Are you curious what your silver jewelry is really made from?
A lot of jewelry that has silver in the name might not actually have any silver in its composition. Pure silver is too soft and delicate to be used in jewelry, which is why it is often combined with other metals to make it more durable.
If your silver jewelry doesn’t have any actual silver in it, it’s because it’s made of silver alloys that resemble silver.
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn all about the most popular types of silver used in jewelry today.
Sterling Silver
Sterling silver jewelry is the most common type of silver you’ll come across. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper, making it a durable, wearable, and workable metal.
Sterling silver is known for being reflective and lustrous, but it does tarnish and change colors easily because of the copper element. However, it is easy to clean this tarnish off, and it is the best silver type for those who have bad reactions to less pure silver grades.
Fine Silver
Fine silver is among the highest silver grades, being 99.9% pure silver and .1% other metal elements. Because of this, its classic features include it being pure white, lustrous, delicate, hypoallergenic, and some of the most beautiful jewelry pieces.
Yet, because it is made of mostly pure silver, it is also incredibly breakable, scratchable, and it can easily lose its form and its shape. Generally, you will only find fine silver in earrings or pendants, as these are less touched jewelry items.
Argentium Silver
This silver alloy was created to be more durable, and you can find it in two silver grades, 96% purity and 93.2% purity. Here, pure silver combines with copper and geranium, making the silver tarnish-resistant, easier to clean, and easier to maintain.
However, Argentium silver is more expensive than other types because it is relatively pure while being extremely durable.
Nickel Silver
Nickel silver is often referred to as “costume jewelry” because it is cheap, workable, durable, and it’s actually not silver at all.
Instead, nickel silver comprises 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc. The silver name only comes from the color, though nickel silver is often sold as sterling silver. Though it is easy to shape, it isn’t hypoallergenic and can possibly turn your skin green.
Use This Guide to Learn the Different Types of Silver
As you can see, there are many variants regarding the different types of silver used in jewelry. Depending on your preferences and allergies, you’ll want to use this guide to ensure your jewelry is what you’re looking for.
Even if it’s labeled a particular type of silver, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Less expensive silver jewelry is often passed off as something more expensive, and it’s up to you to do the research.
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