silver

=The silver=

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Silver is one of the seven metals known since ancient times. It is not difficult to imagine the effect that there was produce in those people, the discovery of the strange metal of white color, brightness enduring and insensitive to the fire to other metals melting away. Such amazement justified the attribution to the metal of unique properties, of which other metals lacked, except the gold; Since both were not but gifts of nature, one formed by the influence of the Moon, and the other by the Sun. Silver, like the rest of the metals, was used for the production of weapons of war and was then used in the manufacture of utensils and ornaments from which was extended to trade the minting of the first silver coins and to form the basis for the monetary system of many countries. In 1516, Juan Díaz de Solís was discovered in South America mar Dulce that later Sebastian Cabot called Río de la Plata, believing that the precious metal, abounded there and where will take the name the Argentina. Years later, the discovery of large reserves of silver in the new world in Zacatecas, Mexico and Potosí in Bolivia and its import to Europe led to a long period of inflation that far from stagnate in Spain spread throughout Europe

=** Silver´s cualities **=

**Silver** is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol **Ag** and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. The metal occurs naturally in its pure, free form (native silver), as an alloy with gold and other metals, and in minerals such as argentite and chlorargyrite. Most silver is produced as a by-product of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining.



=** Silver´s uses **=

Silver has long been valued as a precious metal, and it is used to make ornaments, jewelry, high-value tableware, utensils, and currency coins. Today, silver metal is also used in electrical contacts and conductors, in mirrors and in catalysis of chemical reactions. Its compounds are used in photographic film and dilute silver nitrate solutions and other silver compounds are used as disinfectants and microbiocides. While many medical antimicrobial uses of silver have been supplanted by antibiotics, further research into clinical potential continues.

=** Silver´s Jewelry **=

Jewelry and silverware are traditionally made from sterling silver, an alloy of 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper. In the US, only an alloy consisting of at least 90.0% fine silver can be marketed as "silver". Sterling silver is harder than pure silver, and has a lower melting point (893 °C) than either pure silver or pure copper. Britannia silver is an alternative hallmark-quality standard containing 95.8% silver, often used to make silver tableware and wrought plate. With the addition of germanium, the patented modified alloy Argentium Sterling Silver is formed, with improved properties including resistance to firescale. Sterling silver jewelry is often plated with a thin coat of .999 fine silver to give the item a shiny finish. This process is called "flashing". Silver jewelry can also be plated with rhodium or gold.



= ** Silver´s cobinations with other metals ** =

Silver is a constituent of almost all colored carat gold alloys and carat gold solders, giving the alloys paler color and greater hardness White 9carat gold contains 62.5% silver and 37.5% gold, while 22carat gold contains up to 91.7 gold and 8.4% silver or copper or a mix of copper/silver. The more Copper added, the more "orange" the gold becomes. Rose Gold (stamped 375 or 9K (can be stamped 9c) was very popular in the UK in the late 19th Century.



=** silversmiths **=

While silversmiths specialize in, and principally work, silver, they also work with other [|metals] such as [|gold] , [|copper], [|steel] , and [|brass]. They make [|jewelry], [|silverware] , [|armor] , [|vases] , and other artistic items. Because silver is such a malleable metal, silversmiths have a large range of choices with how they prefer to work the metal. Historically, silversmiths are mostly referred to as [|goldsmiths], which was usually the same [|guild]. In the western Canadian silversmith tradition, guilds do not exist; however, mentoring through colleagues becomes a method of professional learning within a community of craftspeople.



=** Silver´s value **=

Silver is much cheaper than [|gold], though still valuable, and so is very popular with jewelers who are just starting out and cannot afford to make pieces in gold, or as a practicing material for goldsmith apprentices. Silver has also become very [|fashionable], and is used frequently in more [|artistic] jewelry pieces. Traditionally silversmiths mostly made " [|silverware] ". Only in more recent times has silversmithing become mainly work in jewelry, as much less solid silver tableware is now handmade.

this is avidio about a piece of pre-columbian Chavin Silver Breastplate media type="youtube" key="SqOcEP_3iSo" height="390" width="640"