There are endless advantages to having a set of regular jewelry you can wear everywhere. Silver is one of the best materials for a set like this; it is healing for our bodies and can withstand daily wear and tear.
In this area, we have two options — a pearl and diamond pendant necklace or a 925 sterling silver necklace which is made to look exactly alike but is made differently and has different properties as a result.
Both are durable and can hold luxury gemstones — most people will tell you that sterling silver is stronger than actual silver! So, is all of this true, and what does it imply?
Here is how to understand.
Differences between Silver and Sterling Silver
1. Purity and Composition
How do we define purity? Because real silver is very pure — it is a 99.9% silver element and will not darken over time. On the other hand, because of this, it is very soft and easily breaks or gets damaged when we wear it as jewelry.
So, instead of silver bracelets, neckwear, and earrings, we use Sterling silver — an alloy that contains 92.5% pure silver and the rest of the other metals. In history, sterling was used to make coins, and today, this is considered a great way to make jewelry.
And yes! Sterling silver is actual silver. It has the same price value (we will discuss this below). This material is nothing like a cheap silver coating on a piece of metal.
2. Durability and Strength
Without a doubt, sterling silver bracelets, pendants, studs, etc are a lot more practical for everyday jewelry than any other alloy or silver metal combination. They are the highest grade but at the same time a lot stronger and can look good for your whole life.
Sterling can react with sulfur in the air and tarnish over time. However, fixing it is easy; all it needs is a polish session! Other factors like chlorine, skin secretions, and makeup can also cause silver to go dark.
On the other hand, sterling equals pure silver in terms of shine and finishing standard. Gemstones look way better on the comfortable foundation of strong sterling silver!
3. Price and Value
The first is pure silver jewelry, which is shiny and expensive. The second, like sterling silver jewelry, is still shiny but costs less because it's not all silver.
So, if a pure silver bracelet costs $100. A sterling silver bracelet, which is 92.5% silver and mixed with a bit of another metal like copper, might cost $95. While both are shiny and nice, sterling silver is cheaper because it's not entirely silver.
Last Words
Now, won't you agree that sterling silver is just as valuable, if not more, to those who love to wear everyday fine jewelry? You will easily find authentic silver necklaces and other products made from this raw material by looking at the 9 to 5 markings.
When doing wild shopping, we should remember that real sterling silver will not be attracted to a magnet and will not appear soft or brittle. Further, such a set will have great quality finishing as well! For more details, you can look here.
