Why Sterling Silver Jewelry is Perfect For Men

Whether you are a man who is ready to wear a little bit of jewelry or you are shopping for someone who is, you'll find that sterling silver jewelry is a perfect choice. If you are looking to strike a good balance between your sense of masculinity and dressing up a bit, sterling silver jewelry is perfect for this. There are plenty of people out there who think that sterling silver is the best material for men's jewelry, and there are plenty of reasons why.
The first reason why sterling silver is so popular when you are thinking of men's jewelry is because of the fact that it is stronger. To be true sterling silver, the piece of jewelry must be 92.5 percent pure silver, with the remainder being made up with metals like nickel or copper. This means that the chain or ring that you are wearing is much tougher than pure silver, which is only a little bit tougher than gold. When you are looking at men's jewelry made from sterling silver, you will also discover that it is solid. It will wear down evenly and it will not be prone to patches of discoloration the way that a silver plated piece of jewelry will be.
Are you someone who has had hives when they have worn jewelery before? The truth of the matter is there are definitely poor quality metal rings and bracelets out there, and they can do things that range from staining your skin green to causing you to have a red or itchy rash. You'll find that for the most part, sterling silver is highly unreactive and you are not going to need to worry abut any problems with your skin. The only thing you might need to be concerned about is the small nickel content in some jewelry that may be a problem if you are very sensitive. Also keep in mind that sterling silver doesn't tarnish as easily as real silver does, though it can be cleaned with just some basic silver cleaner.
One of the best reasons why men should wear sterling silver jewelry though is due to the fact that there are so many designs there. Whether you are interested in plain silver rings or heavy torques that will rest around the base of your neck, you know that there is a design out there that is waiting for you. Do you feel like honoring your Celtic heritage with a ring in knotwork or do you prefer the idea of a thick silver chain that hangs around your neck or your wrist? Perhaps you prefer the idea of wearing a perfectly formed miniature sword around your neck!
Take some time and really consider what kind of sterling silver jewelry is perfect for you. This can make a lot of difference when you are thinking about getting the look that you have always been after. Sterling silver is a wonderful material to work with, and you can easily see why so many people love it.
Denise Sanger is the owner of Jewelry-For-Men.com which has a diverse catalog of affordable Jewelry For Men including Men's Sterling Silver Jewelry. We are located in Sunny North Florida.

Silver Jewelry For Your Loved Ones - By Jitesh Arora

Silver jewelry is gaining increased acceptance among the style conscious these days. There are several reasons attributable to this trend. First of all, the sheen of sterling silver cannot be matched by any other metal. The price of silver is much less than that of gold. To cap it all, some people do not like the color of the yellow metal, and prefer silver for its sober colors.
This metal has a tendency to get tarnished quickly, if not processed properly. So it is very essential that you buy silver jewelry from established design houses that bring out high quality products. Such online stores cater to everyone's unique needs, tastes and budget.
Sterling rings are highly preferred accessories for women, irrespective of age. They are simple, but elegant, cheaper, but effective. As far as beauty is concerned, silver jewelry is definitely second to none.
Earrings are preferred by women, but young men, in increasing numbers, also wear ear studs. Other popular silver jewelry pieces include necklaces, rings, bracelets etc.
Silver jewelry has an added advantage. You can keep different styles and designs and wear them along with matching apparels and accessories. Such flexibility is unique to silver jewelry only.
Trends in jewelry undergo changes at a faster rate. However, being cheaper, you can follow these fashion trends without burning a hole in your pocket. Pearl or diamond studded silver jewelry becomes the cynosure of all eyes at any function or gathering. The only precaution you need to take is to buy them from well known and trustworthy stores.

