Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, most often copper or nickel. These metals give silver added strength, durability, and shine. This composition results in a more durable silver, the gold standard for jewelry. This standard dates back to circa 1300. Tiffany and Co popularized the sterling silver standard in America because they utilized it in their jewelry.

However, you might be wondering, “How can I tell if I’m dealing with sterling silver?”

A hallmark should be present on genuine sterling silver to identify it as such. Sterling silver hallmarks come in so many forms. For example, you can look at The silver is marked with the number 925. Look for expressions like Sterling Silver, STG, or STER. If you see the number 800, the charm may be European-made.

If you’re worried about the durability of sterling silver, don’t be. This is a sturdy metal that will stand the test of time. Sterling silver may be easily polished back to its beautiful shine if any surface scratches or damage occur. Furthermore, resizing and repairs are inexpensive, making it simple to keep sterling silver jewelry in good condition.

Fine silver is the most closely related to pure silver. It’s made of 99.9% silver and has the hallmark .999 on it. The remaining 1% is made up of minor trace elements in insignificant quantities.

However, while purer silver may appear superior, it is far too delicate to be utilized in jewelry. In addition, it is easily damaged and bendable, and its shape deteriorates over time. Therefore, fine silver is better suited to jewelry such as earrings and pendants than goods subjected to much use.

If you’ve ever seen a gold plate, you’ll note that the silver plate is very similar. It’s essentially a thin film of silver plated over a base metal, most commonly copper. As you might expect, such a metal plate has far less silver than fine silver or sterling silver. As a result, it is not as valuable as the other kinds, and the plating might tarnish and flake off with time.

Britannia silver, currency silver, German silver, nickel silver, tribal silver, and Mexican silver are all available. However, the amount of silver in each one varies.

These microscopic stamps can be discovered on the silver in various places. To see these correctly, you’ll need a microscope and a lot of patience. Nevertheless, this is the quickest way to tell if your silver is genuine.

Fake markings do occur on occasion, but they are uncommon.

Even if the piece of jewelry is made of expensive silver, it may go unstamped if there is no space to stamp a marking.  Sterling silver is substantially less costly than gold, palladium, and platinum, all precious metals. Silver has always been mined in more significant quantities than other precious metals.

Silver has stunning color and luster. In addition, sterling silver is ideal for any budget and jewelry lover because it has always been budget-friendly.

Exposure to humidity and air for an extended period leads to tarnishing. This is because the other metals in the alloy (most typically copper) react with the moisture and sulfur in the air. These chemicals and byproducts bind chemically to the silver, causing black discoloration. Likewise, if your silver jewelry comes into contact with chemicals like makeup, perfume, lotions, sprays, or detergents, it can tarnish much faster.