I've always been fascinated by jewelry, especially the sparkle of diamonds. Recently, I started wondering about using silver as a setting for diamonds. Silver is beautiful and seems like a budget-friendly option, right? But as I dug deeper, I discovered some crucial factors that changed my perspective. Let me share my journey and what I learned about the practicality of setting diamonds in silver.
Like many, my initial thought was, "Why not silver?" It looks great and seems cheaper than gold or platinum. I even started sketching designs for a diamond pendant set in silver. However, a nagging question kept popping up: if silver is so great, why don't I see more high-end diamond jewelry using it? I decided to do some research to find out if setting diamonds in silver was a good idea. I was particularly interested in the durability and long-term maintenance.
What I quickly discovered is that silver has some drawbacks that make it less than ideal for setting diamonds, especially larger, more valuable ones. The biggest issues I found were:
I even came across some information about Vickers hardness, which measures a metal's resistance to indentation. Silver scores much lower than gold or platinum, confirming its relative softness. You can find more info here if you're interested in learning about metal hardness.
Although a large diamond set in silver might not be the best idea for everyday wear, I learned there are situations where silver can work well. I saw some beautiful examples of small diamonds, called melee diamonds, flush set into silver studs and pendants. Because these stones are smaller and less exposed, the risk of damage is lower. Also, some people like the look of silver with diamonds, even if it means more maintenance.
This made me think about other jewelry pieces I could explore. I've been wanting a new necklace, and I came across Sumsfashion, which has a great selection of trendy jewelry.
Interestingly, I also learned that there's a historical precedent for using silver with diamonds. In the Georgian era, silver was often used close to the stone, even when the rest of the piece was high-carat gold. This was because silver was thought to enhance the diamond's brilliance. It goes to show that aesthetics and fashion play a role in jewelry design, even if it means sacrificing some durability.
Based on my research and personal preferences, here are some tips for choosing the right metal for your jewelry: