For thousands of years, men and women have been captivated by the splendor of silver. This mystical white metal has marked historical milestones throughout the ages, served as a medium of exchange and become an essential metal in today’s world of high-tech consumer goods.

Today, demand for silver is built on three main pillars: industrial uses, photography, jewelry & silverware. Together, these three categories represent more than 95 percent of annual silver consumption.

Industrial – The demands of modern technology have revealed silver’s remarkable range of electrical, mechanical, optical and medicinal properties. Industrial consumption represents over 35 percent of annual silver demand.

Industrial applications include silver contacts in switch panels – from microwaves ovens and other everyday electrical appliances, to elevators, automobile dashboards, windshields, computers and high-powered manufacturing equipment.

Products including watches, clocks, cameras, calculators and hearing aids are often battery driven, hundreds of millions of which are manufactured with silver alloys. The small button-shaped batteries used in consumer products are made of silver-oxide. Silver’s unique optical reflectivity allows it to be used both in mirrors and in heat-reflective coatings on glass, cellophane or metals.

Photography – Photographic products are made in a wide variety of types, formats and sizes tailored to four user categories; consumer, radiography, graphic arts and others. Consumer photography includes amateurs and professionals who require a range of films and papers. Radiography uses include x-ray products for medical, dental, and industrial applications. Graphic arts products include camera, scanner, and films used in the design and printing industry, while others encompasses motion picture, micro, aerial and display films. Photography accounts for roughly 30 percent of the annual silver demand.

Jewelry & Silverware – Silver has been a cherished heirloom and gift for centuries. Today, sterling silver is a favorite medium for creative and innovative designers because it is soft and malleable, and can be shaped into any form. Silver jewelry is popular in the marketplace because of its beauty, design and affordability. Jewelry and Silverware represent nearly 30 percent of annual silver demand.

Did you know? – Kodak and Fuji companies are the world’s largest consumers of silver. And about 2,000 tons of silver was recovered from recycled material in 1996.

Silver Fact – Silver is effective in treating burns by killing bacteria, allowing the burn to heal more quickly.

For more information on silver please contact:

The Silver Institute
1112 16^th Street, NW, Suite 240
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 835-0185
Or visit their Website at www.silverinstitute.org