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Writer's pictureDavid Leask

Understanding Silver

Updated: Feb 20, 2022


Melting points of silver alloys:

An alloy is a mixture of metals to acquire specific properties.

Fine Silveris almost pure silver, .999%.silver ------------------------------------Melting point 1,761 Fahrenheit

(Its proof stamp is .999)

Sterling silveris an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. -----------------Melting point 1,635 Fahrenheit

(Its proof stamp is .925)

Argentium sterlingis an alloy of 93.5% fine silver and 6.50% Germanium metal.

(Its proof stamp is .935) A discussion about Argentium silver will be discussed in its own blog.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Silver The name originates from the Old English Anglo-Saxon word 'seolfor', meaning silver. The Symbol Ag, Origin is from the Latin word 'argentum', meaning white metal. Argentina was named for this precious metal. Silver was once referred to as one of the 'Noble Metals' and was so called due to their long association with the aristocracy.

What are the Properties of Silver?

It is a lustrous white, ductile, and malleable metallic element, occurring both un-combined and in ores such as argentite, having the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of the metals. The Physical and Chemical Properties are the characteristics of a substance, like Silver, which distinguishes it from any other substance. Most common substances have all States of Matter as solids, liquids, gases and plasma.

Click on the YouTube video link below for more information about silver.

We are attracted to silver because of its beauty. But if it didn’t have the workability that is has, we wouldn’t be able to make it into jewelry. The Ductility and malleability it has, allows us to manipulate and fabricate it into jewelry by forging, rolling, casting and soldering, thus creating it into beautiful jewelry.

If you learn about the properties of this beautiful substance earth has given us. You too can create beautiful things that will live many generations. We’re still discovering silver items that were made 4,000 years ago. Can you imagine if you created something that was treasured for 4,000 years?

If you want to learn how to manipulate silver to make jewelry, I will have a blog about Ductility and malleability of sterling silver.

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