Great Buys in Silver Jewelry - By Leigh Maher

Silver has been around for thousands and thousands of years, and has become one of the world's most well known precious metals. It can be found in everything from dentistry, electronics, mirrors and even medicine, but one of its most well known uses is in jewelry. Silver jewelry creates a cooler toned look than gold does, and gleams with a beautiful, unmatched intensity. Sometimes shopping for jewelry can leave you with your head in your hands as you mentally watch your money fly away, but if you take the time, you can find lovely silver jewelry at affordable prices. Here is what you can keep your eye out for.
One of the most popular trends in silver jewelry over the past few years has been dangling silver earrings. The trends have varied, of course, and have gone from the wide, shimmery chandelier earrings to simple, long tear shaped drop earrings. The more ornate the earring the more expensive it may be, but you can locate some stunning silver dangling earrings at very reasonable prices. If you want something with a little extra bling, make sure you are looking for earrings with cubic zirconia instead of real diamonds. This will compliment the silver just like a real diamond will but can save you a lot of money.
Silver rings will never go out of style. The wonderful thing about silver is its versatility and ability to match with virtually any gemstone and design a jeweler wants to make. Finding a silver ring, if you are open to a variety of styles and shapes, should be a breeze within a lower price range. One of the most popular types of silver rings is the Celtic ring. These silver rings can be found in designs like the Trinity knot or the Claddagh design and are certainly special and stand out pieces of jewelry. Another affordable silver ring design is pieces with an antique look to them. You might not be able to afford genuine antique silver rings, but many ring designers these days try to get their rings to have the look without the high price tag.
Silver charm bracelets are usually quite affordable pieces of jewelry, as you can start by just buying the bracelet and maybe one or two charms, and then add charms at a later date as your funds allow. Charm bracelets, while once thought of only for little girls, have taken on a sophisticated and modern look in the past few years. One of the wonderful things about silver charm bracelets is that you can find a charm to represent nearly every interest. They make great gifts for friends and family as well as something to buy for yourself. You can find silver charms for pet lovers, Christians, scholars, athletes, teachers and more.
It is easy to find affordable silver jewelry for men as well as women. One great buy for men is silver cuff links. Even if you are buying a gift for a man who doesn't dress up too often, silver cuff links are still a thoughtful, elegant gift. You can find silver cuff links in a variety of fun styles: footballs or baseballs for the sports fanatic, little books for the man who loves to read, even skulls and crossbones for men with a harder edge. Silver is a great metal to have engraved, and if you pick a more simple cuff link design, you should still be able to have a little left in your budget to get the cuff links engraved. With a little research and a realistic idea of what you hope to find, finding some great buys in silver jewelry should be as easy as a few clicks of your mouse button.
Leigh Maher researches and writes about Celtic jewelry, and specialises in Celtic wedding rings, engagement rings and bridal jewelry. Click here for more information about silver Celtic jewelry.

Are You Looking For Excellent Silver Jewellery? - By Jitesh Arora

Silver has been put to various uses throughout the centuries. But most of all, silver is well liked for its pliability and ductility, and these qualities make the metal excellent for making exquisite silver ornaments. Artful creations in silver adorn the pride of place in the heart of a woman. Silver being much more affordable, does not burn a hole in the pocket, which makes them excellent value for money buys.
Silver jewelry comes in many forms like necklaces, earrings and studs, bracelets, bangles, brooches, pendants and rings, to name a few. Lucky charms made of silver are in great need in many countries. Jewelry made from the soft white metal with diamonds and other precious stones inlaid can rival even the much more expensive gold, platinum or precious stones in terms of beauty. Watches made of silver with embedded pearls are also much in demand.
However, you need to be very careful while buying silver jewelry. With the kind of variety being offered by manufacturers of silver ornaments, it is very easy to pickup pieces that suit your personality and goes well along with your dress code. You have to always make sure that the silver jewelry that you are wearing match well with your other accessories too. Also remember to try out exclusive designs and patterns.
While buying silver ornaments, you should make careful checks to search out color blemishes and work imperfections. All the different pieces that link together to form the jewelry should be well placed and secure that they may not fall off. Strength and durability of the piece should also be checked. Silver tends to get tarnished in polluted air, even though the colors remain intact in pure air and water. These color blemishes can beat the very purpose of buying the metal by rendering them filthy and sore to the eye.

