What is Sterling Silver? How is it Different to Silver?

What is Sterling Silver? Sparkling silver has long captivated people. It has been used for jewelry, coins, high-end home goods, status symbols, and much more. Silver has exquisite ornamental value and is frequently used to celebrate events, celebrations, and accomplishments.

How much do you actually know about silver, though, and the jewelry you wear made of it? In any case, what exactly is sterling silver? How to clean silver and why does it tarnish? What distinguishes gold from silver? Why should you give a damn, anyway?

We can tell you the straight story because we have a lot of experience designing and creating silver jewelry. Remember to also read our page about carats, karats, and gold.

Let’s get going…

What is silver?

Fine silver does not tarnish and is 99.9% pure silver. Throughout history, silver has been utilized for jewelry, coins, and decorative items due to its dazzling shine and great polishability, but not without the assistance of other metals. Silver by itself is too brittle for practical, daily use. However, because it is simply too beautiful to be used as jewelry and other fine embellishments, it is sometimes combined with other metals to make sterling silver, a more robust substance.

What is sterling silver?

What is Silver Sterling? Is sterling silver truly silver, one may wonder? Without a doubt, the answer is yes. Simply said, sterling silver is an alloyed version of silver that is far more suited for usage in jewelry and other metalworking projects.

99.9% of fine silver is pure silver. The metal is lovely in this state and tarnishes very little, but it’s usually too pliable and soft for many applications, such as crafting most silver jewelry.

Rather, sterling silver, which is made up of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper, is created by alloying fine silver with copper. Because of this proportion of fine silver, sterling silver is occasionally referred to as “925 silver” or stamped with the 925 mark.

Without sacrificing color, the copper gives the silver greater strength and durability, making it much easier to work with and utilize. The majority of silver jewelry you purchase and wear is made of sterling silver.

Is it possible for silver jewelry to turn black? Yes, it is also the explanation, and it is understandable and reasonably simple to fix.

Because to the addition of copper, sterling silver will tarnish more quickly and eventually turn dark brown or black, especially in humid environments. However, it’s easy to clean and beneath the tarnish your sterling silver will still be in fantastic condition: it won’t corrode or perish with everyday use. For additional information, view our helpful links to articles about polishing silver jewelry.

What is 925 sterling silver?

Sterling silver is an alloy made up of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% additional metals, mainly copper or zinc. The 925 marking verifies the genuineness of sterling silver items. According to one version, King Henry II called the sturdy coins made of silver alloy that were in use “Easterling coins,” which later became known as “sterling” silver. The pound sterling is still the accepted form of money in the United Kingdom today.

Regular Silver vs. 925 Sterling Silver–What’s the Difference?

Shining and exquisite, silver jewelry is easily fashioned into one-of-a-kind creations. It is a gift to honor 25 years of marriage and represents wealth. If you enjoy wearing jewelry, you have probably bought or at least looked at sterling silver bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings. Perhaps you’ve examined jewelry in person or online and questioned if the material was genuine silver or if pure silver and sterling silver truly differed from one another. We’ll cover all you need to know about silver and sterling silver jewelry, so you won’t have to wonder the next time you go jewelry shopping.

Is sterling silver real?

Sterling silver is actual silver–there’s nothing false about it. It’s basically actual silver mixed with just enough other metals to provide it strength without making molding it too challenging. Like jewelry crafted from 14k or 18k gold, silver needs to be transformed into an alloy in order to be worn. The US regulates the proportion of silver to other metals in real sterling silver, while jewelry from other nations frequently has less silver than 92.5%. When searching for sterling silver jewelry, take care to steer clear of silver-plated items, which are pieces of inexpensive metal that have a thin layer of silver applied to them.

How to tell if sterling silver is real?

• Look for the 925 marking. These three digits, along with the words STERLING or STER, will identify jewelry that is real sterling silver.
• Place a magnet against the silver. Your item is not genuine sterling silver if the magnet remains attached.
• The sterling silver has a smell. In the event that your jewelry has a strong metallic odor, it is not authentic sterling silver.
• Examine the price label. The price of 925 sterling silver jewelry may be too good to be true, but it most likely isn’t.
• Bring the jewelry to a repair shop. Allow a professional to test your jewelry if you want to be absolutely certain that it is real sterling silver.

What’s the difference between sterling silver and silver?

The primary component of sterling silver is silver, with trace amounts of copper and zinc added for reinforcement. If properly cared for, it can endure a lifetime and be passed down through many generations. Compared to sterling silver, silver is softer and less robust. Only 01% of trace elements are present. While pure silver is hypoallergenic due to the addition of zinc, sterling silver is not. Because sterling silver contains other metals, it tarnishes more easily than fine silver. Although 925 sterling silver isn’t as “pure” as pure silver, that doesn’t make it inferior. High-quality, elegant, and long-lasting sterling silver is a pleasure to wear.

