In its purest form, silver is soft and malleable — perfect for shaping into any form of jewellery. There are plenty of features that make this precious metal a first-choice pick for beautiful accessories.
Why is silver good for jewellery? Well, silver is one of the most widely used precious metals in jewellery, followed by gold and platinum. You’ll find that silver jewellery is elegant, classy, long-lasting, and more affordable than other precious metals.
Most of the silver jewellery you’ll see today is made from sterling silver. This alloy contains 92.5% silver and other metals like copper that bring needed sturdiness to the mix. Sterling silver still has the classic silver sparkle and actually improves the quality of the metal, so don’t think that you aren’t getting the best quality.
Most of the silver jewellery you’ll see today is made from sterling silver. This alloy contains 92.5% silver and other metals like copper that bring needed sturdiness to the mix. Sterling silver still has the classic silver sparkle and actually improves the quality of the metal, so don’t think that you aren’t getting the best quality.
Why Is Silver Good For Jewellery Overview:
- Reasons To Choose Sterling Silver Jewellery
- The Benefits Of Silver Jewellery
- Is Sterling Silver Good For Wedding Rings?
- What Are The Different Types Of Silver Alloys?
Reasons To Choose Sterling Silver Jewellery
Not sure why to choose sterling silver jewellery? Find out below.
1. Appearance
Let’s start with the obvious one first. Silver has an incredible colour and shine, perfect for melding into breathtaking designs and pairing with luxurious gemstones. The luxurious white metal has a cool tone that fits and pairs well with nearly anything. You can wear silver equally well with casual or formal attire, and it complements colour.
Similar jewellery materials like white gold and platinum share this pristine appearance, but you won’t find them anywhere near as affordable as sterling silver.
2. Sterling Silver Jewellery Is Durability
Sterling silver is a harder material than gold and provides long-lasting durability to jewellery pieces. Most silver jewellery is combined with other metals, such as copper, zinc or tin, and has a coating of rhodium to inhibit tarnishing. The inclusion of stronger metals keeps silver resistant to scratching and wear. Pure silver by itself is considered too soft for most jewellery types.
Rhodium coating is used to add some more shine to the metal but also removes another common problem. Silver is one of the only precious metals to tarnish, though rhodium will prevent the smudging effect entirely. Because of this, the only way to wear out most silver jewellery is by scratching off the rhodium surface, which would make the piece more susceptible to tarnish.
Silver jewellery can be worn every day, and will last forever if treated with enough care. However, you should avoid scratching silver pieces against hard surfaces, and clean them with warm soapy water if you spot any tarnishing.
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3. Hypoallergenic
Silver jewellery can be an excellent choice for those with sensitive or allergic skin. Pure silver by itself is highly hypoallergenic meaning it's highly unlikely to cause any reaction on the skin. Sterling silver is most often completed using copper, which is also hypoallergenic.
The only issue is when sterling silver contains traces of nickel. Though this could be as small as 2.5% of a piece if any at all. Only those with extreme sensitivity to nickel would feel any effects of the metal in sterling silver.
Learn more: can babies wear sterling silver earrings?
4. Affordability
It's well known that silver is one of the most affordable precious metals on the market. In fact, its affordability is almost as attractive as its appearance. At reputable silver jewellery retailers, you can buy a beautiful piece of high-quality silver jewellery for much less than you would expect to pay for gold.
Silver jewellery has always been a popular choice for those looking to buy beautiful jewellery without the steep cost. Whether you're looking for a simple silver chain or a dazzling gemstone ring, you are sure to find something in your price range that you love.
The affordability of silver jewellery makes it a great gift option. If you want to treat someone with a beautiful accessory but aren’t wanting to overspend then go for silver.
5. Customisable
Sterling silver still retains some of the malleability of pure silver. Because of this, silver rings and jewellery can be reshaped quickly and for a low price to fit perfectly. This is particularly useful for stone set rings, as the settings need to be changed along with the size.
If you’re in the market for custom jewellery, then silver could be your best option. Names and messages can be easily engraved onto jewellery old or new to make your silver jewellery that little bit more special.
The malleability of silver also means that silver can be engraved with lines and shapes, and smelted into all kinds of shapes.
6. Versatility & Variety
The striking colour of silver is very flattering against most skin tones. If you desire a more subtle look than gold then silver is a perfect choice. It’s also a great metal for letting coloured gemstones shine. The natural sparkle and tone of silver will enhance the glow and pop of gemstones like emerald, ruby and sapphire.
Silver is one of the most versatile metals, meaning it is suited for a wide variety of uses in jewellery. You’ll find stunning silver earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets, each uniquely their own.
What Are The Benefits Of Wearing Silver Jewellery?
