Because the price of gold and gold jewelry has sky rocketed over the last year or so, many more people are turning to sterling silver jewelry as an alternative to gold, white gold and platinum. Sterling silver has for centuries been a popular choice for jewelry as it is very malleable into many intricate designs and is very long lasting, so items such as a sterling silver charm bracelet are highly popular. And if you are looking to buy heart earrings, for yourself or as a gift for someone, then you should check out the enormous selection of sterling silver heart earrings that are available both in the chain jewelry stores in the Malls or from the many reputable retailers on the Internet.
There are a number of things to consider when purchasing any sterling silver jewelry to ensure that you get the best quality, the right design for the recipient and value for money.
Silver like gold and platinum is a precious metal and as with gold it has many grades. Although the finest silver is 99.9% pure, this is found to be too soft to make practical, serviceable pieces so silver is usually alloyed with another tougher metal, usually copper, to produce a stronger more durable metal. Sterling silver is the highest grade used in the making of jewelry and other silver products and is hallmarked 925. This indicates that the piece is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. When buying any sterling silver heart jewelry (for example, heart rings, heart charms or a heart chain) be sure to check its authenticity and the grade of the metal by looking at the hallmark. Any reputable jeweler will be happy to help you do this.
Apart from the fact that sterling silver is often a cheaper alternative to white gold for jewelry pieces, it is also a very versatile metal and looks good with any outfit and can be worn for any occasion. Not only will it complement your work clothes but it will also look great with that little black dress for more formal events and will not look out of place on the beach or when teamed with T-shirt and jeans for a casual look. Check out magazines like Hello, OK and People to see what jewelry the models and celebrities are wearing. Many of them are choosing sterling silver.
When choosing the style of heart earrings you wish to buy, another factor to take into consideration is the face shape of the person who will be wearing them. If the recipient has a round face then more elongated styles should be considered. For those with a more square shaped face, hoops or dangly or chandelier designs are more suited – while for a heart shaped face, shorter length or studs look best. Ladies with oval shaped faces can wear any design – studs, chandelier, hoops or drop earrings.
If you plan to choose a pair of sterling silver heart earrings with gemstones set into them then consider which to choose by reference to eye color. Blue or green gemstones like sapphires, Lapis Lazuli, aquamarines, emeralds, peridots and jade will emphasize the light eye colors such as blue, green or gray. On the other hand, amber, onyx and yellow tourmalines are better suited for someone with darker eye colors. These are only guidelines and the final choice should be left to the individual, because they may well have a favorite gemstone and may wish to co-ordinate with other pieces that they have in their jewelry box.
Finally, when choosing silver heart earrings, especially if they are for someone other than you, think about the person they are for and their particular fashion style and the type of jewelry they usually wear. For instance, if the recipient tends to wear classical style jewelry then a pair of stud heart shaped earrings would perhaps be the most appropriate, whereas for a more flamboyant character, large hoops or chandelier heart earrings might be more apt.
Whoever they are for (yourself, a friend, relative or loved one) sterling silver heart earrings are an excellent choice, because there are so many designs to choose from, they can be worn in any setting and are easily teamed up with other pieces of heart jewelry like a silver heart locket or a sterling silver heart charm bracelet.
