A Primer for Sterling Silver

The world and Sterling Canyon's standard for jewelry is Sterling Silver, made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper or other alloy.  Pure silver is a soft metal.  Silver reflects 98 percent of light, the highest value of any of the precious metals. To make silver harder, copper is usually added.  It is the copper that can make Sterling Silver tarnish over time. Silver, like gold, does not age. When silver becomes tarnished, this has nothing to do with oxidation. The discoloration develops when the silver binds with sulphur, and silver sulphide is black. Sulphur is present in the air, for example as a component of exhaust gases. The tarnished coating is easy to remove but is an unnecessary chore. Sterling Silver is therefore electrostatically coated with a metal like Ruthenium or other alloy.  The majority of Sterling Canyon’s jewelry has an e-coating made of several metals including Ruthenium that is extremely hard and tarnish resistant.  Sterling Canyon provides a free jewelry cloth with each purchase. Use it to wipe away the film that dirty air can leave on your jewelry piece.  If you make this a habit, your piece will look beautiful for a lifetime.                                     

Holy Cow! Gemstone Prices Going Up

Sterling Canyon reports that colored gemstones, like the ones that belong on your earrings, are expected to increase in price by perhaps 50% in the coming months.  We reported the expected increase in silver in the past couple of months but now the colored gemstones are heading up also. This is because of civil strife and export caps in the African nations where these gemstones are mined.  Civil strife in Africa?  Say it ain't so.  Perhaps the export caps are brought on by the warlords who want to squeeze our pocketbooks for more money.   At any rate, this is causing a shortage of gemstones and therefore higher prices.  Sterling Canyon does its best to bring you the lowest possible prices and the highest quality.  If you have comments about this, send us a note.  We would love to hear from you. 

The New Emerald - Tsavorite

Sterling Canyon reported a couple of weeks ago that a new gemstone was making its way onto the world market.  It was going to be billed as the new Emerald, a rich green that is in some ways better than Emerald.  Tsavorite is that gemstone and is more beautiful than any other gem.  Why?  Emeralds and Ruby are stones that when extracted from the ground, require some processing.  These stones require heating, fractures need filling with epoxy, and other doctoring that when examined up close, can show undesirable imperfections.  Tsavorite is different.  It is totally natural.  What comes out of the ground is what you see and what you get.  No doctoring is needed. It is cut and polished and done.  What a beauty it is. And mounted as earrings or on a necklace it can't be beat. Sterling Canyon will be bringing to you Tsavorite in the near future. Come by and visit us and witness the beauty of Tsavorite.

Valentine's Day in Sterling Canyon

No other day in Sterling Canyon’s calendar year commemorates love and affection more than Valentine’s Day, Feb 14 th .  It is a symbol and celebration of love and renewal that dates back to 3 rd century Rome and a Roman priest named Valentine or later Saint Valentine who died in mid-February 270 A.D.  Much later, during the 15th century in England and France, February was known for the time when birds began to mate. The populous began to recognize these events and began to commemorate February 14 th as a day of love. The oldest known valentine was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.  Perhaps with that note, the King included a piece of jewelry.   
Most everyone has a jewelry item that represents a special moment, a symbol of love.  Is it the necklace your husband gave you when your child was born? Or, is it the earrings that your Dad gave your Mom for Valentine’s Day when you were a young girl?  My wife says she can smell the Channel No. 5 her mother wore anytime she looks at the sterling silver and ruby necklace her Dad gave her Mom 30 years ago.  Those items become our family heirlooms.  
At Sterling Canyon, an online sterling silver jewelry store, we hope that we can help you build memories and find those special jewelry items.  Sterling Canyon offers a broad selection of finely-crafted sterling silver jewelry for most any budget.   Sometimes, we men need a bit of a nudge in the right direction. Shop Sterling Canyon today.

Sterling Canyon Introduces Glenn Lehrer: Master Gem Carver

                                                       Wing form executed in gem (chalcedony)

Sterling Canyon would like to formally introduce you to Glenn Lehrer.  Mr. Lehrer is a gemstone cutter from California who carves brilliant shapes from ordinary gemstones.  He is more than a stone cutter or sculpture.  He is a refined artist who can take a small gemstone and create an extraordinary piece of art.  He is one of the first cutters to formally train in Europe and is one of the tops in his field, where he is recognized for fluid gemstone carvings and precisely faceted stones. A jewelry designer as well, Mr. Lehrer creates and sells custom designs at his Larkspur, Calif.-based retail store and studio. I reported on him a couple of days ago when auction house Bonhams and Butterfields announced in San Francisco that they will host a show featuring Mr. Lehrer and his work.  The show runs March 19.

Colored Gemstones Popular in Engagement Rings

Sterling Canyon knows the beauty of colored gemstones.  You can't beat the shine and pop of a Citrine gemstone against a platinum band. Simply stunning in itself.  The popularity of these styles of jewelry is growing rapidly and becoming a big trend for 2011. This trend is due mostly from the popularity of television shows like Madmen.  Vintage styles are new again.  Pearl necklaces and colored gems are part of the trend.  According to preciousplatinum.com, in 2011, expect to see engagement rings with a variety of floral motifs inspired by the 1970s. Whether the design consists of “petals” surrounding  the center diamond, or the floral motif is part of the band, much of this intricate detailing can only be accomplished in platinum. This style is ideal for brides-to-be who prefer romantic looks.  Its good to be old again. Sterling Canyon has always offered classic designs because these styles never go out. They simply rest and come back.

China the Reason for Rise in Sterling Silver Pricing

Last week Sterling Canyon reported that the price of Sterling Silver, the stuff that your favorite necklaces and earrings are made of will be increasing in price.  It was disclosed that the reason for this increase, in addition to market speculators, is the increasing demand from China and India.  Shipments to these countries have increased by 25% over a year ago.  It is well known that these two countries have a large market for cheap low grade Sterling jewelry.  They wouldn't want to stab themselves in the foot by causing the increase in silver prices, thereby increasing the cost of their jewelry. Silver closed today at $30.50 per ounce.  A year ago it hovered around $17 per ounce.  Sterling Canyon continues to refuse jewelry made in China or India.  We prefer European and the United States craftsmen.  You should too.