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The Noble History of Silver
Silver has a rich and dignified past; it can be traced back to pre-Christian times to the early Egyptians to whom it held a religious significance.
Silver can be hammered so thin it would take thousands of sheets to stack an inch high! It can also be drawn into a wire thinner than a human hair. It is these very properties that make it perfect to work with. Silver can be hammered, drawn, etched or engraved. Through history the Silversmith became the master craftsmen leaving the not so gifted to become blacksmiths or bronze workers.
Before the 16th Century silver was only available to the very wealthy, during the 17th Century the Merchant classes became rich and had plenty of money to spend, they enjoyed filling their country estates with fine silver and this in turned ensured a healthy silver trade in England.
By the 19th century England was a major manufacturing centre and Sheffield had an international reputation for its silver cutlery, business was good!
To this day the main silver production centres in England are London, Sheffield and Birmingham. Each of these cities have there own hallmark so you can be sure where your silver was certified.
Hallmarked Sterling Silver
If sterling silver is sold in the UK it needs a hallmark, it’s the responsibility of the Assay office, which test silver for its purity, to hallmark each piece. Assay offices have been in England since around 1300; the term hallmarking actually has it origins from the process of marking the silver at the Goldsmiths Hall in London.
Around 1773 silversmiths local to Sheffield petitioned to have an Assay office in Sheffield to avoid the inconvenience of having to travel down to London with their Silver. An Act of Parliament was passed granting the Sheffield craftsmen their right to assay silver.
The sterling silver is marked, usually via a hammer and punch. The hallmark for sterling silver in the UK comprises of a sponsor’s mark, a 925 quality mark (which shows the sterling is 92.5% pure silver) and the assay city mark. In Sheffield the city mark is a Yorkshire rose, in Birmingham an anchor and in London a leopards head.
Silver – The Perfect Gift
Traditionally sterling silver is the gift for 25th wedding anniversary’s – we have a beautiful wine coaster which would make an ideal 25th wedding anniversary gift for this very special celebration, or how about one of our beautiful sterling silver photo frames, engrave a message and insert a special photo – your gift would be truly unique. Our jewellery range is very popular for all types of gifts, from bridesmaids to birthdays. You will be giving a gift that will stand the test of time.
Care of sterling silver
Sterling silver is a beautiful metal that will last for generations with proper care.
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver, the balance made up with another metal, usually copper. Pure silver (99.9%) is too soft for producing large objects so copper is added to give strength.
Tarnishing
Tarnishing is to be expected on all silver items. As the purity of silver decreases the problem of corrosion increases. It is usually the other metal in the alloy which reacts with the air causing tarnishing. There are plenty of silver care products on the market for the purpose of polishing silver. To care for your sterling silver, wash in warm soapy water and dry immediately. Polish with a small amount of silver polish on a soft cloth, ensure the cloth is free of dirt and grit to avoid scratching. Items that are not handled consistently are more likely to show tarnish than items in use every day such as sterling silver money clips.
Over time silver develops a soft lustre caused by tiny scratches that come from use – this patina is very pleasing to the eye. Sterling silver is commonly passed down from one generation to the next giving pleasure for years in the same family. Sterling silver is not only beautiful to look and touch but a great investment too!
Silver Plate
Whereas Sterling silver is an alloy (mixture of two metals) silver plate is the name given to a product manufactured by covering a base metal (usually copper) with pure silver by a process called EP, electroplate.
The result is a far more affordable yet still attractive and highly suitable to give as gifts. All our silver plated items are suitable for engraving and make ideal thank you presents and anniversary gifts.
Care for your silver plate in the same way as you would sterling silver. Silver plated items do not carry a hallmark and the finish is usually highly polished.
Take a look at our wide selection of handbag mirrors and men’s gifts and we’re sure you’ll agree that silver plate is the ideal gift.
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