Silver vs Sterling Silver: Key Differences & How to Choose Quality Jewellery

Pure Silver vs Sterling Silver: The Purity Difference

The main difference between silver and sterling silver is purity. Pure silver (also called fine silver) is 99.9% silver, while sterling silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper.

This might seem like a small difference, but it dramatically changes how the metal behaves. Pure silver is incredibly soft and malleable—too soft for everyday jewellery that needs to withstand regular wear. It can bend, scratch, and lose shape easily.

Sterling silver's added metals (primarily copper) create an alloy that maintains silver's beautiful appearance while significantly improving its strength and durability. This makes it perfect for crafting detailed earrings, delicate necklaces, and everyday bracelets that can withstand daily wear.

Durability and Strength: Why Sterling Silver Wins

When it comes to jewellery you'll wear regularly, durability matters. Here's how the two compare:

• Pure Silver: Extremely soft and malleable. It can be easily scratched, bent, or damaged. Fine silver jewellery often loses its shape with regular wear.
• Sterling Silver: The copper alloy makes it approximately 10 times harder than pure silver. It holds intricate details better and maintains its shape even with daily wear.

This durability difference is why you'll find most quality silver jewellery is made from sterling silver. Our gold bracelets, gold necklaces, and gold earrings collections also benefit from similar alloy strengthening, ensuring all our pieces stand up to everyday wear.

Understanding Hallmarks and Stamps

How can you tell what you're actually buying? Look for these hallmarks:

• Sterling Silver: Marked as "925" or ".925" (indicating 92.5% silver content), "Sterling," or "STER"
• Pure Silver: Marked as "999" or ".999" (indicating 99.9% silver content) or "Fine Silver"
• Silver-Plated: Often marked as "EPNS" (Electroplated Nickel Silver), "Silver-Plated," or "SP"

Beware of items simply marked "Silver" without any numbers or additional information. This can sometimes indicate silver-plated items (a thin layer of silver over a base metal) rather than solid silver.

All Ella & Eve jewellery is properly hallmarked, giving you confidence in the quality and authenticity of every piece in our jewellery collection.

Price and Value Considerations

Understanding the price differences helps you make better purchasing decisions:

• Pure Silver: Generally more expensive by weight due to higher silver content, but rarely used for everyday jewellery due to durability issues.
• Sterling Silver: Offers the best balance of quality, appearance, durability, and value. The slight reduction in silver content is offset by significantly improved wearability.
• Silver-Plated: Much less expensive but has a very thin layer of silver that will wear off over time, revealing the base metal underneath.

When investing in silver jewellery, sterling silver typically offers the best long-term value. Its durability means your anklets, bracelets, and other pieces will maintain their beauty for years with proper care.

Tarnishing and Care Requirements

Both pure silver and sterling silver can tarnish, but there are differences:

• Pure Silver: Tarnishes more slowly due to higher silver content and absence of copper.
• Sterling Silver: More prone to tarnishing because the copper content reacts with oxygen and sulphur in the air.

However, this doesn't mean sterling silver is inferior—it's simply a trade-off for its superior strength. With proper care, tarnish is easily managed:

1. Store in airtight containers or anti-tarnish bags when not wearing
2. Wipe with a soft cloth after wearing to remove oils and moisture
3. Clean regularly with a proper silver polish cloth
4. Avoid exposure to chemicals, perfumes, and chlorinated water

Many of our customers find that regularly wearing their sterling silver gold anklets and other pieces actually helps reduce tarnishing, as the natural oils from your skin can create a protective barrier.

Allergies and Skin Reactions

For those with sensitive skin or metal allergies:

• Pure Silver: Rarely causes allergic reactions due to its high purity.
• Sterling Silver: Generally hypoallergenic, though some people may react to the copper content. Rhodium-plated sterling silver provides an additional barrier for those with sensitivities.
• Silver-Plated: More likely to cause reactions as the plating wears off, exposing base metals like nickel that commonly trigger allergies.

If you have known metal sensitivities, look for higher-quality sterling silver pieces or those with rhodium plating. Our earrings collection includes options suitable for sensitive ears.

How to Choose the Right Silver Jewellery

When shopping for silver jewellery, consider these factors to make the best choice:

• Intended Use: For everyday wear, sterling silver offers the best durability. For display pieces or very occasional wear, pure silver might be suitable.
• Budget: Sterling silver provides excellent value, balancing quality with affordability.
• Maintenance: Are you willing to clean and store your jewellery properly? Sterling requires slightly more care than pure silver.
• Skin Sensitivity: If you have allergies, consider higher-quality sterling silver or rhodium-plated options.

For most people, sterling silver is the ideal choice for beautiful, lasting jewellery. It combines silver's lustrous appearance with practical durability at an accessible price point.

The Ella & Eve Quality Promise

At Ella & Eve, we're committed to offering only the finest quality sterling silver jewellery. Every piece in our collection is crafted from genuine 925 sterling silver, properly hallmarked, and designed to last.

Our jewellery comes with these quality assurances:

• Genuine 925 sterling silver with proper hallmarking
• Meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail
• Complimentary gift box and bag with every purchase
• Designs that balance timeless elegance with contemporary style

We're currently offering a special promotion: Buy 1 piece of jewellery, get a second piece 50% OFF! It's the perfect opportunity to start or expand your sterling silver collection.

Browse our stunning collections of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and anklets to find your perfect pieces.