Sterling Silver Jewelry - The Top Trends of 2009 - By Sarah Carnagie

Fads come and go, but when we talk of jewelry, it never really goes out of style nowadays. Designs and styles may increase but the big question that will arise on every fashion-forward person's mind: "What are the top jewelry trends in today's fashion?". Wearing less jewelry can be more when it comes to top jewelry, but the key ingredient for trend-setting fashionistas is larger, bolder styles that are suitable, unique and stylish.
For jewelry lovers, now is the time to add a few fun jewelry pieces to your collection. Some examples of the top trends in jewelry nowadays are:
Interlocking Hoops.
Want to be vogue? The hottest earrings style right now is the interlocking hoops because showing bare skin is in this season. It's okay to forgo wearing a necklace once in a while so that your earrings and sleek bare neck can be the focus. Silver hoops are popular right now, as are gold, , or CZ (Cubic Zirconia) if you're on budget.
The Multi-Charm Necklace.
Like an organic or charm bracelet, a charm necklace is the perfect accessory if you're looking for something to personalize. Take a chain or cord, and add anything that will give the world a glimpse of your personal style. Whether it's pretty and your favorite color, a teardrop-shaped pearl or an item that means something to you such as your grandmother's wedding ring, a peace symbol design, heart, or other lucky symbol, you can thread it on a chain and make it the focal piece of your ensemble.
Silver Rings.
Draw attention to your hands and look younger by choosing unfussy rings with unique and fashionable designs. Trendsetters, like some of the popular Hollywood artists, are all fans of silver rings because of their stylish and unique style that complements everyday outfits. And lastly:
Silver Chains and Bracelets.
To add more modes to your hands, it is more fashionable to wear silver chains and bracelets on your wrists to give balance or to match and make it more perfect and stylish when wearing silver rings.
Ethnic influences also remain strong in jewelry trends. Jewelry wearers looking to stand out should look for a big brooch or pendant adorned with an exotic animal or ethnic design with colors like turquoise against gold. For a more classic look, heart motifs are a popular choice for a simple pendant look. Pendants made of a favorite stone or symbol with special meaning are also being worn on cords and chains. Classic pendants work well with spring and summer's more detailed, showy clothing.
The hippy look is also included in trendy jewelry for it is a favorite topic when we talk about teens. They love to follow their musical artists, teens actors and actresses, and other idols for ideas on silver jewelry accessories. Bling-bling necklaces with different designs of pendant (e.i. peace sign design, star of david design, crucifix designs and etc.), silver chains and bracelets and silver rings with unique and fashionable designs are examples of hippy jewelry.
International awards like the Grammies and Oscars are also a great indicator of what's on the top trends in jewelry, not only in fashion but in accessories as well. Celebrities this year were decked out in diamonds and silver jewelry. In addition, stacked bracelets continue to be a hit.
On a final note, one of the guiding principles for wearing jewelry is choosing pieces that convey your personality and uniqueness! Have fun with your jewelry this year!
Sarah Carnagie is a silver jewelry fanatic, and an expert in Sterling Silver Jewelry . You can find more info on sterling silver and sterling silver jewelry at http://www.DreamlandJewelry.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Carnagie

Silver Jewellery - A Brief History. - By Jeff Hall

Antiquity

Pre-Mycenaean

Silver was used in ancient Italy and Greece for personal ornaments, vessels,jewellery,arrows, weapons and coinage. It was inlaid and plated. It was also mixed with Gold to produce white gold as well as being mixed with baser metals.

Examples of ancient jewelry were found in Queen Pu-abi's tomb at Ur in Sumeria(now called Tall al-Muqayyar), dating from 3000 BC. In the crypt the queen's body was covered with jewellery made from gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian,agate and chalcedony beads.

Aegean lands were rich in precious metals. The considerable deposits of treasure found in the earliest prehistoric strata on the site of Troy are not likely to be later than 2000 BC. The largest of them, called Priam's Treasure, was a large silver cup containing gold ornaments consisting of elaborate diadems or pectorals, six bracelets, 60 earrings or hair rings, and nearly 9,000 beads. Silver was widely used in the Greek islands however only a few simple vessels, rings, pins, and headbands survive.

Mycenaean and Minoan.

Three silver dagger blades were found in a communal tomb at Kumasa.Silver seals and ornaments of the same age were also found in these regions. A silver cup found in Gournia dates to circa 2000. Some vases and jugsfrom Mycenae are also made of silver. Some of the Mycenaean blades are bronze inlaid with

gold, , silver, niello and electrum.

