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 NEW J Novo Wood Flute Headjoint Wooden Head Joint Limited Time Only  US $549.00
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 J Novo Wood Flute Headjoint Wooden Head Joint US $849.00
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 Jupiter Flute 711RBSO Open Hole Sterling Sliver B foot NEW US $750.00
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 Pro Grade Selmer Flute Sterling Silver Gold B Foot Gizmo Omega Gemeinhardt US $770.00
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 Armstrong 80 Flute open holed with B foot US $75.00
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 Pearl Flutes Quantz 765 Series Professional Flute Excellent Condition US $1,700.00
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 CUSTOM STERLINIG MUSIC PRODUCTS FLUTE US $75.00
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 ARMSTRONG 81 SOLID STERLING SILVER FLUTE US $375.00
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 Flute Powell QVerne US $4,300.00
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 Altus Flute 1307 RBE Brittania Silver Brand New US $5,400.00
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 Altus Flute 1207 US $3,000.00
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 Yamaha flute 385 sterling silver head just serviced plays great b foot inline g US $650.00
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 Flute Silver Plated Amadeus by William S Haynes AF 600BOF US $900.00
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 Vintage Artley Flute Carrying Case Model 18 0 USA sterling Silverplate US $39.65
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 Armstrong Model 303 flute US $299.99
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 Drelinger Sterling silver flute headjoint US $1,200.00
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 BUNDY Selmer FLUTE Sterling Silver US $79.99
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 Gemeinhardt sterling silver flute US $202.50
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 Sterling Silver Armstrong Flute US $875.00
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 EMERSON STERLING SILVER FLUTE US $500.00
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 Armstrong ARTIST Silver Open Hole Flute with Gold Lip Plate OVERHAULED US $349.00
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 ALTUS 1207 RB HANDMADE PROFESSIONAL FRENCH FLUTE W PLATINUM RISER US $5,895.00
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 Yamaha 365 II 925 Sterling Silver Head Flute 365II w Hard Case GREAT Condition US $90.00
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 Powell Conservatory Handmade US $9,900.00
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 Briolette 7RB Flute US $489.99
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 Briolette 6RBE Flute US $299.99
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 RS Berkeley FO108 Signature Series Flute silver US $799.00
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 ALTUS FLUTE A907 Azumino W Case Carrying Bag LOOK NR US $77.00
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 JUPITER 611RBES openhole split E offset G B foot Sterling Silver headjoint flute US $850.00
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 RS Berkeley FO109 Artist Series open hole flute silver US $1,097.28
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 Plugs for open hole flutes sterling silver and cork US $2.64
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 Armstrong 303 Flute Sterling Silver W Case US $51.00
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 Silver Yamaha intermediate flute YFL 481II 925 Open Hole B Foot Inline G US $1,250.00
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 STERLING Quality PINK Curved Head CHC 16 FLUTE for younger or smaller players US $245.61
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 Demo Sankyo 5k flute US $13,000.00
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 BRAND NEW PEARL FLUTE PF 765 TRANSVERSE FLUTE STERLING SILVER HEADJOINT TUNING C US $101.11
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 Yamaha 684H Professional flute Pristine Condition US $2,399.00
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 Vintage Armstrong Model 90 Flute Sterling Silver US $27.00
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 HAYNES AMADEUS AF600B STERLING SILVER FLUTE IN CASE 8 4549 US $499.99
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 Classic Sterling Silver SANKYO ARTIST PRO FLUTE FANTASTIC US $2,025.00
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 Vintage sterling silver Selmer Paris France flute60sVery nice 4828 US $305.00
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 Armstrong 303 Flute and 204 Picolo Pads in Great condition Sterling silver US $650.00
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 Altus 907R flute open holes C foot in mint condition US $1,890.00
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 Selmer USA Flute US $349.00
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 Pearl Flute US $299.95
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 Yamaha Allegro 471 Sterling Silver 925 Flute w Case NICE US $1.25
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 YAMAHA YFL 461 OPEN HOLED FLUTE SOLID SILVER VERY LIGHTLY USED US $1,200.00
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 VINTAGE PROFESSIONAL SOLID SILVER STERLING WMS HAYNES CO BOSTON 15017 FLUTE US $305.00
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 Emerson EF80F Sterling Silver Flute US $599.99
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 Jupiter Capital Edition Flute GOLD and SCROLL WORK US $699.00
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 Cg Conn Sterling Silver Flute Sterling Keys And Body US $300.00
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 New Verne Q Powell Sonare open hole pro flute SF75BGF US $3,288.00 |
 Flute plastic Cleaning Rod with Microfiber Swab Cloth US $5.99
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 New Sterling 61B Armstrong Heritage open hole flute 12k gold springs Selmer kit US $2,388.00 |
 Flute Pad Cleaning Papers use to clean sticky pads US $1.99
