Allow E.A. Dion's Design group to create original and memorable designs to meet your next creative challenge. Visit the Creative Services section of E.A. Dion's Inc. to view a sampling of our creativity, or our Design Studio for a more extensive experience.
Silver is the queen of metals; gleaming and elegant, cool to the eye, sensuous to the touch. Silver is one of the first metals to be used by humans. The art of silver working dates back to ancient Byzantine, Phoenician and Egyptian empires. Silver is also the brightest reflector of any metal and can be polished to a high sheen that even platinum can’t achieve. In fact, the chemical symbol for silver, Ag, is derived from the Latin, argentum, meaning "white and shining".
In recent years, silver has lost much of its value as a reserve metal and a traded commodity. However its low price often means it acts as a leading metal in jewelry fashion. Silver ("white" color) is popular today among younger demographics attempting to achieve a less formal look in their accessorizing, and among those who simply find gold and platinum too old-world and ostentatious.
Silver Quality
Fine silver in its natural state, 999/1000 pure, is almost as soft as gold, too soft an element for practical jewelry. To make it workable, an alloy such as copper is added. The following are the more common silver alloys:
Sterling Silver: A mixture of 92.5% silver and 7.5% metal alloy
"Mexican Silver": 90% -99% pure silver
Coin Silver: 90% pure silver and 10% metal alloy
German Silver or Nickle Silver: A silver white alloy consisting of copper,zinc, and nickle
Vermeil: Sterling Silver electroplated with karat gold.
Silver Care
There is no mystery to caring for your fine silver jewelry. Just follow these tips:
Store your silver in a cool, dry place that is preferably airtight, to avoid oxidation. Do not store directly on wood , which often contains acids that can affect silver’s surface.
Store items in a tarnish-proof cloth, or in drawers with tarnish resistant strips. Store each item individually, either in its own soft pouch or in a separate compartment of your jewelry box.
If a piece of silver jewelry becomes tarnished, use a paste, liquid polish or a treated cloth to restore its original luster.
