Silver was used as currency back in the day, and it is still one of the most popular metals today. Due to its corrosion-resistance property, jewellers use it for creating some truly beautiful jewellery pieces. Being a frequent silver shopper, you need to know how to differentiate between different types of silver jewellery. Sterling silver and pure silver are two distinct but related materials. So, shop jewellery like Sterling Silver Daisy Necklace And Earrings, chokers, and other accessories by keeping the differences in mind. By reading this blog, you will learn about the lifestyle and three main differences between pure silver and sterling silver.
What Are They?- Meaning And Definition
Pure Silver: Pure silver is also known by the people as fine silver. It is 99.99% silver with a trace element of about 0.1%. Pure silver is known as fine silver because of the metal used in it. The metal used in it is refined to the point where it does not have any impurity. Therefore, it contains all the silver particles only.
People were using silver as coins which is a beautiful, natural material that has been around for centuries. The metal is created from sulfur deposits within the earth’s crust, where temperatures are high enough to produce it. Jewellers create fine silver by purifying and extracting metal from other materials, such as gold or copper.
Sterling silver: The use of sterling silver in jewellery design has been widespread throughout the world since its creation. silver jewellery, like Sterling Silver Dangle Drop Earrings, contains 92.50% pure silver. To make silver stronger and more durable, it is mixed with other alloys such as copper, zinc, or palladium.
Even after reworking repeatedly the silver, it does not lose its quality while pure silver could change shape or become weaker after repeated uses. Sterling silver is therefore capable of creating more intricate designs and details while also being strong and durable for everyday wear.
Uses
Pure Silver: A fine silver is a versatile metal that can be used for many different purposes. Beyond its beauty, silver is excellent because when one can mix it with other materials to create new products or artwork. Unfortunately, pure silver jewellery is quite soft, making it difficult to use daily.
Fine silver items are also softer, so they are less durable. Furthermore, pure silver tends to bend, damage, and distort easily; therefore jewellers rarely use it to make fine and delicate jewellery. So, if you’re looking for a silver-colored ring or necklace for daily use, silver is better than fine silver.
Sterling Silver: The most common use of this soft, beautiful metal is jewellery making. Whether it’s a necklace, bracelet, or ring, ster silver can be shaped into whatever you desire. Even after polishing to a brilliant shine, sterling remains strong and durable.
Purity And Stamp
Pure Silver: Pure silver is 99.99% pure, meaning it contains only 0.01% of impurities, which can affect its appearance or chemical properties. You should see the purity stamp on fine silver when purchasing any silver jewellery. Silver objects have an engraved hallmark that indicates purity for commercial sales. A manufacturer or silversmith performs this task.
Another optional marking may also be present to indicate its date of manufacture, place of manufacture, and maker’s mark. Imprinting hallmarks with hammers and punches results in sharp edges and metal spurs. Therefore, before polishing the jewellery, all the jewellers engrave the hallmark into the piece.
Sterling Silver: You can see that the sterling silver will have a purity stamp of 925 which means that the government has officially recognized the metal. The silver must be 92.50% pure even jewellers mix it with other metals also.
With sterling silver purity stamps, consumers and jewellers alike can check how much fine silver is actually present in a product. Ultimately, everyone benefits from this.
Pure Silver or Sterling Silver: Which is the best?
When compared to pure silver, sterling silver offers several advantages. When it comes to durability, silver is more durable than pure silver. So people can use it repeatedly without worrying about the scratches and damages to it. Even prolonged use can not damage the sterling silver.
Pure and fine silver is much more expensive than sterling silver. Sterling jewellery is perfect for people who love to collect and wear it. You can afford more items with silver without breaking the bank.
Final words
You should consider all of these differences while jewellery shopping. If you want jewellery that will last, sterling silver is a wonderful choice. However, you can switch to stainless steel when your silver jewellery starts discoloring, and tarnishing quickly.