Ever wondered why you see so much "sterling silver jewelry" and not just silver jewelry? Besides sterling silver, there is also silver filled and silver plated jewelry. What could the difference between all these options be? Well, this blog will tell you exactly that and why sterling silver is…the better and more cost-effective choice when expanding your silver collection.
Sterling Silver vs. Silver Filled and Silver Plated
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is an alloy metal. It must be an alloy because pure silver is too soft to make high quality jewelry from as it is prone to dents and scratches. Sterling silver is made by combining 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% of a metal alloy that is most often copper.
Sterling silver jewelry is the most durable of the different types of silver pieces, so cleaning your pieces won’t damage them. Although they may tarnish, your sterling silver jewelry will never rust or deteriorate. With some proper care, your beloved pieces can shine for a lifetime!
Silver Filled
Silver filled metal is created by attaching a thick layer of sterling silver to a different alloy metal which is often copper or brass. The quality of silver filled jewelry is dependent on the quality of the sterling silver used and the thickness of the silver layer. Silver filled pieces are much thicker and more durable than silver plated pieces, however, they are not as long lasting as sterling silver. Since there is far more alloy metal used, sliver filled jewelry will tarnish more than any sterling silver jewelry.
Silver Plated
Silver plated metal is unique from the other types of silver metals because it utilizes pure silver. Silver plated jewelry is made by layering pure silver metal over top of a base metal. This is the most economic choice when selecting silver jewelry; however, over time the silver coat will begin to flake and reveal the base metal.
These BC Jade earrings feature silver plated heart adornments attached at the bottom! BC Jade Silver Plated Heart Dangle Earrings
A Closer Look at Silver Plating
Jewelry that has been silver plated closely resembles sterling silver jewelry. With dainty and small pieces it's almost impossible to tell apart the difference!
On larger pieces, however, it can be very prominent. In the picture of the silver plated pendant, there is a clear separation of the layers of metal. Although the material is silver, the visible lines show that it is not uniform and that the piece is composed of multiple layers of metal. When worn often and not taken care of properly, the silver coat will wear down and the layers underneath will be revealed.
Taking Care of Your Silver Pieces
No matter what type of silver jewelry you have, you will have to deal with the effects of tarnishing. However, we have simple and quick tips to help you clean and prevent your jewelry from wearing down!
Tarnishing occurs when silver interacts with the oxygen in the air. Exposure to your body’s oils, cleaning agents, and personal products like perfumes and lotions further speeds up the tarnishing process. To avoid this, practice removing your jewelry when doing chores, exercising, or when going in the water/showering. When you are not wearing your pieces, properly storing them in an airtight jewelry box will prevent tarnishing and keep them clean!
Tips For Cleaning your Sterling Silver Jewelry
Thankfully for us, polishing your silver pieces is simple and takes no time at all! You can purchase silver polishing products or try many DIY techniques such as using baking soda and water. These techniques will keep your sterling silver jewelry shining for longer!
There are many products that can keep your silver bright and shining. Anti moisture packets for your jewelry box, tarnish cloths, and polishing solution for a deep clean are just a few examples. For DIY cleaning, try mixing baking soda and water to make a paste and gently scrubbing your silver jewelry with an old toothbrush. After giving it a good scrub, rinse with warm water and pat dry and you'll have it looking good as new!
For a more in-depth guide, check out our blog on cleaning your jewelry: How to Clean your Jewellery at Home
Why Sterling Silver is the Best Choice for you!
High quality and one of a kind jewelry that is also affordable is difficult to find. Artina's Jewellery strives to provide jewelry that you or a loved one will cherish for many years to come. Most of the silver jewelry we offer is sterling silver as we believe it is the longer lasting, and more cost effective option. Take a closer look at what we have to offer: Silver Jewellery | Artina's Jewellery
Those Shopping with Allergies
Sterling silver is a wonderful metal to consider for someone who has sensitive skin. Having such a high purity of silver, jewelry made from sterling silver is often safe to wear for many. However, not all sterling silver is guaranteed to be free of the metal most people are allergic to: nickel. While more and more artists are trying to use sterling silver that is nickel-free, not every piece of sterling silver jewelry is guaranteed to be and so people should pay close attention when shopping for a loved one with an allergy!
While there is the option of choosing a different metal guaranteed to be nickel free, sometimes you want to go for silver - and we don't blame you! Our best advice is to ask and find out whether those beautiful earrings you've been eyeing are nickel-free sterling silver or not.
Inquire with us about our guaranteed nickel-free sterling silver jewelry!
With proper care, sterling silver jewelry will shine and sparkle for a lifetime. Compared to the other options for silver jewelry, there is no competitor for sterling silver. Sterling silver jewelry is durable, long lasting, and is easy to care for. Sterling silver makes for an affordable, stunning metal to pick from when browsing artisan pieces!
By following our advice, you can make sure your sterling silver jewelry will stay shining forever!
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