The origins of silver

Silver has been found in royal tombs – as ornaments and decorations – for centuries, dating back as far as 4000 BCE. And, historically, its use has been monetary as coins, as well as for sterling and plated silverware, jewellery and ornaments.

It is widely available in nature already, unlike gold, but in terms of other metals actually only makes up 0.05 part per million of the Earth’s crust, so details Britannica. In the periodic table, silver is denoted by the letters Ag, a chemical element that is noted for its electrical conductivity as well as its white and sparkly shine.

Sitting between copper and gold on the periodic table, it can be mixed with both in different percentages to make yellow gold, platinum and rose gold variations, which are all highly covetable for their individual reasons. Silver is a precious metal, one of the most popular – its colour, sturdiness and resistance to oxidation makes it ideal for jewellery making, it boasts a lustrous shine, feels modern and contemporary and looks elegant. It has been associated with success, glamour and wealth.

Sterling silver is an alloy which is made up of copper and 92.5 per cent pure silver. It is typically slightly harder than pure silver. There is also such a thing as Britannia Silver UK, which is made up of copper but contains 95.8 per cent silver and carries a hallmark stamp of 958. Jewellery makes tend to stamp silver pieces with a code for the alloy that has been used, which relates to the percentages – so sterling silver is 925. Once you know this industry detail, it makes shopping for silver easier.

Argentium silver is made with pure silver, copper and metalloid germanium and is a recent development among sterling silver alloys. It is harder than sterling silver and has a naturally shiny appearance, which means it doesn’t need plating. Supposedly, it is also good for those who have sensitive skin – with less copper in the surface and no nickel content. Which means it has antibacterial properties and is hypoallergenic. Because it is also naturally stronger, it makes for a good jewellery material.

Yet neither type of silver requires too much maintenance or care, which makes it an ideal choice for jewellery. Plus it has a knack of reflecting the light.

Georg Jensen is among one of the designers known for its use of silver, its sleek Scandinavian design instantly recognisable. And one of the first motifs created by the house was an Art Deco-inspired bunch of grapes, which were used as a handle on a silver tureen.

Pictured: Anine Bing ball charm in silver