In order to answer this question, you must first know the difference between sterling silver and regular silver. Both of these metals are great options for jewelry due to their affordability and relatively high quality, making them good choices no matter what your needs are. Below are more details about each metal to help you choose which best suits your needs and preferences.
The Differences Between Sterling Silver and Ordinary Silver
When it comes to shopping forsilver, most people don’t know whether they should choose sterling silver or ordinary silver. With several options out there, it’s hard to make an informed decision without doing a little bit of research. So if you’re in that boat and wondering what sets sterling silver apart from other types of silver, here’s a quick rundown of some key characteristics.
1.Carat Weight: A carat is a unit of weight for precious stones and metals; one carat equals 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams of weight.
2. Purity level: The purity level of precious metal or stone is expressed in karats and describes how much alloy has been added to it while being worked on in order to increase its durability and strength.
3. Softness/Hardness of The Material:
“Pure silver is softer than sterling silver, meaning that over time it will wear more quickly than sterling silver, which contains other metals to harden it and prevent tarnishing. For that particular reason, sterling silver is more commonly used in the jewellery industry. Examples of these would be men’s silver diamond bracelet or a pair of silver earrings.”
4. Color: Although they are both considered precious metals, sterling silver necklaces have a silvery shine while the pure silver counterparts are not as shiny due to the lack of alloying agents and impurities.
There are various types of silver available on today’s market, and not all of them are created equal. Sterling silver is the most durable form you can find. Unlike lesser grades like fine silver or even Britannia silver, it has a higher percentage of copper mixed in to make them more durable.
How Durable is Each Type of Silver Jewelry?
Sterling contains 7.5% of metals like copper and zinc. This gives sterling silver superior durability when compared to regular silver, which consists of 99.9% pure silver.
How can I Tell the Quality of Sterling Silver jewelry?
To test your sterling silver jewelry, you can use a magnet. If it doesn’t stick, it is not sterling silver. If it does stick, further testing is required to determine whether or not it is actually sterling. A seamless way to do so would be to drop a sample of your item into a solution containing 5% household hydrogen peroxide and 1% sodium hydroxide. However, these chemicals are corrosive, so make sure you wear protective gloves and eye protection when doing so.
While sterling silver is usually more expensive than regular silver, it’s also much higher quality and will last longer. Therefore, it’s better to invest in sterling silver jewelry in most cases. Silpada is a great place to look for authentic, well-crafted necklaces.
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