The standard for sterling silver dates to medieval times, when King Edward I of England enacted a law requiring all silver products to meet a purity standard of 92.5%—or 925 parts of pure silver per thousand. The items were to be marked with the familiar leopard’s head, which in turn was stamped by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. This company survived to modern times, and they’re called the Goldsmith’s Company now.
Even though silver became more popular in jewelry design during the 19th century, the British government did not mandate jewelers to use any hallmark on their work. As a result, objects from the period are frequently devoid of any purity or producers’ markings.
The bulk of raw silver was utilized in the smithing silverware, plates, and tableware around the 1800s.
The loss of French silver simultaneously increased the consumption of good British silverwork. British smithing blended function with a minimalist structure. As it turned out, the English brought their silversmithing style to America, where pieces from the period can still be seen, made in a manner that mirrored the utility and elegant lines of British silversmithing. With the popularity of silverwork in the British Isles growing, it wasn’t long before the metal was used in handcrafted jewelry creations.
Why did our forefathers go to such lengths to gain silver, as appealing as it is?
Despite being an unsuitable metal for tools and weapons and being neither as scarce nor as versatile as gold, silver has been regarded as the more valuable of the two metals throughout history.
Bronze (a copper-tin alloy) was more durable and easier to work with. The Greeks used bronze plough shears and bronze swords to cultivate the land and storm Troy. Thousands of miles separated the trade routes for bronze ingots. They, like us, used bronze/copper coins as a kind of currency.
It’s no surprise that silver plates, cups, and utensils became were prized status symbols. Gold was too heavy, too malleable, and far too rare.
Silver has been the wonder metal of humanity for over 6,000 years, both in domestic and jewelry applications. At one point, silver was the stainless steel.
Silver is also both malleable and ductile. It’s one of a handful of metals that can be effectively pounded to thin leaf sheets. Silver can also be pulled into solid wires. The natural appeal to jewelers is evident.
It’s the most reflective and whitest of metals. The creation of mirrors would have probably been delayed if we didn’t discover silver.
The surface of the metal has natural antibacterial qualities that have long been employed in medicine. However, in the world of jewelry, a metal that prevents infections is not just icing on the cake—it’s something that can spell the difference between customers buying a specific type of jewelry or skipping it altogether.
Copper or nickel usually makes up the percentage of silver that isn’t silver. Some modern silver alloys have trace amounts of Germanium, which almost wholly prevents tarnishing.