At different periods of human history, silver was valued higher than gold, or vice versa. For example, during the heyday of Ancient Babylon or the Assyrian kingdom, silver was considered a sacred symbol of the Moon. But in Ancient Egypt and some other countries of the Middle East, gold represented the symbol of the sun and the dawn. Just as in ancient times these two precious metals symbolized diametrically opposed celestial bodies, so modern people are conventionally divided into connoisseurs of silver and gold items. At some point in life, almost every person asks himself the question of what is better - gold or silver.
From these precious metals, both in ancient times and now, craftsmen create beautiful jewelry, commemorative and investment coins, and even dishes. When choosing gold or silver items, everyone is primarily guided by personal taste. But it is equally important to pay attention to the strength of the material and its storage conditions. Let's figure out which metal is more durable and what effect they have on the health of their owner.
What is better for a woman to wear - silver or gold?
Even an experienced jeweler will not say whether it is better for women to wear gold or silver: the answer directly depends on many factors. And the point is not even that gold, other things being equal, is significantly more expensive than silver. It’s just that all ladies are different, and it’s unreasonable to approach them with the same standard. And the design of jewelry has far from a conventional meaning.
Silver is definitely more suitable for young girls. The fact is that this metal is not so pretentious and demanding when choosing a wardrobe. An unpretentious ring made of silver can be worn “both at a feast and in the world,” and an impeccable manicure is not necessary.
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Silver goes well with casual, military and other youth styles, even informal ones. On a biker or a hard rock fan, gold will look at least strange. And an artistic, non-standard and esoteric nature can often be recognized by a large number of massive jewelry made of leather, wood, semi-precious stones and silver.
The question of whether silver or gold is better for women cannot be answered unambiguously. However, when it comes to status jewelry, it is better to opt for noble yellow metal. It emphasizes the refined taste and high social status of the owner.
Do not forget that wearing gold with precious stones (especially diamonds) during the day is in bad taste. Luxury jewelry is intended for display in restaurants, at pompous events, in the theater, but not in cinemas or McDonald's. Expensive jewelry requires unity of the entire look: from an impeccable evening hairstyle to the tips of elegant shoes.
Considering precious metals in isolation from jewelry design is not a good idea. A wedding ring made of gold with small diamonds can be worn constantly, and silver earrings of an ornate design in alliance with a “kosovorot” or massive “Martins” will look alien.
Gold of Italy. The secret of popularity
Italy is a country where gold in jewelry is one of the main export items to all countries of the world. Which plant is it better? The country has many worthy large jewelry enterprises and small workshops with an excellent reputation. Traditionally, the shade of gold in Italy is yellow, without the addition of red. This is achieved due to the absence of copper and high silver content in the alloy. Italian jewelers take into account modern fashion trends and use various additives in the alloy, which gives the yellow metal very unusual colors. In Italy, jewelry is mainly made using 750 (18 karat) or 585 (14 karat) gold. Which is better, 18 or 14 carat? It depends on personal preferences and income. Italian products have a significant difference - careful elaboration of individual parts and polishing. True connoisseurs of jewelry art remain partial when looking at the masterpieces of Italian jewelers.
Noble metals from a male point of view
If we are talking about a representative of the stronger half of humanity, it is better to study his tastes in advance. However, if this is not possible, it would be wise to opt for more neutral silver. It doesn’t look so provocative, which suits men of traditional views and tastes.
A good watch in a silver case, a cigarette case or a pen made of the same metal will be an excellent gift for a man of any age and status.
The maximum that a serious business person can afford is a gold chain and/or bracelet. It is very difficult to choose such decoration: the brutal massiveness will evoke unwanted associations with crimson jackets from the 90s, and the ornate weaving will cause excessive glamor. However, you can give preference to white gold: it looks discreet and expensive at the same time.
If we are talking about people of art, celebrities of all stripes, or bearers of the Eastern mentality, the choice should be exactly the opposite. Massive gold jewelry of an ornate design with precious stones is the best gift for a representative of the stronger sex of a creative profession.
With Eastern men the situation is somewhat different. On the one hand, they adore gold - only the deaf have not heard of the notorious golden door handles or plumbing fixtures of the Arab sheikhs. But Islam does not welcome jewelry on men, therefore it is better to give them gold watches and other things of utilitarian purpose in a luxurious embodiment.
From an energy point of view, it is better for men to wear gold. It has a pronounced solar power, corresponding to the masculine principle.
What is better to invest in?
Expert opinion
Lyudmila Pestereva
Our most experienced gold investor
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When purchasing bullion, you need to store it somewhere. From this point of view, investing in gold is more convenient: it is more expensive and requires less space. But silver production is falling (and it is constantly in demand by industry), the imbalance is increasing, and there is a chance that silver will rise in price several times in the coming years.
