If you are a silver jewelry lover, you probably know about sterling silver by now. This is a timeless and sophisticated silver alloy used to create silver jewelry pieces. Even with the worldwide use of this special metal to make jewelry, most people do not quite understand why sterling silver is special.
If you are planning on getting a silver ornament, it is essential that you learn of the best silver type available. It is almost impossible to get jewelry in pure silver. This is because, in its original form, silver is highly malleable, making it unsuitable for making jewelry. This is why sterling silver is used.
Here is everything you need to know about sterling silver and why it is the best for designer silver jewellery.
Table of Contents
Understanding sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy comprising of at least 92.5 silver metal and traces of other metals. In its pure form, silver is soft, which makes it only suitable for crafting items that are not for everyday use, like home décor items. However, jewelry requires a harder metal, and this is why silver is mixed with other elements to strengthen it.
Once pure silver is mixed with another metal, it is termed as sterling silver. This is one of the most utilized forms of silver today. It can be used to craft high-end jewelry pieces and art pieces. True sterling silver should not contain more than 7.5% of other metals, with copper as the most used metal to create sterling silver.
How to know if a jewelry piece is sterling silver
Sterling silver jewelry pieces come with a quality stamp. Based on international silver standards, all sterling silver pieces must have this quality mark. Common sterling silver marks include:
- Ster
- Sterling
- Sterling silver
- 92.5
- 925
- .925
These markings are usually made in hard to see places on the jewelry pieces. If you go for fine silver pieces, it means that your product is 99.9% pure silver. Therefore, the quality mark should be 99.9, 999, or .999.
Sterling silver comparison to pure silver
Appearance
Sterling silver still retains the same fine silver lustrous look. Even after mixing with another metal, it will still be shiny and will resemble fine silver. Actually, it is hard to distinguish between fine silver and sterling silver based on their appearance.
The strength
Sterling silver is harder than pure silver. It can hold a shape, which is why it is preferred to make different silver items. In this form, silver can be used practically. Because of its softness, pure silver cannot be used to make any functional items that need to hold their shape.
The cost
Pure silver will retail at a higher price than sterling silver. However, whether sterling or pure silver, items made with silver are usually expensive because the initial cost of the material is high. Even so, you can expect sterling silver jewelry to be slightly cheaper than pure silver jewelry.
Why you should choose sterling silver
It is hypoallergenic
More than 10% of people around the world are allergic to most metals. Sterling silver is made of a high percentage of silver metal, which will make any jewelry piece hypoallergenic. You are less likely to react to the copper used to make the alloy. This way, you can wear your favorite jewelry piece without worrying about developing symptoms of metal allergies.
High potential for customization
Because sterling silver is easy to craft, most jewelers prefer it as it allows then to play with different shapes and designs. This is why it is possible to get a wide range of designer silver jewellery in the market. Sterling silver allows you to create personalized pieces and heirlooms that can be handed down through the generations.
Variety and accessibility
Because of how easy it is to craft sterling silver into different designs, one can quickly create a collection of sterling silver jewelry. Also, sterling silver is relatively affordable, which makes it accessible to all classes of people.