How is Sterling Silver Manufactured?

The beautiful sterling silver jewelry that you will open up on Christmas morning had a long journey before it landed under your tree. It all starts in a silver mine. Silver is a soft metal that is mined in regions of South America, Mexico, Peru and even in the United States. In America, there are silver mines in Michigan and Arizona, where silver is mined in ore form.

Sterling silver is thought to be "pure" silver when, in fact, it is actually a combination of silver with other metals, typically copper. The combination of silver and copper forms what is known as a silver alloy. The alloy is substantially stronger than the silver would be by itself. The common marking of "925" on sterling silver jewelry refers to the 92.5 percent of silver found in the alloy compared to the 7.5 percent of copper. Copper is added during a process called congealing. The congealing allows the soft silver metal to harden. Pure silver is rarely used due to its softness.

Silver is highly sought after primarily due to its versatility and cost. Silver can be used in various types of silver jewelry including silver necklaces, silver rings and silver earrings. Because it can be forged and formed so easily, it has almost limitless capabilities and applications including cutlery, flatware or silver tea sets.