Silver

Abstract

The use of silver for jewelry and personal ornaments is probably as old as the use of gold: silver artifacts and decorations have been found in royal tombs dating as far back as 4000 BC. We cannot deny that a certain amount of mystique is associated with silver, yet the attraction is not as powerful or hypnotic as the one of gold. Alchemists have not wasted their lives trying to create silver. There have been silver rushes such as those related to the Comstock Lode strike in the Sierra Nevada during the second half of the 19th century, but somehow, hearing about these does not steer the same deep emotions produced by the gold rushes, nor cause the same amount of interest. The color of silver is beautiful, but cold. Silver is delicate, as it tarnishes easily, thereby losing its luster. Silver jewelry darkens the fingers or other parts of the body where it is worn, thus making it less appealing as a personal ornament. Silver combines with many other elements, and some of its compounds alter easily, thus defying the definition of noble metal.