What is sterling silver? It is a beautiful precious metal, used in jewellery and silverware, that has a luminous white colour. This article explains how sterling silver is made, and what you should look for when shopping for sterling silver jewellery.
What is silver?
Silver is a precious metal that has a luminous white colour. Because pure silver is way too soft for use in jewellery, it is mixed with other metals, such as copper. The alloys make it more rigid, and consequently, suitable for wearing as jewellery.
So what is “sterling silver”?
Silver that has other metals mixed into it is called a silver alloy. “Sterling silver” is a name for a very high-quality silver alloy that contains a large amount of pure silver and only a small percentage of other metals.
Why is sterling silver sometimes called “925 silver”?
Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver. This percentage – 92.5% – can also be expressed as a fraction of a thousand: 925 out of 1000. That’s why the number 925 is often used to refer to sterling silver. Similarly, fine silver bullion which contains 99.9% silver is often referred to as 999 silver.
Bricks of fine 999 silver bullion
Is it real silver?
Yes, sterling silver is considered one of the finest silvers. It is very popular in jewellery, as well as fine cutlery and tableware, because of its high sheen and substantial, luxurious feel.
How do I know my jewellery is sterling silver?
In the UK, the way you can verify if a jewellery item is made from sterling silver is by checking its hallmark. In Great Britain, by law, any retailer selling an item of jewellery above 1 gram in weight and calling it sterling silver, must have it hallmarked as such by a UK Assay Office.
What does a UK sterling silver hallmark look like?
The UK sterling silver hallmark is an oval mark with the number 925 in it. Other legal UK silver hallmarks are 8oo silver, Britannia 958 silver and fine 999 silver. Older, or foreign sterling silver hallmarks, might say ‘sterling’, ‘ster’ or ‘925 ster’.
These are the current, official UK Assay Office hallmarks for silver:
What does the word “sterling” mean?
The origin of the term “sterling” silver is much debated. Some say it comes from the Old French word esterlin, referring to an early Norman silver penny.
The Oxford English Dictionary offers a theory that it comes from the Old English steorling meaning “little star” – because some ancient Norman silver coins were stamped with a small star.
Other sources say the word comes from the time when North Eastern merchants, called Easterlings, paid English traders in Pounds of the Easterlings – often shortened to “sterling”.
Norman silver penny with two-star design c. 1080 AD | Image courtesy of PHGCOM, Wikipedia
Benefits to consumers
From the consumer’s perspective, silver is a valuable and beautiful precious metal that’s very affordable when compared to the price of gold or platinum. It has a beautiful, luminous sheen that’s almost impossible to imitate. As opposed to cheap costume jewellery, which is plated with a thin layer of precious metal that chips away easily, sterling silver has lasting value and can endure a long time if maintained and worn with care.
Can sterling silver tarnish?
Over time, sterling silver jewellery may tarnish. It’s primarily the other alloy metals in sterling silver, like copper, that can cause it to take on a black or green hue. The speed of the tarnishing depends on the water (including bathing, perspiration and air moisture) and chemicals (sulphur pollution in the air, soaps, detergents and cosmetics) that you come into contact with.
Can tarnishing be cleaned?
It’s very easy to clean tarnished silver. There is an easy and cheap DIY cleaning method for silver-only items that aren’t set with any diamonds, gems or other materials.
For other silver jewellery items that contain gems or diamonds, it’s better to use a silver cleaning lotion or jewellery wipes available from jewellers so you don’t damage the stones.
DIY cleaning silver using tinfoil-lined bowl with water, vinegar and salt
Can silver tarnishing be avoided?
While you cannot stop sterling silver tarnishing completely, you can take measures to slow it down considerably. Sterling silver is best stored in an airtight box or zip lock bag when not worn. You can also add a piece of chalk or some silicone beads into your jewellery box to remove excess moisture.
Always take sterling silver jewellery off when in a shower, sauna, spa or while swimming. Wear rubber gloves if you’re washing up with silver rings on your hands.
Chalk inside a jewellery box absorbs moisture and slows down silver tarnishing
Is it suitable for engagement rings?
Sterling silver is not ideal for jewellery that requires continuous daily wear and is intended to last a lifetime – such as engagement rings and wedding bands. It is the softest precious metal available and bends out of shape and damages more easily than white gold or platinum.
Silver also has the highest conductivity for heat and electricity. Therefore, for anyone who works in a profession involving electricity or handling hot items, silver is not a good metal to choose for an engagement ring or wedding band.
Pros and cons of sterling silver jewellery
Pros:
Sterling silver is a beautiful, white precious metal.
It is inexpensive compared to gold and platinum.
It’s an ideal, high-quality alternative to costume jewellery. (Cheap imitation jewellery is only plated with a thin layer of precious metal which will chip or fade quickly, making it a poor investment in the long term. Sterling silver, on the other hand, has an attractive price point, yet provides lasting value and quality for your money.)
Jewellery craftsmen love silver because it’s so malleable. Therefore it’s easy for consumers to find beautifully designed sterling silver jewellery items.