How to tell the difference between sterling silver and real silver?

If you own jewelry made of silver, it is most certainly sterling silver because the two metals have the exact same appearance. The hallmark, or marking, that is stamped on in tiny letters or numbers, is the most reliable sign. Fine silver has a 999 or FS, while sterling silver has a 925 or STER.

Which is better for jewelry–sterling silver or silver?

Because sterling silver is tougher and has a longer lifespan than silver, it is preferable for jewelry design and wear. Wearing fine silver jewelry frequently is not recommended due to its susceptibility to damage. Additionally, putting gemstones in sterling silver is preferable. Gemstones in a 999 silver setting are too prone to be lost.

Does sterling silver tarnish?

When sulfur-containing gaseous compounds come into contact with sterling silver, they react to form silver sulfate, which tarnishes the silver and leaves a black coating behind. Humidity, chlorine, make-up, cleaning products, and even the acid in your skin can all contribute to tarnishing. However, tarnish is neither irreversible nor alarming. Your sterling silver will look brand new with just a quick polish.

Does sterling silver rust?

There is no rusting in sterling silver. Rust is the result of corrosion attacking iron. Certain materials are harmed by it, but sterling silver is not one of them.

How much is 925 sterling silver worth?

One of the best and most economical materials for jewelry is sterling silver, which not only holds its value but can even raise it. The price difference between fine and sterling silver is negligible. To determine the value of your sterling silver, you must perform a quick calculation.

1. Weigh your sterling silver in ounces or convert the weight to ounces.
2. Look up the current value of silver in ounces.
3. Multiply the weight by .925 to determine exactly how much pure silver is in your jewelry.
4. Lastly, multiply the pure silver weight by the current value of silver to find out how much yours is worth.

Remember that the amount of silver in your jewelry does not equal its whole value. A piece of jewelry made of sterling silver costs far more than the silver alone. It also showcases the piece’s age, ageless quality, gemstones, and creativity.

How to clean sterling silver jewelry?

Sterling silver is easy to clean. You can wipe your jewelry with silver polish and a polishing cloth or gently brush it with warm water, mild dish soap and a soft toothbrush. A toothbrush with soap is a wonderful option for occasional deep cleanings, but wiping with a polishing cloth is preferable for regular cleanings because it’s gentler.

How to keep sterling silver from tarnishing?

While tarnish cannot be totally avoided, there are things you can do to prolong the shine of your sterling silver jewelry.

• Wear more of your sterling silver jewelry. Regular wear actually prevents tarnishing as long as you don’t wear it when you’re sweaty.
• Wearing sterling silver in a pool with chlorine is not advised. Silver will take on a new hue when exposed to chlorine.
• Keep your jewelry made of sterling silver from the bathroom sink. It’s probably going to get covered in hairspray, makeup, or toothpaste.
• Before storing your jewelry, give it a quick wipe-down with a cleaning cloth.
• To keep your sterling silver jewelry safe, keep it in a jewelry case.

 

Silver or gold jewelry?

Whether you choose gold or silver jewelry is mostly a matter of taste, but unless you’re extremely wealthy, price is a key consideration. Silver is a precious metal, of course, but it’s far less expensive than gold, which may surprise you.

To what extent is it less expensive? Silver is currently approximately 75 times less expensive than gold. As a result, amassing a collection of genuine gold jewelry is far more expensive than silver.

The main cause of this is that silver is far more common than gold throughout the world. Throughout human history, an estimated 1.4 million tonnes of silver have been mined, compared to just 173,000 tonnes of gold.

How do you know your jewelry is real silver?

The hallmarks 925 (sterling silver) or 999 (fine silver) are frequently found on the silver jewelry you own. The stamps SS or FS, which stand for each, may also be visible. Not all silver jewelry is hallmarked, though, as it’s not required by law in every nation (including Australia). We don’t always utilize a hallmark since we believe that for some designs, it can take away from the piece’s overall polish.

So how else can you work out if your silver is real? Navigate down to discover more…

Using a powerful magnet—preferably a rare-earth neodymium magnet—is one way to test. The object may only be silver plated over a base metal if the magnet attaches firmly to the metal, indicating that it is not silver. This test, however, is not conclusive because some metals are not magnetic.

If you’re really bold, you could also apply a little amount of chlorine bleach on the metal in a discrete area and see what happens. Bleach usually causes silver, even silver plating, to turn brown or black. After giving the metal a thorough rinse, try to get rid of the discoloration using a polishing cloth or silver dip.

This should also help you understand why it’s never a good idea to wear sterling silver jewelry in a swimming pool! Silver and chlorine are a bad mix.

Lastly, if you follow the directions, you can get a precious metal testing kit from Amazon or Ebay that should conclusively identify the metal.

If you have any questions on “What is Sterling Silver? How is it Different to Silver?”, Feel free to comment below.

 

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