Of course, not everyone is fond of estate jewelry, preferring to buy jewelry that is new and exciting, especially something designed by one of today's contemporary artisans. It is these same designers who are seeing a mini boom in business today as shoppers discover the value of owning quality sterling silver and at prices much lower than gold. Tight economy or not, if your creations are especially attractive, you'll catch the attention of savvy buyers.

Selecting A Designer Artisan

Hot Diamonds is one such designing team producing some of the most sought after sterling silver pieces of our time. Don't let the name fool you, Hot Diamonds does feature at least one small brilliant cut diamond in every piece, but the accent is just as much on the metal as it is on the precious gemstones. You can find earrings, bangles, bracelets, pendants, necklaces, and rings featuring contoured shapes and fluid lines with a contemporary twist.

Each Hot Diamonds piece is part of a wider style line with such names as “just add love” or “back to nature” and “moonstruck” among others to captivate the imagination of buyers. For instance, the “just add love” line features modern and whimsical hearts and stars, an inviting style prized by young adult buyers. The “after hours” line represents the designers` evening wear collection, just perfect for a night out on the town for varying levels of formality.

Understanding Sterling Silver

Why should you choose sterling silver? Well, if you research the properties of silver you'd quickly realize how soft silver is by itself. Sterling silver is made up of 92.5% silver with the remaining 7.5% copper or some other metal. That is why you'll find silver flatware pieces, even jewelry, well over a century old in excellent condition: durable sterling silver is one metal that can stand the test of time.

If you were to choose earrings made of virtually pure silver, you'd risk having them break in short order. Always buy jewelry with an eye to have it last to ensure that your investment is worthwhile and can retain its look.

Shopping For Sterling Silver Jewelry

A big trend for sterling silver fans is to visit estate sales to see what jewelry buys can be had. If you're a fan of antiques, you'll find the best buys at these types of sales, particularly those managed directly by the family. When an auctioneer or estate planner is brought in, prices are often marked up to cover their costs much as an antique retailer would have to charge more to cover her overhead.

For new sterling silver, your options are quite broad from flea markets to mall jewelry stores to online merchants. At flea markets you risk dealing with someone who may not be able to vouch that the earrings or pendant you want to purchase are, in fact, sterling silver. With a mall jewelry store, the merchant can attest to what they're selling, while offering a guarantee. If shopping online, make sure that you deal with a reputable jeweler; you could save a lot of money if you find the right retailer as internet stores typically have a much lower overhead and savings are passed on to you in the form of lower prices.

Regardless of where you purchase your sterling silver, you're buying classical jewelry with a strong, contemporary appeal. Whether choosing antique or contemporary sterling silver earrings, pendants, bangles, rings, necklaces, or bracelets you can reap the satisfaction of finding and wearing one of the finest of all metals.