Silver jewelry is available in two main types – fine silver and sterling. Fine silver is easier to work with because it fuses easily without solder. It resists tarnishing better than lower purity alloys. It is most suitable for earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. While it is more expensive than sterling, fine silver can be scratched and dented. Some people prefer the silvery-white color of fine silver. Lower purity alloys, however, are harder and more likely to be tarnished.
Silver Types of Jewelry
Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver. It is beautiful, but prone to scratching, losing its shape, and turning black over time. Therefore, fine silver jewelry is not recommended for everyday wear due to its proneness to scratches and dents. However, fine silver is easier to form, is solder-free, and is more durable than its coarse-grained counterpart. Fine silver jewelry is a good choice for earrings and pendants.
Silver-filled jewelry is similar to sterling silver but is cheaper. It contains 5% or 10% of sterling silver. It can also be found in sterling silver jewelry but is not as durable as sterling silver Body Piercing Supplies. It may have a manufacturer’s logo or hallmark. When comparing silver-filled jewelry, sterling silver is the better choice. But beware of cheap imitations. Even if you buy jewelry that says it is sterling silver, you might not know what it really is.
Coin silver, formerly known as 900 silver, is not as expensive as coin silver or gold. 900 silver is a mix of ninety percent silver and 10 percent copper. Compared to gold or platinum, coin silver is more affordable. Jewelry manufacturers use silver plating, which bonds the atoms of silver to the base metal with electricity. The result is a thin layer of silver that is durable and tarnish-resistant.
