How to Look for a Good Silver Ring
The jewelry industry is never always the same. For instance, wedding rings and engagement rings have traditionally used gold as the main material. These days, it is silver rings.
The silver industry is big but it is only until recently that the industry has penetrated the market of jewelers. It is no big surprise that this spin in the material used for making jewelry such as rings has lead to the use of silver. Silver is a precious metal, one of the softest metals yet harder than gold. It has the alluring lustre that makes it look elegant. Despite it being priced relatively much cheaper than gold, silver is a prime material. Its ductility and malleability properties allow it to be shaped into intimate and intricate designs. There are many design possibilities which can be actualized with the use of silver.
The biggest silver mining sites are found in the Latin Americas and China, although it is not difficult to find pure and genuine silver being sold both locally and offshore. The internet makes the trading of this precious metal much easier. However, if one desires to know about the authenticity of the silver, there are two basic methods to carry out. One method is the so-called acid change where the colour change corresponds to a certain estimate of how much pure silver is present in the ring. The other involves scratching, as this trick would expose the hidden part of the material- if the material is simply silver plated, this would be revealed through scratching.
High quality silver rings are relatively inexpensive compared to the gold ones. However, this does not mean that these rings do not have comparable quality and beauty. Cheaper as it may be, a silver ring is nonetheless a statement of beauty and sophistication. The color of the silver is so elegant on its own that it may require less of further designing and accentuation to make it look exquisite. They say that women especially love the simplicity and raw uniqueness of the silver and the silver rings.
The meaning of high quality silver rings is all about the purity of the silver used. The most common and popular grades of silver found in the market today are 0.925 and 0.999 silver. 0.925 silver is also known as the sterling silver. Sterling silver is cheaper than the pure silver because it contains 0.725 copper. It is also harder than the pure silver because of the copper content. 0.999 silver is softer and almost pure. It is more expensive but can be turned into intricate design patterns as it is softer and more ductile. Lower grades such those at values of 0.500 and 0.800 are harder and cheaper. Using the acid test, 0.999 silver gives a bright red colour, 0.925 gives a darkish red, 0.800 will give brownish to bronze colour and 0.500 gives a greenish colour.
The market of high quality silver rings is not yet saturated as there are a few stores that offer these items as readily available. Typically, these silver rings are the made-to-order type.
