| Silver was discovered at least 6,000 years ago, and | | | | fashion jewelry. Fashion jewelry for this demographic |
| since then, has always been considered to be a | | | | today includes pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and |
| valuable metal. It was first discovered in the region of | | | | waist bands. The popularity of silver in fashion jewelry |
| Anatolia, now Turkey. With its location strategically | | | | has also extended into the world of men's jewelry. |
| straddling Asia and Europe, the mines in Anatolia were | | | | Cuff links, money clips, and belt buckles are quite |
| the primary sources of this metal for Eastern | | | | popular. |
| civilizations in Asia Minor, as well as the flourishing | | | | Most silver jewelry on the market today is marked |
| civilizations of Greece and Crete to the West. The first | | | | "Sterling Silver" or "925 Silver". What is "sterling silver"? |
| concerted effort to mine and produce it dates back to | | | | The pure metal is too soft to be used in the |
| about 3500 B.C. The major breakthrough in the | | | | manufacture of jewelry. The pure metal is therefore |
| production occurred in or around 1500 AD with the | | | | mixed with other metals to form an alloy that has |
| discovery of the new world. Large mines were | | | | better hardness and strength than the original, |
| opened and operated in Bolivia and Peru in South | | | | untreated metal. According to the Federal Trade |
| American. North American production, largely in the | | | | Commission in the US, sterling silver must contain at |
| Nevada, Colorado and Utah spiked in the late 1800s | | | | least 92.5% pure silver (hence the term "925 Silver"). |
| with the discovery and exploitation of major lodes in | | | | Copper is usually added to make up the remaining |
| these areas. The largest producers today are in North | | | | 7.5%. |
| and South America. | | | | This metal today is highly polished so that it reflects |
| Its white luster of silver has made silver the metal of | | | | light and looks beautiful in fashion jewelry. One |
| choice for jewelry. The earliest jewelry was quite | | | | drawback of it however, is that even minor impurities |
| crude, generally limited to crude nuggets strung | | | | cause it to tarnish when exposed to the atmosphere. |
| together as a necklace. With the advances in | | | | While this is may be a drawback for certain kinds of |
| extraction, purification, and craftsmanship, it has | | | | fashion jewelry, some artisans use this property to |
| become extremely popular as fashion jewelry. The | | | | create silver jewelry with an antique finish. |
| beauty, luster, and the ease with which it can be | | | | It is important to take good care of silver jewelry in |
| fashioned into superb jewelry are just some of the | | | | order to maintain its quality and luster. Today, special |
| reasons for the ever-growing popularity of this | | | | tarnish prevention cloths or bags are available on the |
| precious metal in the world of jewelry design. Today it | | | | market. Jewelry can be wrapped in these cloths, and |
| is used to make a wide range of jewelry, including | | | | then stored in common Ziploc bags. Fashion jewelry |
| silver pendants. | | | | can be cleaned using a mild phosphate-free detergent, |
| Designs today can range from simple and elegant, to | | | | or a mild, non-abrasive jewelry polish. Although |
| striking and bold, customized to fit each owner's tastes. | | | | toothpaste is sometimes recommended for cleaning |
| Silver jewelry is particularly popular with teens and | | | | jewelry, some believe that some ingredients in |
| young adults. Although it is considered to be a precious | | | | toothpaste can scratch the metal settings, leaving the |
| metal, it costs significantly less than gold or platinum. | | | | surface dull. If maintained properly, silver jewelry will |
| This is one of the major reasons why it has gained | | | | essentially last forever. |
| prominence in the world of teen and young-adult | | | | |