SOME COUNTRIES USE  HALLMARKS To indicate the purity of the silver alloy used to manufacture or handcraft the piece. To identify the silversmith, designer or company that made the piece. To note the date and/or location of the manufacturer or tradesman.   WHY IS STERLING SILVER JEWELRY ALWAYS SO POPULAR? 925 Sterling Silver is used often in Jewelry because of the incredible brilliance, shine, luster & durability.  Silver has one of the highest reflectivities of any metal.! Silver is much...

SILVER STANDARDS AROUND THE GLOBE As stated previously, sterling silver is 92.5% silver.  This is the U.S. silver standard. Common other standards include: Coin Silver:  The U.S. standard for coins is 90% silver and 10% copper. Sterling Silver:    This describes any piece containing at least 92.5% silver Mexican Silver: The standard in Mexico is 95% silver and 5% other metals typically copper. Britannia Silver: Britannia silver has no less than 958.4 parts per 1000 parts and no more than 41.6...

Here are the World Market Silver pricing trends so far over the past several years: In April of 2007, the current spot of silver was hovering around $13.80 troy oz. Since then, silver has continued to go up with no signs of it going down in the near future. Silver is taking its' place as an " even more  precious metal." In the past 5 years, Silver prices have increased nearly 360% In January 2010,  Silver prices were just under $19.00  troy oz. In March 2011, Silver...