You decide. Investments involve both material risk and the possibility of substantial reward.
Advantages and disadvantages of gold
Gold is better than silver for several reasons:
- Status. Gold jewelry in classic shades (yellow, pink and red) is visible from afar. When implemented well, they demonstrate not only high social status, but also the good taste of the owner.
- Liquidity. This is an excellent investment, because gold is not prone to falling in price, at least relative to the Russian ruble. If necessary, it can be sold at a profit.
- Inertia. This metal does not oxidize and does not cause allergic reactions. However, we should not forget that mainly 585-carat gold is used for the production of jewelry. Impurities can cause oxidation and loss of color during wear.
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Among the disadvantages of this noble metal, it is worth mentioning its high cost, softness in its pure form, and demands on the overall image of the wearer.
Gold does not cause allergic reactions, but the ligatures contained in it are capable of this. Most often, allergies occur to cheap varieties of white gold containing nickel and zinc. Expensive alloys with palladium do not have this drawback.
Who should avoid precious metals?
You should be careful when wearing gold bracelets on your wrists or ankles during an exacerbation of chronic pyelonephritis, since gold can affect kidney function and blood circulation. In addition, gold earrings should be discarded if diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis, as they will intensify the inflammatory process. You should not wear them if you have high blood pressure, since the solar precious metal can increase it even more.
Silver has a strong beneficial effect on health. But jewelry made from it is not recommended for elderly people to wear all the time, as it can radiate cold. With poor blood circulation, silver items can cause an elderly person to constantly feel cold hands and feet.
In rare cases, wearing gold and silver jewelry can cause hypersensitivity to these precious metals and allergic reactions. Migraines may appear and heart rate may increase. Redness appears in the place where the skin came into contact with gold or silver jewelry. This may indicate individual intolerance to the metal. This occurs more often with inexpensive gold jewelry, which contains nickel, which is recognized as an allergen, as an alloy.
Pure gold, like silver, is hypoallergenic.
Pros and cons of silver
Sometimes it is difficult to determine at first glance whether it is white gold or silver. an experienced person, of course, will immediately notice the difference, because expensive varieties of white gold are visually comparable only to platinum. In principle, if your budget allows, it is rational to make a choice in favor of precious gold.
However, silver is better than gold when it comes to massive jewelry with geometric or deliberately rough designs. Everything related to sacred knowledge, runes or amulets is also best realized in silver. It is not without reason that popular beliefs attribute silver to miraculous powers, capable of resisting the dark energy of werewolves, vampires and other evil spirits.
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From an energetic point of view, silver correlates better with the feminine essence. It symbolizes the Moon (remember the purely female Old Slavic Moon), its soft reflected light and Yang energy.
Understanding Value at Risk
Volatility is another metric that investors use to understand the level of risk associated with an investment. In general, more volatile assets are considered riskier, providing greater variability in returns and less certainty about expected results. Silver has historically been more volatile due to its relatively small market size and demand, which is dependent on manufacturing and production. The one-year average annual standard deviation of weekly returns for gold and silver highlights silver's higher volatility relative to gold.
Recommendations for the care and storage of jewelry made of precious metals
Good jewelry does not require special care, but it also requires at least minimal self-care:
- Remove jewelry when working with household chemicals or going to the pool or gym. Remember that alloys that make up jewelry alloys are not inert, and if handled carelessly, jewelry can be damaged.
- You cannot clean jewelry with abrasives (with the exception of special pastes and gels). If the need arises, it is better to hold the jewelry in a soapy solution, and then wipe it dry with a napkin or flannel cloth.
- If necessary, have your jewelry polished. This procedure is simple, quick and inexpensive, but requires a professional approach and special equipment.
Try to store jewelry separately from each other, in special cells or personal boxes, protect them from damage and occasionally send them to a jewelry service. They will reward you handsomely, delighting you with an unclouded shine and presentable appearance for many years!
06.01.21
Analysis of the effectiveness of diversification of each asset
Understanding the diversification properties of each precious metal—or the strength and direction of the linear relationship between them—is another tool investors use to achieve an improved risk/return profile. Adding assets that have a low correlation to each other can also provide diversification, which helps investors seeking to optimize portfolio performance through cyclical and countercyclical market movements.
The table to the right shows that gold's lower correlation over the past year with both global equities and commodities overall highlights its potential to provide superior diversification performance on a relative basis relative to the broad movements of these asset classes.
Effective portfolio diversification can be measured by its risk-adjusted returns over time. The chart to the right shows that gold has historically delivered competitive returns and has outperformed silver on average over a number of past black swan events. Gold's ability to hedge significant equity declines, thereby reducing portfolio drawdowns, is a key example of one of the potential benefits of diversification.
