Top Uses of Silver

Silver is a popular international commodity which has vast range of uses in an array of situations. It is also an expensive and luxury commodity which is either purchased for its glamorous effect or its practical use. Silver normally gives off the impression of higher value or rank in whichever context it is used and we wanted to run down the top applications of silver and where you can expect to see it used.

• Currency – Many countries will use silver as a way to define basic monetary value, with silver typically being used for coins with higher monetary value. If we consider sterling pounds, silver is used to represent 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins to demonstrate the higher value you are receiving when compared with one and two pence pieces. This is the case across many countries and has also been the case since 700 BC when the first silver coin was produced.

• Jewellery/Silverware – The most popular form of silver is when it is used for jewellery or silverware. In the case of jewellery it is typically used for items such as necklaces, ear rings or silver charm bracelets. They can typically be combined with other commodity favourites such as Gold and Diamonds to create an invaluable piece of jewellery. An example of this is a silver charm bracelet which can have silver, gold and diamond charms attached to it so it will increase considerably in price.
Silver also has practical uses such as silverware which can include the dining room cutlery we use every evening for our meals, and can also include trophies/plaques we can be used to reward a winner of a competition or highlight a milestone.

• Dentistry – Silver is also used in dentistry to create dental fillings to feel any cavities that have formed in your teeth as a result of decay or tooth wear. The silver is mixed with mercury, tin and other metals at room temperature to make the fillings, however the introduction of tooth coloured fillings in recent years has seen a decline in traditional dental amalgam.

• Clothing – Silver can be used as a clothing accessory or it can be used as part of clothing garment, such as silver buttons on a cardigan or the silver buckle on your belt. Another, not so well known use of silver in clothing is to prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria on clothing such as socks, which helps to reduce bad odours and the risk of any fungal or bacterial infection.

• Medical – It has been claimed that silver has beneficial healing and anti-disease properties. Electrolytically-dissolved silver can be used as a water disinfecting agent, helping to supply fresh water. The disinfectant properties of silver are also present in other medical applications which include catheters and endotracheal breathing tubes.

• Construction – Silver and Silver alloys are popular properties among the construction industry, as the commodity can be used to create flutes and rods among other things. The use of Silver is popular because its impressive resistance under harsh conditions and its durability.