All of my silver jewelry is .999 Fine Silver, more pure than Sterling.

It is made using a product called metal clay, invented and exclusively manufactured in Japan.

How do you make silver from clay? Well, first of all it isn't really clay. The process begins with microscopic particles of pure silver which are reclaimed from photography development. These tiny particles are combined with an organic binding agent, a little like paper mache, to form a clay-like product.

The metal clay is malleable and can be worked and shaped with the fingers or tools like actual clays.

The magic happens when the dried piece is put into a kiln. All the organic binding agent burns away and the silver particles come together and fuse (sinter) into a piece of pure silver.

Fine silver has the advantage of being tarnish resistant. Unlike Sterling, there are no copper alloys in it to hasten tarnish.