What is solid silver?
Definitions and names
Silver is a naturally precious metal that is white, shiny and not easily oxidized. It is strong by nature, ductile - able to be stretched without breaking - durable and hypoallergenic. It's a rare and noble metal that has been used since the dawn of time, and can withstand the test of time and be worn every day.
When we speak of sterling silver, we most commonly mean "sterling silver" or "925 silver".
Named after its composition, sterling silver or 925 silver is made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals - usually copper.
Other names for silver depend in the same way on their composition:
- Silver 800, composed of 80% silver and 20% another metal - the minimum titration required to call it "solid silver";
- 950 silver, 95% silver and 5% another metal;
- Pure" silver or 999 silver, silver in its purest form when extracted from the earth.
However, 925 silver remains the most common silver on the market. In fact, this composition is a perfect compromise between purity and strength, between brilliance and durability, making it easier to work with. It's a silver that also remains highly precious.
About us
Where can I find it?
It is found underground as a more or less pure chemical element, as crystals, or as curved filaments. Silver is extracted from ores - a mixture of various chemical elements - at depth or from surface rocks.
There are many sources of silver. They can be found mainly in America, Russia, Poland and China.
Our civilizations
While in some cultures gold is associated with the Sun, silver is associated with the Moon. It therefore plays an important role in civilizations and religious beliefs.
Used since antiquity, silver first enriched the civilizations of the Near East, then Greece and Crete, and played an important cultural role in Egyptian society during the first dynasty. The metal of choice for decorative objects and jewelry, it became a currency of exchange in Lydia, an ancient country in Asia Minor, in the 6th century BC.
Silver has also been the subject of research and innovation, leading to the principles of silver photography, and to cauterizing wounds thanks to its antibacterial properties.
Recycling money
Today, money is widely present in the world and in our daily lives, in all its forms. The ever-increasing demand for silver has a considerable impact on our environment. Indeed, the relentless extraction of minerals for profit has led to the depletion of resources and the violation of human rights linked to their exploitation.
As silver is a recyclable metal, it's entirely possible to use it wisely, and give life to new structures useful to our present-day civilizations.
As life and human activities that respect nature are at the heart of our values, Nekala has chosen to source only recycled silver from France.
Photo credits: 3 - Geoforum ; 4 - Bibliothèque Nationale de France | gallica.bnf.fr