Different Types of Silver Used in Jewellery

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Although they look similar, there are a number of different types of Silver used in jewellery today. Typically, the Silver used to make jewellery is an alloy. This means that it’s a mixture of two or more elements mixed together – Silver being one of them. If Silver jewellery is legitimate, it will have a quality stamp somewhere on the piece. This tells you exactly what materials it is made up of. In this article, we explore the different types of Silver in more detail.

Fine .999 Silver

The first type of Silver on the list is Fine .999 Silver. The .999 in the name means that this type of Silver is 99.9% pure. With this in mind, Fine .999 Silver is the closest metal to pure Silver. The last 0.1% is made up of trace elements of insignificant quality.

Unlike the bright polish of Sterling Silver, Fine Silver has a strong lustre. The pure material is fairly soft, meaning that the metal can scratch, dent, and bend easily. For this reason, Fine .999 Silver is unsuitable for most pieces. However, certain pieces, such as earrings and necklaces, can be crafted from Fine Silver if the wearer is careful. Pieces that are bumped easily, such as rings and bracelets, should be made from a more durable type of Silver.

Sterling .925 Silver

Sterling Silver is the most popular type of Silver in the UK and US. Typically, the alloy is made up of 92.5% Silver and 7.5% copper. To increase the hardness of sterling Silver, other metals can be added to the alloy. This makes the metal more durable while also creating an enticing colour and lustre.

The appearance of Sterling Silver is bright and shiny. However, the metal can easily tarnish if you’re not careful with it. While you can delay your piece for tarnishing, you cannot prevent it entirely. As soon as the metal starts to lose its shine, clean is with a Sterling Silver cleaner and polishing product. Higher end Sterling Silver is often finished with Rhodium to prevent tarnish. While this makes the piece more costly, the platinum-based metal will increase its lifespan.

Argentium Silver and Non-Tarnish Alloys

In recent years, non-tarnish alloys have hit the shelves. Typically, these have a minimum of 92.5% Silver, with some containing a little more. The rest of the product is made up of copper and germanium. As germanium makes the metal harder, it becomes more difficult to tarnish; however, it does not make it completely immune. Non-tarnish alloys can still tarnish after long periods of time or under extreme conditions but will require less maintenance than Sterling. The downside to this type of Silver is the price. As Argentium Silver is rare, it’s much more expensive than Sterling. The rarity of the metal also makes it harder to get your hands on.

As Argentium and Sterling Silver both have a quality stamp of .925, it can be hard to tell the difference. Although manufacturers can use the Argentium(R) stamp, the long and expensive application process puts many jewellers off. Additionally, the (R) stamp is often too large and impractical for certain pieces.

Silver Filled

Silver-filled jewellery is relatively new to the market. It was introduced during the rise in Silver prices during the recession and has remained available ever since. Technically, the metal is not an alloy because it’s not the same material throughout. Instead, a surface layer of Sterling Silver is fused to a brass core through heat and pressure. In total, it is made up of 5-10% Sterling Silver.

As the metal is fairly new, it’s not yet standardised in the US. Additionally, the layered metal can’t be cast. While the Silver layer is relatively thick, it’s still a low-quality type of Silver. The product tarnishes easily and has a short lifespan. Since the price of Silver has decreased, Silver Filled jewellery is less common in the market. Currently, there is no legally approved quality stamp for this product.

Silver Plated

Silver Plated jewellery is similar to Silver Filled. It consists of a base metal with a thin plating layer of Silver fused to the surface. Unlike Silver Filled pieces, however, the Silver content of Silver Plated is small.

As Silver-Plated metal is cheap, it’s an affordable product for costume jewellery. Unfortunately, the metal can tarnish easily. Additionally, the Silver coating can wear off to expose the base metal underneath. Silver plated jewellery is not required to have a quality stamp; however, the piece may have a manufacturers logo or hallmark.

‘Silver’

Jewellery sold as just “Silver” can be a mystery. Though this term is thrown around in the market, pieces labelled as just “Silver” should be avoided. Legally, the standard quality should be labelled clearly so it can be identified. In most cases, pieces labelled simply as “Silver” do not have a high-quality Silver alloy. Manufacturers are legally required to stamp their product if space is available or label the packaging of finished products.

In Summary

Now you know the different types of Silver used in jewellery, you should be able to shop with confidence. With Silver, you get what you pay for. If you want your piece to last for years to come, save up and purchase a non-tarnish alloy. Alternatively, go for a Silver-plated piece but be prepared to replace it in the near future. As the top layer of Silver is thin, it won’t take long to wear it down and expose the base metal of copper or brass.

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