Silver is now earning the same attention as gold for investors and collectors. Since the price for gold jewelry is up high, the jewelry buyer shifted their interest towards silver jewelry. They also find thatsilver jewelry is durable, non allergic, light weight to wear and hasattractive design. But the fact that a price of silver is a lot cheaper than gold make jewelry buyer assume that the price tag of silver jewelry must be not so high. This is what people who selling quality silver jewelry have to deal with while selling their piece.

Behind each piece of beautiful silver jewelry are effort, time, creativity and labor to turn raw material into finished goods, it involves an innovative design and process. The metal has to be melted, molded and cast, polished and assembled. Most of silver jewelry accented with various stones, the cost of the stone is also resulted in the major part of the total cost of the jewelry. There are a few things to consider after setting aside piece of jewelry to sell, including:

Price per gram: The price of silver per gram that use in the piece of jewelry is the most important information for determining the price. Due the fact that silver is considered a precious metal, this is the raw material cost of a piece of a silver jewelry.

Labor Cost: There are many processes to turn raw material in to finished goods. Labor and craftsmanship are associated with most of the cost of silver jewelry, especially for jewelry that requireshigh level of craftsmanship.

Other materials: The cost of any material added to the piece of jewelry all so cost. For example a silver necklace that has fresh water pearl with rhodium finished may cost double of the price of silver to make because of the price of pearl and rhodium. Rhodium is more expensive than silver because of it is tarnish resistant properties.

Shipping Cost: Many of silver jewelry are imported because of the differences of styles and raw materials. So the shipping cost of transporting must be included in jewelry price.

Custom Duties: The imported jewelry incurs duties at the custom, this is a cost that some consumers may not aware of. It is also increase the price of silver jewelry.

Price fluctuations: Especially for wholesale price, the price of the silver jewelry associated with the current silver price.

Business Overhead: Like other business, the sales have to cover normal overhead costs such as employees’ salaries, store rent, utilities etc.

Profit: The price the jewelry buyer pay included the profit for the seller.

Sterling silver is considered as a perfect jewelry piece that is able to match with people at every age. They are always pieces with new designs or the classic designs available in the jewelry market. They are beautiful, versatile and durable metal for use. The sterling silver jewelry is always come with affordable price for most people compare with gold pieces, which is another reason for the popular use of sterling silver in the fashion world.

Fashion is always changing which you can view for the fabulous selection of sterling silver jewelry from many resources; fashion weeks, fashion magazine and internets. They are always changing according to different trends in each year. You can check out for the current styles and designs from the previously state sources if you are really want to be in the fashion trend. But for anyone who do falling in love with the sterling silver pieces and don’t want to keep an eye in the fashion world all the time, you can easily go with the classic style of sterling silver necklaces, rings or earrings which will never out of the fashion trends.

The “in-style” sterling silver jewelries are charm bracelets, anniversary rings and sterling silver keyrings. You can get these pieces as a special gift for anyone you love. You can make the piece as a more special gift by engraved the person name on the piece for that particular person. The first letter of his or her name or full name would make the piece more special. You can also go with the other sterling jewelry pieces, vintage rings or silver cufflinks are recommended. These pieces are classy and always elegant jewelry pieces for the wearer. The sterling silver earrings are also another recommended piece to go, either for yourself or as a present of your loves; sisters, mothers, daughters, friends or your love one. There are many shapes and designs available in the market which you can definitely choose the right one.

With the sterling silver jewelry, they are also easily to take care and clean. The tarnish can occur but easily to clean using tarnish remover reagent. To give the special sterling silver jewelry to anyone you love, you should also suggest for the clean and care  the piece to maintain its natural luster and shine. They can falling in love with sterling silver jewelry just like you.

Have you ever notice about your sterling silver jewelry, whether it is rhodium plated or not? If not, the sterling silver can turn to dark color or tarnish in the easy wayand it is not recommended to go with this piece. What is the function of rhodium with sterling silver then?

Rhodium is a metal that is considered as the best in all platinum family with resistance to corrosion and tarnish. It appears to show the most tarnish resistant among the platinum metals group. And no surprise to know that rhodium is the most expensive metal in this group, the price for rhodium is 4x more expensive than platinum and about 9x more expensive than gold. With this expensive price, people cannot really afford for the rhodium jewelry, but they have use this metal in the other way, for sterling silver coating material instead.

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver metal with other metal, in general copper. The available of sterling silver is good for jewelry maker as this alloy has suitable property for making jewelry pieces. However, disadvantage of sterling silver jewelry is about its reaction with oxygen in the air. The reaction will leave a dark sport or tarnish on jewelry piece. People learn to cover the piece with rhodium, to prevent this reaction. By this way, the jewelry piece will stay longer with its beauty as you can expect. The plated rhodium jewelry is not only to protect your sterling silver jewelry from tarnish but also prevent the piece from any chance in surface discoloring from any environmental conditions. The cover of rhodium is hard enough to prevent any scratching and abrasion for any incidents. The use of plated rhodium over sterling silver piece brings a great piece of work to jeweler. It will combine all good points of these two metals together, for the reasonable jewelry price for most people.

The other good point for rhodium is about its hypoallergenic. People do get allergy to nickel which is always mixed in white gold or sterling silver. The cover of these metals with rhodium can prevent this allergy and allow allergenic people to wear the jewelry pieces without any problem. Now, it’s time for you to start looking for the sterling silver jewelry plated with rhodium.

Here are the lists for frequently asked questions about sterling silver jewelry. Let’s see.

1. If I am allergic to nickel, can I still wear the sterling silver jewelry?

The answer for this question is yes. But, you need to make sure about the composition of your sterling silver. Make sure that it’s a pure sterling silver, no nickel plated or coating. Recently, people would love to go with the rhodium coated on sterling silver jewelry, as rhodium is hypoallergic metal for most people. However, in the process of coating, some manufactures do add a layer of nickel between silver and rhodium as an adhesive substance. Make sure that you have check for the composition of the jewelry before you wear it. The high polished sterling silver is recommended for nickel allergic person.

2. What is the purity of the sterling silver jewelry?

The common number and highest purity of silver in sterling silver jewelry is 92.5. You will able to see this number stamped on your sterling silver jewelry pieces to confirm the purity of silver inside your pieces. Although sometime you cannot see this number, but recently all quality of sterling silver is coming in the same grade, for 92.5% of silver inside. You can definitely ask for the certificate if you are not too sure about silver purity for the jewelry shop.

3. How many types of silver jewelry plating so far?

There are certain methods for silver plating so far, but there are only two method that are popularly in use; nickel and rhodium plating. The nickel plating will give a more whitish look compare with rhodium plating which will come with a darker look. The price of these two plating method are also different, nickel plating will come with cheaper price compare with rhodium plating. However, rhodium plating is give a more better protection result for silver underneath. It’s up to you for any plating method. If you got nickel allergic, you have only one choice left, but for non allergic person, it’s up to you which method you would go for.

4. How to store the sterling silver jewelry?

The important point for sterling silver storage is about cool and away from sunlight. Heat and light can turn your jewelry into yellowish and speed up the tarnish process. Try to keep it in an air-tight bag and store it in a drawer or collection box. Regularly check it from time to time even you especially if you did not wear it for a certain of time.