Bronze to the Iron Age

Engraved and embossed silver bowls made by Phoenicians have been found in Greece. Most of them have elaborate pictorial designs of Egyptian or Assyrian character and therefore probably foreign to Greece.

However some simpler types, decorated with rows of animals and flowers,can hardly be distinguished from the first Hellenic products. A silver bowl from around the 5th century BC can be found inthe Metropolitan Museum of Art showing a fine flower style.

Silver vases and toilet articles have been found beside the more common bronze in Etruscan tombs. For example, a chased powder box of the 4th century BC in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Roman

During the 4th century BC, the trend of ornamenting silver vessels with relief was revived. This type of work, elaborated in the Hellenistic Age and particularly at Antioch and Alexandria, remained the common method of decoration for silver articles until the end of the Roman Empire.

A lot of Roman silverware was buried during the violent last centuries of the ancient world. The largest, the Boscoreale treasure (mostly in the Louvre), was accidentally saved by
the same volcanic eruption that destroyed Herculaneum and killed Pliny in AD 79. A slightly smaller hoard found at Hildesheim (now in Berlin) also belongs to the early empire. The acquisition and appreciation of silver plate was a sort of cult in Rome. Technical names for various kinds of reliefs
were in common use (emblemata, sigilla, crustae.) Weights were recorded and compared and frequently exaggerated. Large quantities of bullion came to Rome from their battle victories in Greece and Asia during the 2nd century BC.

Early Christian and Byzantine

The earliest Christian silverwork closely resembles the pagan work of the period and uses of the techniques of embossing and chasing. The design is sometimesclassical, decorated with pagan scenes.

Most of the silver has been found in Syria, Egypt, Cyprus, Asia Minor,and Russia. It is mostly chalices, censers, candlesticks, and bowls and dishes. The techniques of chasing and embossing were often employed, but abstract patterns and Christian symbols inlaid in niello were also used. The 6th and 7th centuries saw the appearance of imperial control stamps,- early forerunners of hallmarks.

Middle Ages

Carolingian and Ottonian

In the last quarter of the 8th century the design focused on
the human figure and the use of niello (chip-carving technique.)

Examples are the Tassilo Chalice (umlnster Abbey, Austria) and the Lindau Gospels book cover (Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City).

Most influential silver design was commissioned by Royalty or the church.Liturgical plate and reliquaries, altar crosses, and the like underwent no fundamental change; Ottonian work of the later 10th and 11th centuries can be distinguished from that of the 9th only in the development of style. For example, the larger, more massive figures, with their strict pattern of folds, on the golden altar (c. 1023) given by Henry II to Basel
Minster (Musée de Cluny, Paris), are markedly different from the nervous, elongated figures of the Carolingian period.

Romanesque

In the 12th century the church was the chief patron of the arts, and the work was carried out in the larger monasteries. Under the direction of such great churchmen as Henry, bishop of Winchester, and Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis, near Paris, a new emphasis was given to subject matter and symbolism.

Gold and silver continued to be used as rich settings for enamels as the framework of portable altars, or small devotional diptychs or triptychs and shrines such as the shrine of St. Heribert at Deutz (c. 1160) and Nicholas
of Verdun's Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne (c. 1200).

The growing naturalism of the 13th century is notable in the work of Nicholas' follower Hugo d'Oignies, whose reliquary for the rib of St. Peter at Namur(1228) foreshadows the partly crystal reliquaries in which the freestanding relic is exposed to the view of the faithful; it is decorated with Hugo's
particularly fine filigree and enriched by naturalistic cutout leaves and little cast animals and birds.

The increasing wealth of the royal courts, of the aristocracy, and, later, of the merchants led to the establishment of secular workshops in the great cities and the foundation of confraternities, or guilds, of silversmiths, the first being that of Paris in 1202.

The late Gothic saw an increased output of secular silver because of the rise of the middle classes. The English mazers (wooden drinking bowls with silver mounts) and the silver spoons with a large variety of finials are examples of this more modest plate. Numerous large reliquaries and altar
plate of all kinds were still produced. At the end of the Middle Ages the style of these pieces and of secular plate developed more distinctive nationalcharacteristics, strongly influenced by architectural style: in England,by the geometric patterns of the Perpendicular; in Germany, by heavy and
bizarre themes of almost Baroque exuberance; and in France, by the fragile elegance of the Flamboyant.

