You want to fill your jewelry box with treasure made of gleaming metals and sparkling gemstones — but which metals will give you the look you want? Which jewelry is right for your budget? Gold jewelry and silver jewelry are both great choices, but they do have different properties and aesthetics. You can collect both gold and silver jewelry when you know a bit about both metal types. The right knowledge can help you buy jewelry with smart value and attractive style. Use these tips to select gold jewelry and sterling silver jewelry for your collection.
Ask any woman that question about her jewelry and you will probably get a clear answer. Most of us, both men and women, have a distinct preference for one metal over the other. Our preference is not determined only by the monetary value of gold or silver—we are drawn to these metals for their unique physical and metaphysical properties. In a nutshell, gold represents the male energy of the sun, and silver the female energy of the moon. Balance is an important concept. Just as the universe is a balanced ensemble of opposing forces working in concert, so we must seek balance among the opposing forces in our personality.
- Appearance: Gold jewelry is yellow and silver jewelry is grey, but there is more to the appearances of these pieces than the basic colors you have come to know. Both white gold and rose gold are very different from yellow gold. White gold is alloyed with nickel, manganese or palladium to give it a silver hue. Rose gold is alloyed with copper to make it pink. Sterling silver jewelry is usually silver, but oxidized silver can be dark grey.
- Cost: Gold jewelry is generally more expensive than sterling silver jewelry. This is mainly due to the rarity and durability of gold. Sterling silver can tarnish over time and may cause an allergic reaction in some wearers. These factors make gold jewelry more expensive than sterling silver jewelry in many cases.
- Durability: Gold is more durable than sterling silver. It is more scratch-resistant and it doesn’t tarnish. Both gold and silver are durable, however, because they are both precious metals. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent metal alloy. This metal alloy makes sterling silver durable enough for daily wear.
- Care: Both sterling silver jewelry and gold jewelry should be cleaned regularly. Silver jewelry does tarnish over time, so it has to be polished occasionally. Silver cleaner and a soft cloth will remove tarnish easily. Gold jewelry can be cleaned with warm, soapy water or polished with a jewelry cloth.
- Markings: Check jewelry for markings to be certain of its metal type. Sterling silver will be marked with a “925” or the word “sterling.” Gold jewelry should be marked with the karat, or purity, of the gold. Look for 18k gold, which is 75 percent pure, 14k gold, which is 58 percent pure or 10k gold, which is 42 percent pure.
Your birth energies will reveal which of the heavenly bodies is most important to you, but it will take some thought to decide which of those aspects of yourself you want to strengthen or bring into balance. Understanding the personal traits associated with each metal will also help you understand why you have an intuitive preference for one or the other, so you can put your preferred metal to work for you in your jewelry. Whether man or woman, we all have necessary male and female qualities that need to be brought into balance in order to fulfill our potential and enjoy harmonious relationships with others. Because they represent male and female energies, gold and silver can help us achieve this balance.
The beauty of gold derives from its color and luster. It is the most ductile and malleable of all metals and can be rolled into exceedingly thin translucent sheets. It is quite resistant to acids and chemicals in general, as well as to moisture and heat, making it well suited to jewelry. Silver, though less precious than gold, also has special physical characteristics that make it highly valued in many applications. It is also very ductile and malleable and can be highly polished. It conducts electricity and heat extremely well. It is used in coins, utensils, electronics, dentistry, batteries, and more. Colloidal silver is used for its antibacterial properties by alternative medical practitioners. Its very high reflectivity makes it of value for making mirrors and in photography. A great deal of jewelry is made of silver because it is so much cheaper than gold. Some people also prefer the white color of silver.
Gold, from ancient times to modern, has always been the most precious and valued metal. In many ancient cultures gold was considered to be the metal of the gods. It was used in jewelry, coins, and sacred objects. Across the ages it has been used by the wealthy and powerful to display their status. One reason for the high value we place on gold might be that it has the color of the sun, the source of all life on this planet. As I see it, life is consciousness itself! In astrology the sun represents the center of our being, our self-awareness, identity, and life force, as well as our highest state of consciousness. It is our true nature! So gold is beneficial when you feel you have lost your center or your identity, bringing you into alignment with the sun and your true self. The moon enfolds the feminine principles, including receptivity, nurturing, motherhood, giving life, giving and receiving, our unconscious mind, fantasy, creativity, safety, and feelings. Like a mirror, the moon reflects the light of the sun, lighting our way in the dark of night.
Many women who prefer silver for their jewelry have a strong cancer or moon position in their astrological chart, or a lot of water energy. For them it seems intuitively natural to flow with the moon energy represented by silver. But for many women it might be more helpful to wear gold to support decisiveness and self-expression and to strengthen the inner male aspects. On the other hand, if a woman has a lot of fire energy in her chart and problems around finding and expressing her feminine side, silver should be considered. Often it is helpful for men to wear silver to support their feminine qualities of intuition, creativity, and imagination. But if a man has a lot of water energy in his chart or a strong cancer or moon position, gold is essential to achieve balance. As you can see there is much more than monetary value and beauty to gold and silver. Along with the other elements of a piece of jewelry—the gemstone, shape, color, and where the piece is worn on the body—your choice of metal deserves special consideration, as it can enhance the qualities you are striving to express in your personality and your life.
