Silver is shiny, shiny and gives off the characteristic metallic shine we all know and love. It’s timeless and classy and universally employed in jewelry making. It’s a tensile metal combining both beauty and sturdiness. Designers and buyers can’t get enough of silver.
Silver will likely never move out of favor as it’s been cherished for hundreds of years, with origins of discovery in Greece and Turkey (formerly Anatolia) dating back to 3000 BC. Pure silver is precious but too soft to be used in jewelry. Add a touch alloy to the combination and voila, you’ve got alloy! additionally to sterling silver, there’s also silver plate, fine silver, pure silver, metal, and 925 silver.
With such a lot of silvers on the market, how does one know which one to buy? Are all silvers the same? And what’s the difference between metal Jewelry and 925 silver Jewelry?
Sterling Silver vs 925k Silver
You might be wondering what's sterling silver? Alloy is an alloy made up of 92.5 percent silver and seven.5 percent alloy. An alloy is actually the mixture of two (or more) elements taken from the table. Regarding metal, the alloys can include zinc, copper, or nickel. While the us, Europe, and most of the planet enforce a strict standard of metal at 92.5 silver to 7.5 copper or other alloys, there are other standards. Some countries, including France, have a typical of 95 percent, however, 92.5 is that the most typical.
So, that leaves the question: what's 925 silver? Ultimately, it’s the identical thing as sterling silver! metal and 925 silver are both made up of the identical silver alloy blend, with the sole key difference being the name.
Durability and Purity of Alloy
The reason metal requires the mixture of other metals is that naturally, pure silver is soft. Adding other metals to the silver increases the hardness, making it more suitable and sturdy to be used in jewelry and housewares like silverware.
The results of this process also produces that signature silver color: bright, shiny and metallic. the sole downfall of this beautiful metal is that it can tarnish, which is why it’s important to regularly clean and maintain alloy jewelry with polishers.
The purity of silver lands on a numeric scale, or scoring system, based on 1,000. Pure silver gets a 999 rating. so as for silver to be classified as metal, it must meet a minimum of a 92.5 purity, AKA 925. So, as you'll be able to see: 925 silver is metal.
Conversely, metals that contain but 92.5 percent silver don't seem to be metal, which is very important to stay in mind when buying alloy.
How to Identify Alloy
The quickest thanks to identify metal is to appear for a mark or stamp, called the “hallmark.” Certified metal are going to be stamped or marked with the word “sterling” or “925.”
You may often come upon hallmarks labeled with “STG” “SS” or “STER,” which are all authentic notations of alloy.
Remember how metal and 925 silver are the identical thing? therewith knowledge, you’ll recognize that any item of silver jewelry labeled sterling or 925 is after all sterling silver!
Sterling Silver in Jewelry
One of the simplest things about metal is that it is styled with anything. Versatile, elegant, timeless and great for any occasion. From casual dinners to formal occasions, metal adds that classy touch of shine that elevates style without overpowering it. Here are some popular forms of alloy jewelry:
Pendants; Jewelers and designers use metal as a sublime and reliable metal casing for pendants to carry jewels and stones.
Rings; Many rings are made with alloy as it’s hypoallergenic and won’t leave marks or irritate the skin.
Necklaces; Metal is commonly used for necklace chains and pendants.
Earrings; Often, earrings are made with cheaper metals which cause irritation and may result in bleeding and infection. Next time you fall gaga with a pair of earrings, ensure they’re metal.
Bracelets; Add barely of shine with the flick of a wrist with a stunning metal bracelet.
Things to Understand When Buying Alloy Jewelry
We’ve learned that there’s no difference between metal and 925 silver, but the identical can’t be said for other items within the jewelry marketplace. Truth is, the term “silver” alone is kind of complex. In fact, this word is popularly used as a label, when of course silver should be clearly identified with a trademark representing its standard grade and quality.
With that information in mind, always rummage around for the hallmark as jewelers and artisans are legally obligated to stamp their pieces for potential buyers.
If you don’t see a stamp, shop elsewhere. It’s not worth buying a low-quality metal disguised with a coating of alloy, which ultimately wears off, looks cheap and may cause skin irritation.
That's right, cheap metals can irritate the skin and cause hypersensitivity reactions, which makes metal a great option for sensitive skin. Inexpensive metals such as nickel or brass can cause infections, especially in earrings.
Bottom line: alloy, aka 925 silver is hypoallergenic, prime quality, stylish and safe.
Which beckons the question, who doesn’t love silver?
Why We Love Metal
As you’ve thoroughly learned by now, metal is 925 silver. That said, it’s important to understand how alloy is created and what the metal standard grades are. With this information, you'll be able to make sure that you’re buying authentic metal and adding high-quality items to your jewelry collection.
Sterling silver is evergreen; it's stood the test of your time, which implies it’ll likely always be fashionable as a jewellery metal we love. It’s darling, durable, and diverse, and that we can’t get enough of it! Browse our alloy jewelry collection to seek out the right new piece to feature to your jewelry box
