Mexico is one of the countries rich in silver deposits. The design of the jewelry is influenced by many things.The Mexican silver jewelry tells a lot about the religion and mindset of Mexican people. Mexican jewelry is rich in colors and is characterized by the expert craftsmanship.
If somebody will have a look at vintage Mexican jewelry he can see an eagle assay mark. There are people whose work is highly prized. Some of them are Los Castillo, Margot De Taxco and William Spratling.
Since time immemorial Silver has been used for the purpose of decoration - both home and individuals. In earlier days silver was called fine silver jewelry owing to the fact that it was 100% pure. As it is a soft metal in its pure form it used to get discoloured with the passage of time. Often it lost its shape and used to get badly damaged. In order to overcome these drawbacks, sterling silver was produced.
Sterling is 925 pure silver mixed with other metals such as copper and zinc. The advantage of sterling silver is that it is harder and less prone to damage. Once it is coated in Rhodium or another heavy metal it will not tarnish. Otherwise also, it is very easy to clean and take care of.
Usually silversmiths and professional jewellers alone are responsible for making fine silver jewelry. Individuals do not have any role here to make personalized pieces of the same. There is no exciting way to make fine silver jewellery attractive for common people. On the other hand sterling, a popular silver mixture called an alloy can be used to make exciting silver jewelry. The minimum silver content is stated as 925 parts per thousand of pure silver. To mark silver content in sterling silver, the figures 925 or 92.5 is used.
There are certain tips to be followed by importers to buy sterling silver jewelry. The FTC, US Federal Trade Commission has made it mandatory that jewelry sold in the US cannot be marked as silver, solid silver, sterling silver or any other abbreviation unless it contains at least 92.5 percent pure silver. A jewelry stamped with 'ster', 'sterling' or '925' is an indication that it is 925/1,000ths pure silver. It is a very strict rule which cannot be violated, that unless the criterion is met it cannot be even called silver. Copper is the commonly used metal to round out the 7.5 percent alloy balance in sterling silver. Even though it adds hardness to pure silver, it bring along a tendency to tarnish. This darkening occurs when sterling silver reacts with gases in the air or with other substances that it comes into contact with. It should be understood that any silver coloured jewelry is more commonly referred to as being made from base metals like copper and steel.
When you take the decision to buy a piece of jewelry for yourself or your loved ones it is always better to go to an authentic dealer. Finalise the item after you shop around comparing quality, price and service. It is important to ask for the refund and return policy before you make the purchase. Checking for the apt markings on metal jewelry is indispensable along with asking the dealer whether the pearls are natural, cultured or imitation. You should also know whether the gem stones have been treated and special care is needed. Relevant information regarding the gem's weight or size is to be written on the sales receipt compulsorily.
Silver jewelry is enjoying much popularity these days. So be a little careful while buying and relish the attention and admiration you get flaunting them.
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