Fine silver of 99.9% purity, just as fine gold, is too soft for producing functional items. At present times, silver is normally associated with copper to give it the necessary durability while preserving the ductility and beauty of the precious metal — and the resulting alloy is well-known under the name of sterling silver. It usually contains 92.5% by mass of silver, and quality sterling silver jewelry is stamped with a fineness mark of "925", "Sterling" or "Ster" as a sign of silver purity.
The sterling alloy is considered to be first produced and used for commerce in continental Europe as early as the 12th century. Despite being common nowadays, the denomination "sterling silver" still sounds a bit curious, isn't it? The most credible etymology for this name is a derivation from a late Old English "steorling", which meant "like a little star", as some of the early Norman silver pennies were embossed with a small star. And yes, the name for British pound sterling is transparently related to the same legend, the composition of sterling silver being subject to official assay during the reign of Henry II.
For about a century starting from 1840 both in Europe and the US, sterling silver tableware became irreplaceable when setting a proper table. The number of silver mining companies has significantly increased during that period. Later, around the time of World War II, the sterling somewhat fell out of favor as for the handmade flatware designed for fancy dinners. But in turn, sterling silver has regained its popularity being used for manufacturing fine jewelry, and this to our general pleasure!
We offer you the vast choice of bracelets crafted from the superior pure sterling silver, and thoroughly inspected for a fineness mark to ensure their highest quality. Chains, bangles or cuffs, antiqued or natural color, gold- or rhodium-plated, ornated with gemstones or mother of pearl, charm or ID bracelets — a multitude of appealing designs deserve your full attention. Do not waste your time, and skim through our extensive selection right away! |
Bracelets
