Sterling silver, which contains 92.5 % silver and 7.5% copper is the most popular because of it’s durability and ability to be highly polished. Most top quality silver pieces are stamped with a mark which designates the precious metal content and a maker’s mark or registered trademark.

Platinum gained popularity in the late 1800’s when metal smiths developed the technology to work with the rare metal and discovered its unique properties. Platinum is remarkably pliable, allowing it to be drawn into very fine wire while remaining strong and durable. This opened up a world of intricate, lacy jewelery design possibilities. Most platinum jewelry is 95 percent pure platinum. The other 5% is usually palladium, iridium, ruthenium or other alloys. Look for a stamp or mark in jewelry that reads Plat or 950 Plat to be sure you have acquired this glamorous metal.

Pure gold is a rich glorious yellow color. When it is alloyed with other metals, the color varies. Basically, the higher the Karat percentage, the softer and yellower the metal. A myriad of colors can be created as the gold is combined with different elements. White gold is created by adding palladium or nickel alloy, copper and zinc. Pink or red gold is created when gold is combined with copper. Green gold is a mixture of yellow gold, silver, copper and zinc.