Silver has all kinds of spiritual, health and practical benefits for daily wear. This precious metal has long been thought to lift your mood and channel positive energy into your life. The benefits of silver are countless, but we’ll summarise for you the best we can!
Health Benefits of Wearing Silver
In terms of health benefits, the antibiotic properties of silver are the most notable. Silver fights bacterial infection and is commonly used in all kinds of medicine, including wound sterilisation and healing. Silver can also reduce the chance of spreading some sicknesses, as it kills bacteria on its surface.
Throughout history, silver has been used for its healing properties for treatments of burns, infections and wounds. Scientifically, the precious metal has been shown to speed up the healing process. Wearing silver jewellery is said to transfer some of this healing power also, especially when it’s worn so close to the body.
Another obvious benefit of wearing silver is how it can lift your mood. The brilliant sparkle and light, calming effect of silver is great for your mental wellbeing. It’s nice to feel nice, and silver jewellery certainly gives you an amazing look that can boost your self-esteem.
Something can also be said about how silver channels heat and electrical currents. These incredible properties are said to balance the energy flow of the body and lift mood.
Spiritual Benefits of Wearing Silver
Over thousands of years, silver has had deep spiritual and cultural significance. To this day, many people swear by the calming, healing and balancing effects of silver.
Silver is a worldwide symbol of love. The luminous metal is believed to enhance your love and take away from any negative energy interfering with your relationship. Of course, silver is known for healing properties and can help you mend a broken heart too, if that’s what you need.
There’s a deep connection to silver and the moon. The tranquillity and elegance of both are clear to see, and both can reflect your true desires in life.
Many choose silver as a naturally calming element to wear in jewellery. Unlike gold, silver does not greatly enhance the effects of gemstones. Instead, it will gently and subtly transfer the good properties and energy of spiritual gemstones into your body, creating beautiful balance.
Many kings and queens would wear silver as a form of protection from evil and bad omens, and silver can still be worn for this benefit today. The naturally reflective nature of silver is thought to repel negative energy, and intensify the good things in your life. If you’ve been feeling better while wearing silver, maybe this is why!
Benefits Of Wearing Silver Rings
✅ Antibacterial
✅ Calming
✅ Durable
Benefits Of Wearing Silver Earrings
✅ Antibacterial
✅ Hypoallergenic
✅ Durable
Benefits Of Wearing Silver Bracelets
✅ Light
✅ Durable
✅ Antibacterial
Benefits Of Wearing Silver Chains
✅ Lightweight
✅ Mood-enhancing
✅ Versatile
Benefits Of Wearing Silver Anklets
✅ Strong
✅ Protecting
✅ Lightweight
Is Sterling Silver Good For Wedding Rings?
Gold and platinum are the traditional choices for wedding rings and engagement rings, but they aren’t the only options. Sterling silver makes a great alternative that is equally beautiful and long-lasting.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that silver isn’t special enough for wedding bands. Throughout history, silver has been one of the most sought after and precious metals across the world. At times the value and need for silver was even higher than gold, particularly by the ancient Egyptians who thought their gods' bones were made of white metal. To this day silver is still one of the most desirable metals for jewellery, even if it is a more accessible and affordable choice.
As we mentioned earlier in this blog; price isn’t everything. For many women, a sterling silver ring is the first choice for striking jewellery, regardless of monetary value. The engagement ring signifies such an important part of your lives, and should be something you love that holds high emotional value. It’s also worth bearing in mind that a ring worth $2000 and a ring worth $200 can bring the same kind of joy to your life.
The choice of a wedding band is completely your own, but keep silver in mind. Silver is durable, gorgeous and unique. Don’t forget the truly unique spiritual and health benefits of silver either! A wedding ring is more about emotional connection than price — and the affordability may even help you spend more on an unforgettable wedding day or honeymoon.
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What Are The Different Types Of Silver Alloys?
If you are on the search for sterling silver alternatives you probably won’t find many on the market. The two main types you’ll find are sterling silver and 925 silver, and well, they’re the same thing. Both contain 92.5% silver and a mixture of other metals.
The main difference you’ll see in silver jewellery is what makes up the 7.5% remainder of sterling silver. In most cases, this is purely copper, but sometimes nickel, zinc and tin are used.
You may find 999 or 99.9 silver marked on a piece of silver jewellery, and this means it’s made from fine silver. This is the closest you can get to pure silver at 99.9%, but small traces are found of other elements. You are highly unlikely to find 999 silver anywhere on the market, and this is because fine silver is too soft for much wear.
All jewellery should have a quality mark engraved somewhere. If you see 925 marked on a silver jewellery piece, that denotes a make of sterling silver. Other markings may give you more insight into the kind of silver you are wearing or buying.