Mens Silver Jewelry
When you think of jewelry you usually think of women because they make up 90% of the jewelry sales in this country.
But that number is changing rather rapidly. Men today are more likely to own and wear more pieces of jewelry than they were ten years ago. And when you think of men’s jewelry, you have to think men’s silver jewelry first.
Gold is great for wedding bands but the gaudy image of Mr. T and his ten pounds of gold chains is still fresh in our minds. There’s something out there called goldtone that is usually featured with the head of an eagle made out of zircon chips and worn by guys with Death Before Dishonor tattooed on their chest in six inch letters.
Silver just makes a better statement and Sterling silver makes the best statement of all. Sterling is 92.5% pure silver so not only does it have value as jewelry, it also holds the intrinsic value of a precious metal. Sterling silver is usually mixed with copper or zinc to give it some strength. Pure silver is too soft to be functional. Did you ever wonder why the cowboy movies always had a scene where some old miner would bite a silver dollar he just received as payment? Silver is soft, it will bend if you bite it. Silver painted lead will not.
Men’s silver jewelry be it a ring, bracelet, watchband, or necklace just gives off a rich and substantial feel. It just feels good wearing silver. Being a soft metal it has its design advantages too. Jewelers have a much easier time with intricate designs using silver than would other popular metals like stainless steel or titanium. As a result, silver jewelry will have a greater variety of designs to choose from.
The down side of silver is that it requires some maintenance. If it’s not polished it will tarnish although many people like that look. Also it is susceptible to dents and dings because of it’s softness.
An alternative to Sterling would be silver plating and if it is a quality plating job it will be difficult to tell the difference form Sterling. However all plating is not created equal. A poor plating job may rub off in six months or less leaving splotches on the jewelry. If you are going to go this route choose a brand you can trust. If you aren’t all that familiar with manufacturers, get a recommendation from your jeweler.
Men’s silver jewelry makes a masculine statement without being overbearing. It’s a great investment for any man’s wardrobe.