Most people buy their sterling silver pendants based on a gut reaction to the design. When I am exhibiting my work, a frequent comment is "I'll know it's the right piece if it grabs me."

Art is like that. People have a gut reaction to art, whether it's a painting, a piece of jewelry, a sculpture or a song. I think art is a spiritual thing, and since we essentially are spiritual beings, it's easy to identify on a very strong level with this manifestation.

I've felt personally offended by a bad movie, for instance. "How dare they insist I waste a perfectly good three hours for this nonsense?" Ask my husband; he'll tell you. It's the same thing with art; it has to communicate something, or what's the point?

I would take it one step further and say the communication has to be uplifting, not something that makes me want to go strangle someone (including the director, if it's an especially trying movie).

Jewelry is a very personal thing. A sterling silver pendant is worn close to the heart. Perhaps that's why so many people like to wear heart pendants- it makes them feel closer to the person who gifted it.

After all, art is a symbol of something real, or a concept. It can represent a person, an animal or something lofty like truth or spirituality. Many religions have symbols, such as the cross or the yin-yang symbol that reflect their ideas and history.

So how do you choose a beautiful sterling silver pendant? Well, the first thing to make sure of is that you feel a connection to the piece. Does it make you smile? Is there something about it that fascinates you? Perhaps it reminds you of a happy time or a beloved person or pet.

Listen to yourself, and go with what feels right. Years ago in my art show booth I heard a mother trying to talk her 9 year old daughter out of the necklace she'd carefully chosen. It made me groan- what a way to sabotage that child's ability to make up her own mind. I was surely witnessing a neurosis in the making.

These are the main things I would look for in choosing a sterling silver necklace:

• Is the necklace .925 (sterling) silver?

• Was it cast and polished without losing detail?

• Where was it made? (It's important for me to know child labor wasn't involved)

• Is it something you will love wearing/giving?

That's it- very simple. When the perfect sterling silver pendant presents itself, you'll know it. You just have to trust your instincts.

Merry Rosenfield is a well known sterling silver jewelry artist, specializing in dog and other animal themed jewelry. She creates a wide variety of unique pendants for the animal lover, and specializes in hard to find pets and unusual wildlife jewelry. Merry's love of sterling silver jewelry is manifested in her whimsical and unique collection of over a thousand designs.

Sterling silver jewelry is more affordable than platinum or gold. You can find top quality sterling crafted into a variety of styles-and it's not just affordable-it's beautiful as well! Sterling silver is a natural material with long lasting appeal, and looks great on its own, or when mixed with gemstones or beads.

Sterling silver is 92.5% silver mixed usually with copper which equals the remaining 7.5% of the composition. Silver is sold by weight and there is no such thing as purer silver or better quality silver. All silvers that are 92.5% are the same in quality.

The difference in price from one piece and another that weigh the same amount is the type of work done on it. Usually handmade pieces are more expensive than machine made pieces. They are also more exclusive, a machine made piece is made by the thousands but one handmade piece can never be the same as another.

When the piece includes a stone of some kind the price will also vary according to the price of the stone. When it is only sterling silver the difference in price will come from the way it was manufactured and the details it has. Silver is a very manageable metal and beautiful pieces can be made out of it. Usually a silver piece can be bought by its weight in silver plus a small percentage for labor.

When you buy sterling silver jewelry it is very shiny and smooth. People like that because it shines more than gold or platinum. With time it will begin to lose its shine and tarnish will appear. This is due to the metal alloy added to the silver. When the copper comes in contact with the air and sweat it tends to change color. Many people like to keep their jewelry like that because it gives it an antique look.

Silver must always be wiped with a polishing cloth, not a brush or an abrasive cleaner that will scratch the surface. The occasional use of special silver cleaners is acceptable, but these should not be used often to maintain your piece. These types of cleaners are abrasive, and the shine they leave comes from rubbing of the patina or top layer of silver on your piece.

When sterling silver jewelry is cleaned regularly with a polishing cloth and stored away from the sun and other jewelry that may scratch it; it will remain shiny for a very long time. Abrasive cleaners should only be used in case of an emergency or excessive tarnish.

Sterling silver jewelry must be stored in a cool, dry place in separate pouches. This will prevent them from scratching one another and from being scratched by other jewelry. Taking care of silver jewelry is easy and inexpensive. Proper care will keep them shiny and scratch free for many, many years.

Denise Sanger loves jewelry of all types and is the owner of ButterflyJewelryShop.com Denise is always looking for beautiful new silver jewelry pieces including sterling silver sand dollar jewelry to add to the company's unique jewelry catalog. Denise is located in Sunny North Florida and may be reached at 877-297-9050

A sterling silver pendant can be the perfect piece of jewelry: unique, versatile and classy. Aside from the distinguished characteristics of that metal itself, pendant necklaces in particular are the perfect form for displaying a design with a lot of meaning to the wearer. They provide a channel for communicating to the whole world what is dear to you, or who you feel you are.

