Silver is the second most popular jewelry metal second only to gold obviously. It has been renowned since the start of history as a luxury material used to make high-end jewelry because of its beautiful shiny appearance. If you already own silver jewelry you may notice that some pieces have tarnished a lot quicker than others, do you know why?
Not all silver jewelry is made from the same type of silver. Yes, there are many different types of silver used in jewelry. This affects their worth, tarnish resistance, hypoallergenic effects, and overall quality. This can confuse buyers, who may wonder, which silver is best for their jewelry and in this blog, we hope to help you answer that question. Before we list all the types of silver, it is important to know that all silver jewelry will be stamped with a code that explains the type of silver it is composed of.
Sterling Silver (925 Silver)
925 Silver Jewelry is jewelry made from 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals but typically copper. This combination makes what we know as Sterling Silver. It has become the industry standard when it comes to silver jewelry. The addition of 7.5% copper makes it slightly more affordable, but a lot more durable. This makes sterling silver jewelry perfect for everyday use. It is also more resistant to tarnishing and regular cleaning can help maintain its shine for a very long time.
Jewelry made from sterling silver is branded with “sterling”, “925” or even “S925” by reputable brands to confirm authenticity. It is perfect for jewelry from necklaces, to intricate rings and pendants.
Fine Silver (Pure Silver)
Jewelry made from pure silver is officially known as fine silver jewelry, which is befitting since it is made of 99.9% silver. This may seem the best and most luxurious option for silver jewelry on paper, however, the utility does not justify it.
One of the reasons sterling silver has copper in it is to make it more durable. Silver on its own is very malleable; this means it is easier for fine silver jewelry to develop scratches, deform, bend, and get dents. Hence, it is not ideal for everyday jewelry, or even jewelry that can face more pressure, like rings and bracelets. Necklaces and pendants do survive.
However, not all are against fine silver, since it is made of the purest form of silver, it can hold its value easily. It is softer which may be seen as a downside, but it also allows for more highly detailed pieces since it is easier to work with. If you do decide to get fine silver jewelry opt for necklaces, pendants, or earrings, since these pieces face the least rough usage. For authenticity fine silver jewelry will be branded with “FS” or “999” which would represent 99.9% silver.
Argentum Silver
The newest type of silver alloy being used in jewelry making is argentum silver. It is even more highly concentrated in silver than sterling, made up of either 93.5%, 94%, or 96% percent silver. The rest is made up of copper, and germanium.
Argentum silver may very well become the new industry standard, because germanium allows it to be more resistant to tarnishing than sterling, while copper helps with durability, and finally the higher concentration of silver means a brighter and shinier final piece. Finally, to put a cherry on top, Argentum silver is more hypoallergenic, which means it is even less likely to cause a reaction even on very sensitive skins.
Argentum silver will be stamped by “935”, “940”, or “960” depending on the purity and amount of silver in that particular piece.
Coin Silver
Coin Silver jewelry is made up of the recipe that the US used to mint their coins at the start. Many pieces are made by directly melting the coins as a source of the silver. These are infamously 90% silver and 10% copper. However, this is still used for antique-looking pieces, since it is thought by many to age well.
Also, ones made from the minted coins, have a huge collector fan base after them which makes them more valuable. Because of the highest copper content yet, they are the most durable for silver jewelry. They are stamped with “900” to correlate with their silver content.
Nickel Silver
Nickel Silver is the impostor among types of silver used for jewelry. It is also known in the market as German silver, but the catch is this “silver” does not contain any amounts of silver at all. It is an alloy made up of nickel, zinc, and copper, which makes it look very similar to silver. However, this alloy can be sensitive to many skin types, which is why it is not that popular of a choice despite being considerably cheap. It is durable, though so if you do not face a skin reaction to it, nickel silver jewelry is a good choice for everyday accessories.
However, if you decide to gift someone a piece of silver jewelry, instead of nickel silver pieces, go for something like men’s sterling silver 925 two-toned cross ring because it actually contains silver and can show that the recipient is actually worth the extra bucks and it will also be more sentimental for them.
Silver Filled and Plated
Silver-filled and silver-plated jewelry are basic pieces crafted of other metals like copper or brass with a top layer of silver. The only difference is Silver filled has a higher percentage of around 5-10% silver whereas silver plated is less than 1% silver. These are good for getting affordable pieces with an authentic silver shine, but those pieces are expected to be worn for a short time because, over time, the silver layer can wear off revealing the base metal which can cause allergic reactions to sensitive skin. These pieces can tarnish easily and do not even have their own stamping code. Instead, such pieces are usually branded with a brand name that the jewelry design is associated with.
Conclusion
Everybody loves to accessorize themselves or gift others good pieces of silver jewelry since they show how much you mean to them and love them or yourself. We must understand the different types of silver alloys and types that are most common in the market so we can decide, which is best for us. The main concern when trying to decide what silver jewelry you should opt for should be budget, how often the jewelry will be worn, and how much the purity matters to you.
