Recently, various products made of blackened silver have been introduced to the market. This metal is durable, inexpensive, and besides, it is suitable for any age. Silver itself (in its pure form) is practically not used by jewelers. For making jewelry, craftsmen choose its alloys.
Blackened silver jewelry
Mainly copper is added to silver alloys. As a result, the product becomes hard, acquires good anti-corrosion characteristics, and its appearance improves. In the Russian Federation, jewelers work with only a few samples of silver. The sample is a hallmark, a product passport. She talks about the amount of pure silver in the product. 925 test assumes 92.5% of the metal itself, the remaining 7.5% are various impurities. There are several types of silver, such as blackened silver.
Varieties of silver
Silver has a white-silver color. At the moment, the following types of this metal are distinguished: filigree, matte, blackened, coin. Each species has its own specific features.
Matte silver does not have bright patterns. To get ituse various emulsions applied to the feedstock. The use of emulsions allows you to make the surface rough, to give it an additional charm. The product is original, beautiful, unusual.
Distinctive characteristics of filigree silver are a variety of openwork patterns. Since silver has high malleability and strength, thin threads are made, giving the product a beautiful and unusual pattern. Making filigree silver requires professionalism, it takes quite a lot of time. Jewelers highlight the background and openwork filigree. For an openwork look, a through pattern is implied.
Sterling silver is the main material used in jewelry. This material has a smooth surface, silvery white color, excellent strength, long service life. The sterling material is 92.5% pure silver, 7.5% copper.
Blackening technology
Masters from ancient times tried to decorate their products (weapons, jewelry, utensils) with ornaments, drawings, unusual patterns. The technologies for applying the ornament changed and improved. Blackened silver is obtained using a special technology. It is used in the processing of jewelry, as well as in applied art. In Russia, blackening has been developed since the middle of the 20th century. Unique blackened silver rings made by craftsmen from Veliky Ustyug (Vologda region) were in demand. In the 18-19 centuries, dishes, cigarette cases, trays were made using a similar technology. Master jewelers owned numerous subtleties of the craft, but they did not pass on their knowledge, and therefore some of the nuances were lost. Blackened silver was quite expensive, so only we althy people could afford such products. The essence of blackening was to cover pure metal with black. The product became embossed, acquired an exquisite appearance.
Features of blackening
This technology is aimed at obtaining unusual patterns on the product. A special technology has been developed by which blackened silver is obtained at home. First, the piece of jewelry is engraved or minted, then a special solution is applied to it, including oxides of lead, copper, and silver. The surface of the product must be clean, all grease stains must first be removed from it. To melt the solution, the product is heated. The result is a beautiful black pattern on the silver surface.
Benefits of blackened silver
Such products have numerous advantages. Such material does not need additional cleaning, retains its aesthetic appearance. Such an alloy also has certain limitations. Boiling with soda, for example, causes blackening to be removed. Dishes created using this technology have long been used to store valuables, amulets, and elixirs. The bactericidal properties of blackened silver in ancient times were considered a manifestation of magic. People sincerely believed that blackened silver protected from bad luck and evil spirits.
Metal oxidation
Currently, many products similar to natural blackening are made using oxidation. Today it is difficult to buy real blackened silver. Jewelry offered on the shelves of jewelry stores, for the most part, is created by coating a silver item with a thin oxide film. Over time, it is erased, and the decoration loses its luster. Real earrings made of blackened silver have a fairly high price. With the cost of 1 gram of ordinary silver 30-40 rubles, the price for 1 gram of blackening increases 10 times. Such jewelry has a high cost due to manual labor, the individual work of the master.
Helpful tips
When choosing a product made of blackened silver, you need to carefully examine the jewelry, check the presence and quality of the brand, and also get acquainted with the accompanying documents for the product. There was a belief in Russia, according to which, blackened silver dishes protect family life, the owner of the house. If household items were lost, great misfortune awaited the owner of the house and its inhabitants. Blackened silver was used to make coins, rings, earrings, bracelets, amulets.
Currently, jewelers are trying to combine silver in jewelry with semi-precious or precious stones. Natural emeralds, rubies, garnets, pearls are used as such “additives”. If gold adds age to a person, then silver, on the contrary, rejuvenates. It can be worn by women of any age. Jewelry with precious inserts is suitable for special occasions:receptions, presentations. For everyday wear, you can pick up products made of blackened silver that do not have inserts.
Reviews
Women who bought blackened silver jewelry primarily note its aesthetic characteristics. Customers are satisfied that the product does not need constant cleaning, and there are no allergic reactions during wearing from the ring or earrings. Lovers of silver jewelry are convinced that blackened items are the best choice. Owners of accessories made of blackened silver note their influence on mood. Rings and earrings, made with blackening, protect from unkind looks, help fight troubles. Women who have worn such products for a long time have found their personal happiness. Ladies of "Balzac age" note that blackened silver items make them young and beautiful again.