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 XNice Emerson EF8B Solid Silver Open Hole Flute Outfit FRESH US $595.00
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 Flute black plastic Cleaning Rod fits in all cases US $3.99
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 PEARL Quantz Flute Model PF 525 RE PF 525RE Used Excellent Intermediate US $550.00
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 Microfiber Cloth Flute Interior Cleaning Swab Soft US $1.99
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 New Verne Q Powell Sonare open hole pro flute SF77BGF US $3,788.00 |
 Display Used Model Haynes Amadeus AF900BOF Flute US $1,895.00
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 Emerson EF8 Open Hole Flute All Sterling Silver Made in USA US $769.00 |
 Cork plugs for open hole flutes fits all brands US $1.24
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 STERLING Pro Quality BLUE and SILVER Curved Head FLUTE US $216.02
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 Anti Tarnish Strips leave in case to prevent tarnish US $1.99
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 STERLING Purple with Silver Keys Open Hole C Flute NEW US $216.02
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 YAMAHA STERLING SILVER FLUTE YFL 481H YFL 481 YFL481 B FOOT OPEN HOLE US $1,499.99
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 YAMAHA YFL 481 SERIES INTERMEDIATE FLUTE C FOOT FREE SHIP IN CONT USA ONLY US $1,199.99
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 Armstrong 303BP Flute and Piccolo With Sterling Silver Head Joint 303 204 US $1,499.00
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 Mateki Flute MO 052 Solid Silver US $7,000.00
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 Haynes Performance Flute Plug stopper headjoint cork upgrade US $24.99
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 PROFESSIONAL MATEKI WATANABE SOLID SILVER HEADJOINT NEW US $946.84
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 Jupiter diMedici Series 911 Flute JFL 911R Sterling Head US $699.00
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 STERLING Black with Silver Keys Open Hole C Flute NEW US $216.02
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 Giardinelli GFL512 Intermediate Flute with Gold Lip Plate 886830101137 US $674.99
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 Brio B20 OSB Intermediate Flute Sterling Silver Head and Body Offset B Foot US $1,099.00
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 PEARL Flute Cantabile 8800 RBE NEW Ships FREE Worldwide US $5,395.00
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 Gemeinhardt Flute M3S OPEN HOLE SOLID SILVER B FOOT INLINE G US $599.99
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 Verne Q Powell Flute 8014 US $9,500.00
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 Verne Q Powell Piccolo 12726 US $6,500.00
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History/origins of Sterling Silver Jewellery
Silver has been used for thousands of years as jewellery, tableware, ornaments, and even currency. In the periodic table, silver has the symbol Ag for argentums, which originates from the Indo-European "arg" for ‘white' or ‘shining'. Sterling silver is a mixture of silver and another metal, so that the material has qualities of both metals. The practice of producing this alloy is thought to have started in Germany around the 13th century. Recently, the most common metal to be combined with silver is copper.
Sterling silver is generally 92.5% silver and 7.5% another metal, normally copper. This has advantages and disadvantages. The problem with pure silver is that it is quite soft and malleable – but it is incredibly useful in other fields including medicine due to its antibacterial properties. The alloy of sterling silver means that it is stronger and more manageable, but the combination of metals means that sterling silver can be tarnished, unlike pure silver. Fortunately the tarnishing on sterling silver, which a lot of jewellery is made of, is easily cleaned.
The word "sterling" is thought to have originated from Norman coins which had stars printed on them in the 14th century. The "ster" part of the word comes from the description of the star on the coin, with the added suffix on "ling". The phrase "sterling silver" is most likely to come from the description of the new material, as it would shine "like a star".
Silver, unlike gold, is rarely found in metallic form. It is found as mineral ores that miners and refiners have to pass through various processes to extract the silver. The first mining of lead ores dates back to 6000 BC and the earliest silver jewellery dates back to 3000 BC. The origins of the mainstream creation of sterling silver comes from the early 1300s, when King Edward I ordered that all silver objects must meet the sterling standard of 92.5% pure silver, or sterling 925 (925 parts of silver per thousand). This is known as the sterling standard, and pieces that were then certified under this new rule would be stamped, or hallmarked to show their fineness.
As well as being used to make jewellery, sterling silver is also incredibly versatile. Sterling silver has been and still is used for tablewear, including cutlery, pots and during the height of silver's popularity in the early 20th century, shoehorns. Musicians have also used the material to produce instruments including saxophones and flutes have been made using sterling silver, giving them a unique timbre.
Sterling silver is now mainly used for jewellery. Peru is currently the world's largest silver producer, closely followed by Mexico, although silver is not confined to one continent, as it is also mined from as far afield as Russia and Australia. Silver is still a relatively cheap precious metal, based on current prices, silver is sold at around $18 per oz (May 2010), whereas gold sells at around $1140 per oz (May 2010).
Sterling silver remains one of the most beautiful and versatile materials for jewellery, a timeless and elegant metal that is also widely available mean that after thousands of years, silver will never go out of fashion.
About the Author
Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For moonstone silver jewellery, he recommends Seriously Silver, one of the UK's leading suppliers.
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