The purity standards of silver became rigorously controlled, and “ hallmarking” was enforced; the marking of silver in England, especially, was carefully observed.

In the Far East the skills of thesilversmith were unsurpassed as is evident from this solid silver bowl (the photographs are 4x magnification of original item) made circa 1398 in Kampochea (Cambodia) detailing the wars with neighbouring Thai rulers.

Islam

The use of gold and silver in Islam lands was limited because it was forbidden by the Koran. Although the prohibition
was often ignored, the great value of such objects led to their early destruction and melting down. Islamic jewelry of the early period is therefore extremely rare, represented only by a few items, such as buckles and bracelets of the Mongol periods and such pieces as the Gerona silver chest in Spain and the Berlin silver tankard of the 13th century, with embossed reliefs of animal friezes.

Renaissance to modern

16th century

Using Silver from the New Americas, Spanish silversmiths, platería, gave their name to the heavily ornamented style of the period, Plateresque. England was also abundant in 16th-century secular silver, but church plate was mostly destroyed during the Reformation.

Baroque

Huguenot silversmiths who left France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 brought new standards of taste and craftsmanship wherever they settled—particularly in England, where the foremost names of the late 17th and earlier 18th centuries were of French origin: Pierre Harache, Pierre Platel, David Willaume, Simon Pantin, Paul de Lamerie, Paul Crespin, to mention but a few.Silver furniture, a feature of the state rooms at Versailles, became fashionable among Royalty and noblemen. It was constructed of silver plates attached to
a wooden frame. Each suite contained a dressing table, a looking glasss and a pair of candlestands. In France such furniture did not survive the Revolution but much remains in England, Denmark, Germany, and Russia.

In the far east, Chinese silversmiths produced some of the most elegant and beautifully crafted silver jewellery some of which was exported to the Royalty of Russia.

18th century

Early 18th-century English work combined functional simplicity with grace of form, while the work of Dutch and German goldsmiths is in a similar style but of less pleasing proportions. The success of the English work, however,
is due in part to the destruction of all but a fraction of French silver of the same period. English silver in the 18th-century classical style of Robert and James Adam is of unequal merit owing to the use of industrial methods by some large producers.

Colonial America

Silversmithing in the New World in the colonial period is chiefly from England. In North America it was first brought to New England by English craftsmen in the 17th century. The most important centres were Boston, Newport, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Annapolis. Outstanding collections include the Mabel Brady Garvan collection at Yale University and those in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the American
Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. North American colonial silver is distinguished for its simplicity and graceful forms, copied or adapted from English silver of the period. Meanwhile the colonial silver of Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Bolivia,
while mostly Spanish in concept, shows a blending of Iberian designs and forms,with indigenous influences that trace back to pre-Hispanic times. Most of these relics survive in churches as sacramental vessels.

19th century

Napoleon's empire brought French fashions back into prominence and the was widely followed on the Continent. England created their own more robust version of the Empire style.A recognizable Victorian style evolved in particular high-quality buttons, coins, sterling silver, and Sheffield
plate, establishing new high standards of design and of factory management and welfare services. This was followed by the craft revival associated with William Morris and the distinctive Art Nouveau style.

Modern

Factories evolved using modern equipment—for example,laser stone cutting,stamping, pressing,spinning, casting, and mechanical polishing—account. These factories supply nearly all
high street jewellery retailers. The evolution of style is now dictated by the buying public. Little has changed in the design of gold engagement or wedding rings however fashion demands have created an enviroment were the most lively designs are often those for costume and silver jewelry.

In Paris, designs by René Lalique inspired Art Nouveau, whilst in Moscow, Peter Carl Fabergé set a superb standard of craftsmanship for small ornaments. In Denmark, Georg Jensen, with Johan Rohde and others achieved not only an individual Danish style but built up several factories with retail outlets across the world, thus proving that good modern design in silver
jewellery need not be confined to artists' studios.

Jeff Hall is the c.e.o. of the silverstall which houses a large collection of silver jewellery, a selection of which can be found at http://www.silverstall.com