Sterling Silver Guide

One might be surprised at the plethora of choices when walking into a jewelry store or browsing online. There’s quite a variety of styles and designs to choose from, ranging from earrings and pendants to bracelets and rings. Apart from the stylistic choices, the materials used, particularly the metal in which stones are set, play a significant role. Among the popular options is sterling silver.

Defining Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is a classic choice that blends modernity and trendiness. The cool hue of sterling silver complements a wide array of stones and gems. Moreover, this metal offers durability, making it suitable for everyday jewelry pieces as it is relatively strong.

The strength of sterling silver is attributed to its composition. Pure silver, much like pure gold, is quite soft, making it unsuitable for jewelry due to its susceptibility to scratching and bending. Sterling silver is typically composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals (alloy). This ratio results in the common hallmark “925” found on sterling silver pieces.

When a piece of jewelry is stamped with “925”, it signifies that 92.5% of the material is pure silver. Any deviation from this percentage disqualifies the piece from being called sterling silver. Copper is often used in the alloy mixture to enhance the strength of sterling silver. This added strength prevents bending and scratching without making the metal brittle, allowing for the crafting of intricate and resizable designs.

Sterling silver exhibits a brilliant luster and cool tone. In contrast, fine silver (999 silver) appears duller and more grayish. Stainless steel and silver-plated jewelry may resemble sterling silver in appearance. While stainless steel boasts high strength and corrosion resistance, it holds less value compared to sterling silver. Similarly, silver-plated jewelry lacks the desirability of pieces hallmarked as 925 sterling silver.

Silver-plated jewelry refers to pieces where a thin layer of silver is electroplated onto a base metal through a process. Typically, the base metal is copper, nickel, brass, or another standard metal. Despite offering the visual appeal of silver at a lower cost, silver-plated jewelry is generally less valuable than genuine sterling silver pieces. Additionally, wear and tear can reveal the base metal underneath once the silver plating wears off.

Sterling silver is not entirely immune to tarnishing. It can tarnish due to the alloy metals reacting to moisture and sulfur in the air, resulting in a dull appearance with a coppery or blackish hue. Fortunately, jewelers can often restore tarnished sterling silver, ensuring you can continue wearing your favorite pieces of jewelry.

Popularity of Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver remains a popular choice for many individuals for several reasons. Its solid yet lightweight nature ensures that pieces like hoop earrings won’t weigh down the earlobes, and necklaces won’t feel burdensome. Additionally, sterling silver is hypoallergenic as long as the alloy composition does not include a high percentage of nickel.

While not as costly as gold or platinum, sterling silver is considered a valuable metal, making it a worthwhile investment. Many people opt for sterling silver in their daily wear, such as bracelets. Sterling silver chains and occasionally, even engagement rings, can be found in this metal.

Being more budget-friendly than white gold or platinum, sterling silver is a popular choice for couples on a budget. Its malleability allows for the creation of delicate, intricate designs. The cool tones of sterling silver make it versatile, enabling it to complement a wide range of stones, including diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.

Detecting Fake Silver

The hallmark stamp is a crucial indicator of genuine silver. Anything containing less than 92.5% pure silver cannot bear the 925 stamp or be sold as sterling silver. These stamps are typically found inside rings, on earring posts, or on tags for bracelets or chains.

To verify the authenticity of sterling silver at home, one can conduct the magnet test. Genuine silver is non-magnetic, meaning it won’t be attracted to a magnet. The alloy metals are either non-magnetic or present in small quantities that wouldn’t attract a magnet. If the jewelry reacts to the magnet, it is likely not authentic sterling silver. Sterling silver does not emit an odor. A distinct smell may hint at the authenticity of the piece. Silver-plated jewelry may give off a strong coppery scent, while non-sterling silver metals can have a metallic odor. A quick test involves comparing the smell of the jewelry to that of a copper penny.

Tips for Choosing Sterling Silver Jewelry

Aside from design, shape, and color considerations, certain factors should also be pondered when selecting sterling silver jewelry.

• Check for the hallmark: Genuine sterling silver should carry the hallmark “925” or may be stamped as “sterling”. Non-sterling silver jewelry should not bear this hallmark.
• Look for indications of “plated”: Pieces labeled as plated sterling silver differ from 925 sterling silver. The former is less valuable and can trigger allergies in some individuals due to the plating.
• Inspect for tarnishing: New sterling silver pieces should not be tarnished unless they are antique items. Choose pieces that maintain their luster.
• Verify the seller: When buying sterling silver jewelry online, prefer reputable brands with positive reviews and clear return policies that may include conditions like restocking fees.