Most people have heard of sterling silver and some know this is different to pure silver. But there are many other types of silver alloys used in the jewelry making. Some have silver in the name but nothing in the composition!

Silver in its purest form is too soft for use in jewelry and can get damaged or change shape quickly. As a result, it’s alloyed with other metals to make it harder and more durable. The color of silver is also highly valued, so sometimes you’ll come across alloys that look like silver but are made of other metals altogether. - pure silver earrings online

All these types are used in jewelry, so knowing the differences can help you make informed choices when purchasing.

Here’s a quick rundown of the different types of silver used in jewelry.

Silver Jewelry

You’ll often come across jewelry listed as being ‘silver’ but with no indication of the silver content or the type of alloy.

What this type of silver is… is open to interpretation! It could be anything, really. As we’ve already mentioned, 100% silver is not used in jewelry.

Silver should be marked clearly with approved stamps, and the purity level should be indicated so you know what type of alloy it is.

In general, jewelry simply described as silver tends to be inexpensive silver plating which wears off after a while.

Always look for the stamp or ask the retailer about the exact contents of the alloy. They should be able to tell you this.

So be wary when you find ‘silver’ jewelry as that’s a bit of a mystery metal.

Fine Silver Jewelry

Pros:

Purest silver used in jewelry

Lustrous and white

Hypoallergenic

Cons:

Loses shape

Not durable

Fine silver, also called pure silver, is the closest you can get to silver in its purest form in jewelry. It’s made of 99.9% silver and .1% other elements.

Fine silver is lustrous and white and can be formed into delicate, beautiful jewelry pieces. But it can easily scratch, change form and lose shape. Because of this, fine silver isn’t recommended in the use of jewelry, except in earrings and pendants or other low-impact areas.

The hallmark, or stamp, for fine silver is .999 or .999FS. This metal is hypoallergenic as silver on its own causes no allergic reactions.

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Pros:

Durable

Workable and wearable

Beautiful luster and shine

Typically hypoallergenic

Cons:

Easily tarnishes

Harder to maintain

Sterling silver is the most famous silver alloy and has been used for centuries. It’s the standard silver alloy in most parts of the world. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver combined with 7.5% copper to create a durable, more wearable metal.

Sterling silver is lustrous and reflective, but it’s known for tarnishing easily. Over time, sterling silver will change color and darken as it oxidizes. This is because of the copper content in the alloy. However, it’s generally easy to clean this tarnish off and in some cases, jewelers use this tarnish to accentuate patterns and designs.

The most common mark for sterling silver is .925, .925 STG while vintage pieces often feature the older marks: STG, STERLING or STER.

Sterling silver is typically hypoallergenic but can sometimes have trace amounts of nickel or other metals that can cause reactions in rare cases.

High quality sterling silver jewelry is sometimes rhodium plated to enhance the whiteness, brilliance and durability of the metal. This adds value to the piece and prevents tarnishing.

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