people whose job it is to know what jewelry works best often opt for Sterling Silver Bracelets. This is no surprise when you consider its exquisite beauty and versatility. Thousands of model catalogues and runway shows can't be wrong, sterling silver bracelets are far more than just a nice accessory.

3. Learn what the Hollywood elite already know.
If you are into the Hollywood gossip scene, you will already know that that many movie stars have been seen wearing sterling silver bracelets. Whether they are a young up and comer or a more experienced actress, you can see sterling silver everywhere.

4. Make The Right Statement.
Sterling Silver Jewelry is great for showing off your style and fashion sense without forgoing your retirement. Plenty of sterling silver bracelets can be had that will help you stand out and earn the respect of your peers for your fashion and cost-conscious sense. Imagine the satisfaction you will get knowing you attract the attention of admirers and didn't have to break the bank to do it.

These tips on Sterling Silver Bracelets are a good starting point towards finding your next beautiful necklace. However, to make sure you find the one that works best for you, you will need more specific tips on Sterling Silver Bracelets.
By Kim Rogers

Sterling Silver Jewelry


Saturday, October 11, 2008

Video - Tips Cleaning Sterling Silver Jewelry (Sterling Silver Jewelry)

Sterling Silver Jewelry


Source : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVWClb3pQk0

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Care and Cleaning of your Sterling Silver Jewelry (Sterling Silver Jewelry)

Sterling Silver Jewelry

1.) For daily cleaning it is recommended to use a simple jewelry polishing cloth that is impregnated with special jewelry cleaner. These are widely available and are very easy to use. Store your cloth in a plastic zip-lock bag, and keeping your jewelry drawer or armoire. It is a good idea to have one cleaning cloth for gold and one for silver.

2.) For a slightly more "in-depth" cleaning you may want to use a liquid jewelry cleaner.

3.) For cleaning badly tarnished silver, here's a neat little trick :
  • Cover the inside bottom of a heat-proof glass dish on bowl with a piece of aluminum foil, shiny side up.
  • Place the tarnished silver in the bottom of the dish, contacting the aluminum foil.
  • Add 1 heaping tablespoon of baking soda, and then slowly pour boiling water to cover the piece. The tarnish will gradually collect on the aluminum foil.
  • Remove your silver, rinse thoroughly, and polish.
Here are Some Tips for Greater Enjoyment of your Sterling Silver Jewelry

1.) Are your silver chains all tied-up in knots? If so, here's a nifty little trick for straightening them out. Dust your chain with a little talcum powder and then try to unknot it. If the knot is stubborn, place a small drop of baby oil on a sheet of wax paper. Lay the knot in the oil and work it out with two pins; then clean the chain as instructed below.
2.) Always apply make-up, perfumes, oils or colognes before you put on your jewelry.
We hope you have enjoyed this special report. Please feel free to share it with your friends!
Sterling Silver Jewelry

Introduction of Sterling Silver Jewelry (Sterling Silver Jewelry)

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry is enjoying an unprecedented popularity with today's fashion conscious public. You know how beautiful sterling silver jewelry is and how brilliantly it shines. Now here is the rest of the story. Silver has been used since ancient times, but has not survived as well as ancient gold because it tarnished and decomposes. There have been times, however, when silver was "in"; we are going through such a vogue today.

Silver is the commonest of the precious metals. Fine silver is pure silver, which is seldom used for jewelry because it is too soft. Sterling silver is 925 parts silver to 75 of copper, the alloy most often used. Silver weighs about half as much as gold, has greater flexibility, but is not as malleable, it has always been less expensive as well. A comparable piece of gold jewelry might cost four or five times that of a piece of sterling silver jewelry.

The current fashion trend toward black clothing has made silver jewelry more popular than ever. Silver likes to be worn; it stays cleaner & shinier through movement and friction. So sterling silver is a perfect accessory for today's fast paced lifestyles. Much like gold, sterling silver needs to be cleaned.

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 / wife, you will understand exactly what the salesperson means when they say “This is sterling silver”… even if they don’t.

Sterling Silver Jewelry