Sterling Silver Promise Ring, Sterling Silver Wedding Bands?
Does anybody have any experience with sterling silver wedding bands?
My fiance and I would really rather have silver, because we both look
good in it, and we both like it better than gold or white gold. We've
gone to a few jewelry stores, and so far, none have any silver at all.
The saleslady at the last store claimed silver isn't durable enough for
a wedding band, unless you want to replace it every five years. I think
she was exaggerating just a wee bit, but silver does seen to be very
hard to find. Is there a good reson for this, or do stores just want
to sell white gold because they make more money on it?
When my mother and stepfather got married in 1983, they found a jeweler
who would make hammered silver bands. (This was in Southbridge, MA) They
came out looking really beautiful. I don't think they cost an outrageous
sum, and they held up fine. The only problem came when we moved, and the
water in our new well had a heavy amount of sulfur in it. The rings turned
black every time they washed their hands, but they came clean again with
silver polish.
I just went through the same process. Silver does seem to be very
malleable for this kind of use....but there is a great alternative: platinum!
Platinum (with 10% iridium) is hard, beautiful, doesn't tarnish, and isn't
horribly expensive (well, it's pretty expensive). I forget the exact
prices, but my 4mm band was around $400, her 2mm was around $300. Her
engagement ring was also platinum, and I think that was $325 including
mounting the stone (which I got from somewhere else).
Platinum used to be a much more popular jewely metal, but all jewelry
stores can still order rings (I think ours are Artcarved, which is a big
ring manufacturer that all stores can order from).
My parents play with make jewelry as a hobby. My Mother developed as allergic
reaction to gold and had my Father make her a silver wedding band. She had
had no trouble with it at all. If anything, the gold is softer than the silver
and the silver will last longer.