A trip to any jewelry shop will confirm that the price of silver is on a huge upswing these days. Once a very affordable choice, pure silver jewelry is often out of reach nowadays for the more budget minded. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that jewelry designers are now turning to more wallet friendly alternatives like silver plated jewelry, offering their customers the next best thing when they can’t shell out big bucks for solid silver jewelry. You will also find a wide variety of silver plated chains and other findings available through online stores, letting you dabble in more affordable jewelry projects.

Silver plated jewelry basically consists of more inexpensive base metals like solid brass, coated with a layer of real silver. Therefore, you will still be able to enjoy the moonlit color of beautiful silver, without the hefty price tag that comes with a solid silver piece. Chains made with silver plating can be a great alternative to real silver or white gold chains and are readily available in a multitude of designs and styles for easy incorporation into your designs. Most variations available in sterling silver like crinkle chains, cable chains, flat cable chains, figure eight chains, drawn cable chains, pressed link chains, Rolo chains, curb chains and the like, are usually available in a silver plated option as well. You are also sure to find a nice variety of sizes and shapes.

Do remember that silver plated pieces are susceptible to wear and tear especially when it comes to prolonged contact with perfume, salt water, perspiration and other factors. So you will have to keep that in mind when designing the pieces of jewelry. They may not last as long as sterling silver, but will definitely retain their beauty for a long time if you follow proper care instructions that protect the outer layer of the piece. When looking for silver plated chains, make sure you purchase your products from a reliable and reputable source, so you get quality pieces that are the best in their class. A quick search online will also help you find great discounted products and bulk order options, further cutting down your initial expenditure.

Bridging the gap between imitation jewelry and real deal solid silver jewelry, silver plated chains and the like are a great mid-point that are attractive yet wallet friendly. You can now buy such chains and also other findings in wholesale and bulk quantities, giving you an even better price point. Since silver plated jewelry is also a lot more affordable, it will help you reach a bigger customer pool and at the same time let you experiment with more designs that you previously could not afford to do.