Jewelry, Silver

Silver has been part of human culture for thousands of years. Until the 18th century, it was the only known white precious metal, and used for setting the most magnificent gems.

Like gold, silver is alloyed for use in jewelry. Most U.S. manufacturers use sterling silver, (92.5% silver and 7.5% copper). Silver is comparatively hard and durable, and can achieve the brightest polish of any metal. One of its liabilities is tarnish, but today’s processes reduce this tendency and special cleaning formulas make it easy to remove. Silver is significantly more affordable than gold or platinum.

Read more about all types of jewelry metals on our Wedding Planning Tips page, under "Wedding Metals Defined".