What is the Difference Between Sterling Silver and Pure Silver?

The main difference between sterling silver and pure silver lies in their composition, usability, and care, especially when considering the role of plating in enhancing sterling silver's qualities:

• Pure Silver: Also known as fine silver, it contains 99.9% silver, making it highly malleable and soft. This purity level makes it less prone to tarnish but too delicate for making durable jewelry and everyday items. Pure silver's softness limits its application to items that don't require the same durability as those made from sterling silver.

• Sterling Silver: This is an alloy made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper, which increases its hardness and makes it more suitable for jewelry and household items. To enhance its durability and appearance, sterling silver is often plated with rhodium or gold. Rhodium plating provides a tarnish-resistant, reflective finish, making sterling silver more durable and maintaining its luster for a longer time. Gold plating adds a layer of gold appearance, offering the look of gold while leveraging sterling silver's strength and affordability.

 Sterling silver, with its rhodium or gold plating, offers a balance of beauty, durability, and resistance to tarnish, making it a popular choice for a wide range of jewelry and decorative items.

For more details on our sterling silver jewelry collection, visit Ferravanti.