Cons:
The main downside of sterling silver is its softness. It may scratch and bend under repetitive daily wear, pressure or sudden knocks. Thin silver rings, in particular, may not wear well over a long time if you have an active lifestyle and wear them constantly.
Sterling silver jewellery will eventually tarnish. So you need to clean it regularly to maintain its gleam.
In conclusion
Sterling silver is a very attractive, lustrous precious metal. It is found in a great variety of creative jewellery designs. While its softness means it’s not the ideal choice for engagement rings, it’s perfect for fine jewellery accessories and gifts. Its price point is below that of gold and platinum, yet it has lasting beauty and value if you care for it properly.
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What is sterling silver? It is a beautiful precious metal, used in jewellery and silverware, that has a luminous white colour. This article explains how sterling silver is made, and what you should look for when shopping for sterling silver jewellery.
What is silver?
Silver is a precious metal that has a luminous white colour. Because pure silver is way too soft for use in jewellery, it is mixed with other metals, such as copper. The alloys make it more rigid, and consequently, suitable for wearing as jewellery.
So what is “sterling silver”?
Silver that has other metals mixed into it is called a silver alloy. “Sterling silver” is a name for a very high-quality silver alloy that contains a large amount of pure silver and only a small percentage of other metals.
Why is sterling silver sometimes called “925 silver”?
Sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver. This percentage – 92.5% – can also be expressed as a fraction of a thousand: 925 out of 1000. That’s why the number 925 is often used to refer to sterling silver. Similarly, fine silver bullion which contains 99.9% silver is often referred to as 999 silver.
Is it real silver?
Yes, sterling silver is considered one of the finest silvers. It is very popular in jewellery, as well as fine cutlery and tableware, because of its high sheen and substantial, luxurious feel.
How do I know my jewellery is sterling silver?
In the UK, the way you can verify if a jewellery item is made from sterling silver is by checking its hallmark. In Great Britain, by law, any retailer selling an item of jewellery above 1 gram in weight and calling it sterling silver, must have it hallmarked as such by a UK Assay Office.
What does a UK sterling silver hallmark look like?
The UK sterling silver hallmark is an oval mark with the number 925 in it. Other legal UK silver hallmarks are 8oo silver, Britannia 958 silver and fine 999 silver. Older, or foreign sterling silver hallmarks, might say ‘sterling’, ‘ster’ or ‘925 ster’.
These are the current, official UK Assay Office hallmarks for silver:
What does the word “sterling” mean?
The origin of the term “sterling” silver is much debated. Some say it comes from the Old French word esterlin, referring to an early Norman silver penny.
The Oxford English Dictionary offers a theory that it comes from the Old English steorling meaning “little star” – because some ancient Norman silver coins were stamped with a small star.
Other sources say the word comes from the time when North Eastern merchants, called Easterlings, paid English traders in Pounds of the Easterlings – often shortened to “sterling”.
Benefits to consumers
From the consumer’s perspective, silver is a valuable and beautiful precious metal that’s very affordable when compared to the price of gold or platinum. It has a beautiful, luminous sheen that’s almost impossible to imitate. As opposed to cheap costume jewellery, which is plated with a thin layer of precious metal that chips away easily, sterling silver has lasting value and can endure a long time if maintained and worn with care.
Can sterling silver tarnish?
Over time, sterling silver jewellery may tarnish. It’s primarily the other alloy metals in sterling silver, like copper, that can cause it to take on a black or green hue. The speed of the tarnishing depends on the water (including bathing, perspiration and air moisture) and chemicals (sulphur pollution in the air, soaps, detergents and cosmetics) that you come into contact with.
Can tarnishing be cleaned?
It’s very easy to clean tarnished silver. There is an easy and cheap DIY cleaning method for silver-only items that aren’t set with any diamonds, gems or other materials.
For other silver jewellery items that contain gems or diamonds, it’s better to use a silver cleaning lotion or jewellery wipes available from jewellers so you don’t damage the stones.
Can silver tarnishing be avoided?
While you cannot stop sterling silver tarnishing completely, you can take measures to slow it down considerably. Sterling silver is best stored in an airtight box or zip lock bag when not worn. You can also add a piece of chalk or some silicone beads into your jewellery box to remove excess moisture.
Always take sterling silver jewellery off when in a shower, sauna, spa or while swimming. Wear rubber gloves if you’re washing up with silver rings on your hands.
Is it suitable for engagement rings?
Sterling silver is not ideal for jewellery that requires continuous daily wear and is intended to last a lifetime – such as engagement rings and wedding bands. It is the softest precious metal available and bends out of shape and damages more easily than white gold or platinum.
Silver also has the highest conductivity for heat and electricity. Therefore, for anyone who works in a profession involving electricity or handling hot items, silver is not a good metal to choose for an engagement ring or wedding band.
Pros and cons of sterling silver jewellery
Pros:
Cons:
In conclusion
Sterling silver is a very attractive, lustrous precious metal. It is found in a great variety of creative jewellery designs. While its softness means it’s not the ideal choice for engagement rings, it’s perfect for fine jewellery accessories and gifts. Its price point is below that of gold and platinum, yet it has lasting beauty and value if you care for it properly.
Found this useful? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more jewellery articles.
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