Of course, personal preference being what it is, each of us must ultimately make our own decisions in matters of jewelry and otherwise. That said, in my (very humble) opinion, silver has always been a cut above gold. I know that the mere fact of price puts gold jewelry a notch higher when it comes to being impressive. But impressive can too often appear gaudy, and jewelry, for me, is more about looking perfect. I just adore the particular color and shine of silver, which has a peculiar moonlit grace that I cannot resist!

Of course, since it is a precious metal, it does fall into the category of impressively expensive ornamentation, for those of you who are concerned with that. I guarantee that a unique silver pendant can be found to fit your higher price ranges!

One important note when shopping is that it can come in greater or lesser degrees of purity and only the very best is known as 'sterling silver,' which means that 925 out of 1000 parts are pure while the other small percentage of additives are necessary to make the metal behave appropriately for shaping into jewelry. As a result you can be certain that you have the highest degree of purity and all the prestige that goes with it.

You should also keep in mind that tarnishing becomes more of a problem when the alloy is less pure. So by buying the finest, you will find that your pieces will stay bright longer and be easier to restore to brightness than a lesser alloy.

Don't forget the great versatility of the stuff, which can dress down better than gold. A silver chain adds class to the jeans and a blouse of casual daytime activities. Silver earrings add sparkle to the ponytail and t-shirt of daily life. And silver pendants, more than any other piece of jewelry, can transmit class to the wearer no matter the dress and activity.

Yet, it can be classy too, glittering and shining with the best of them! But rather than begging for attention like gold, you can adorn yourself with a piece that knows allure, that winks and flutters and flirts so coyly that the bedazzled admirers will wonder if she even knows how much admiration she is receiving. Ah, so much character that we can even refer to her in the feminine!

I propose that this most beautiful of precious metals, and particularly silver pendant necklaces, will have the greatest potential for unique expression and subtle flair. Why not try it out and see if you agree?

Laurel Newmaker prides herself on choosing the perfect pendant gifts for her family and very best friends. "I may be a little too interested in the subject," she says, "But discovering unique sterling silver pendants is one of my favorite hobbies."

First impressions are key. As much as we would like to say that you are not judged by your appearance, the truth is that it happens. In fact, it is often very difficult to overcome an impression that you get the first time that you meet someone. Due to that, it is important that you make sure that you are making a good positive first impression. You can do this by simply paying attention to the details of your appearance. One detail that can really raise the bar of your look is jewelry. In fact, sterling silver fashion jewelry will instantly add an air of sophistication to your look.

Sterling silver fashion jewelry has quickly gained in popularity. Part of the appeal of silver jewelry is that it can really coordinate with any color. This gives you the ultimate in versatility for your look. Additionally, silver brings with it a very clean look. Perhaps the easiest way to integrate silver jewelry into your wardrobe is with the use of sterling silver necklaces. These are really fantastic because they can be used in a variety of ways. If you are looking for a clean and simple look, you may want to add a simple chain into your wardrobe. However, if your goal is to add a bit more flair to your look you might want to add a pendant to that chain. If you are looking for an even bigger impact, you may want to wear several different chains of different lengths at once.

Necklaces are not the only way to incorporate sterling silver fashion jewelry into your wardrobe. This year the statement ring is very much in style. Sterling silver is a wonderful metal to get a statement ring in. Part of the appeal of silver jewelry is that it is incredibly durable. However, it is not simply the durability that makes it appealing to purchase. Sterling silver is also able to be formed into some really beautiful intricate shapes. This can open up a world of style possibilities for you. Additionally, you can often find sterling silver rings with jewels in them if you are looking for a bit of sparkle in your sterling silver fashion jewelry.

Sterling silver bracelets are another wonderful option to add to your accessory wardrobe. Bracelets are a beautiful accessory, and they are tremendously delicate due to the hue and sheen of the metal. Again, you can find purely silver bracelets or silver bracelets with gemstones in them. Additionally, there is some variety in the types of sterling silver bracelets that are on the market. You can look for bracelets that are linked chains, which are a great option for a casual everyday look. That being said, if you are looking for a more fun and funky look you can put on an armful of silver bangles.

Denise Sanger loves jewelry of all types and is the owner of ButterflyJewelryShop.com Denise is always looking for beautiful new silver jewelry pieces including silver heart jewelry to add to the company's unique jewelry catalog. Denise is located in Sunny North Florida and may be reached at 877-297-9050