The word silver originates from an Anglo-Saxon word, “Seolfor.” Considered a transition metal, it was one among the five metals discovered by humans, i.e., copper, gold, iron, and lead, and humans have mined it for more than 6,000 years!
The chemical symbol for silver, Ag, is an abbreviation of ‘Argentum,’ the Latin word for Silver. The Latin word, in turn, originates from the Sanskrit word “Argunas,’ which means shining. Objects crafted from silver were found in Greece, dating as far back as 4000 BC, and in the city of Kish In Sumeria, dating from around 3000 BC. Silver is a valuable and versatile metal that has many uses all over the world, ranging from photography and medicine.
There are several reasons why you should consider silver for your engagement ring and some of the reasons why not.
Pros:
Design
Silver is soft and malleable and perfect for delicate and intricate work, which requires elaborate shapes and details such as molds or knots. Celtic engagement rings are one such example of intricate rings. The Claddagh ring, Trinity Knot, etc. are all designs that silver pulls of amazingly well due to its malleability.
Silver Rings for women are stylish, elegant, and timeless. Silver never goes out of fashion, and you can choose any design and rest assured that silver will pull it off to perfection.
Cost
Due to the high price of gold, silver is nowadays a common metal choice with people looking for engagement rings. When the ring has a high polish, there is very little difference between silver and white gold. The cost of silver is fair in comparison to gold, yet gives you the elegance needed.
Silver has a look and feel of white gold, but it is easier on your pocket. Rings are prone to earing out and will lose their shine over time. Some people recommend choosing a silver engagement ring with a rhodium plating. This plating prevents the ring from getting scratches or tarnishing and improves the color quality of the ring. This is entirely up to you, as the plating also wears off eventually.
Cons
Durability
Pure silver on its own is too malleable to be fashioned into a ring worn every day. The best silver, in this case, is sterling silver, which by weight is 92.5% silver and alloyed with 7.5% of copper. A silver sterling ring goes through a treatment called flashing in which the ring is plated using a thin film of 99.999% pure silver. This film gives the ring a high luster but wears off with time for an everyday engagement ring.
As mentioned before, you can have your ring treated with rhodium plating to improve durability and its luster. You have the option of deciding whether to renew the plating when it wears off. Sine silver rings can bend and scratch under pressure, and a thin silver ring will not be durable.
Tarnishing
Over time, silver rings tend to tarnish and lose their luster. This is not a huge con as you can quickly rectify this by frequently polishing the ring. There are many home remedies for cleaning your ring at home. If you are not the DIY type, then you will have to contend with your ring looking dull and unsightly.
Silver is the most versatile and malleable metal and excellent material for making rings with intricate details. While silver is not the traditional metal associated with engagements, it is fast gaining traction as the metal of choice for making engagement rings. Its malleability is also its most significant disadvantage, making the rings very soft and easily bent, especially for a ring worn every day. The best solution lies in alloying the silver with some copper to make silver sterling, which lasts infinitely longer than pure silver. Flashing the ring by coating it with a film of pure silver also ensures the ring’s luster keeps for a long time. The best metal for your ring depends on budget, your preferences, and, most of all, what your partner would love.