The adventure began over a decade ago. Before that, the only accessories I wore were gold. Not only was this possibly wrong for my skin tone, but buying gold was a very expensive way to make a fashion statement! Finally forgoing the sometimes painful activity of looking for something in 14K gold that I could actually afford was very freeing!

Since that time, accessorizing in silver has become a real pleasure. No matter my current economic status I can always pick up a beautiful pair of silver cufflinks, a smart-looking tie tack or an attractive chain. Cost isn’t much of a factor, at least not yet. There are predictions that silver prices will someday go sky high, but I don’t think anyone really knows for sure. My advice? Buy as much of it as you can now just in case!

I love variety, and realize there’s plenty of room for all types of taste in jewelry. Some people wouldn’t be seen in anything but gold, some need to be dripping in diamonds while others wear only a simple wedding band or a pair of pear studs.

I still find my self attracted to silver jewelry with dogs , cats or other animals. Why is this? Well of course I love animals anyway, but there is something that fascinates me about an artist who can capture all the whimsy and life of an animal in something as tiny as a silver earring, a gold pendant or a platinum ring. And silver charms! Who can resist them?

It’s too bad men are not encouraged to wear body adornment, as they once were. Sure you can wear an earring, but how many men are brave enough to put on a charm bracelet? Yet in many cultures it was the men, like male peacocks, who were the decorated ones.

What do you think about wearing gold and silver jewelry at the same time? For a long time that was considered taboo, but in recent years more and more women have not only been wearing them side by side, but individual creations often combine the attributes of these two precious metals.

Although untraditional, I personally see nothing wrong with this trend. Since ancient times gold jewelry was enhanced by enamels and various gemstones. Why not use its “sister metal,” sterling silver, to add drama and depth to the design? Plus there’s that old adage of rules being created to be broken. In the world of jewelry making, there’s certainly a lot of that.

If you’re not comfortable with this, then stick to the “either or” rule, but be open-minded and observe what others may be wearing. I think you’ll be surprised by the number of women wearing them both.

It sounds crazy to think that one day sterling silver will more highly coveted than gold . Just a few years ago a friend of mine talked deprecatingly about this precious metal. There was so much of it, so many cheaply made silver earrings and pendants from overseas flooding the marketplace.

That may change someday. Why is gold more expensive? Like other commodities, the prices of precious metals are driven by supply and demand. If silver supplies run low, the price will have to increase. It sounds like an upside down proposition, but only because gold has always been the rarer of the two.

I think they are both beautiful, from an aesthetic point of view. In fact, many people prefer silver jewelry over gold. But value is a result of how much is around, and how good the marketing of it is.

With all the talk of silver and gold prices going into the stars, you’d think it was nearly impossible to find affordable pieces. But you can still find some wonderful buys on attractive sterling silver jewelry and even gold. There are some unique designs out there, and just surfing a little on the web will yield some wonderful results.

Sterling silver (.925 silver) is a versatile precious metal, lending itself to fine jewelry for both men and women.

I’ve met some people a little scared off by the fact that silver will tarnish if exposed to the air for a period of time. The truth is that silver is easy to polish; you can even use toothpaste gently rubbed into the piece and rinsed out. I prefer a polishing cloth just for convenience.

So don’t be afraid to shop for sterling silver jewelry; you may find the perfect gift for someone special, and at a price that’s still quite affordable.