Solid gold … If you’re on a budget, you might be tempted to go for a silver (or sterling silver) ring. But let's look into how these two materials do differ, shall we? You may be wondering... does sterling... 7 Reasons to Start Buying Sterling Silver Jewelry, Sterling Silver Care: 5 Tips for Long-Lasting Jewelry, Jewelry Care: How to Clean Sterling Silver, 8 Ways to Make Your Sterling Silver Ring Look Like New, Does Sterling Silver Tarnish? Style: The Pros & Cons of Silver's Versatility. How to Keep Your Jewelry Looking Good. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% alloy. The Pros and Cons of stainless steel jewelry. Sterling silver is much more durable compared to fine silver because of the added metal alloys. As we said, Silver is a softer metal, and it can be prone to scratching when it takes a beating. Show you the money? Silver. You don't get that from Tungsten (which is far tougher and cracks rather than bends in extreme situations) or Titanium (which is way tougher and just refuses to bend under most circumstances). The truth is that pure silver or 99.9 percent pure silver is a very reactive metal. Don't worry, we got you covered with our awesome shipping! This allows it to be used to make a number of other things including: Notice that last use of silver-plated items listed above. While this isn’t a major issue for the consumer, it makes working with sterling silver difficult for jewelry makers. Not only will that cause tarnish, it could cause your finger to turn green/blue... #MetalFail. Then again, you could look to another precious metal we know and love here at Manly Bands: Titanium. Free shipping. Fine silver is also usually stamped with a marker to indicate that it is indeed fine silver. But, remember that Silver is also just straight up expensive. Cons. Alright, dude, time to get to the meat of the matter: the real shortcomings that Silver brings to the table. Did you think that sterling silver and regular silver were the same thing? And Titanium's signature toughness is just too much for most jewelers to deal with. Can you tell that isn't Sterling Silver? Remember that. Stainless holds a slight edge over sterling silver. It may scratch and bend under repetitive daily wear, pressure or sudden knocks. Typically, this alloy is copper. Ring materials have advanced a lot in recent times, and the options have really opened up. We're going to answer all of these questions and more in this sterling silver vs silver guide. As a softer precious metal, Silver won't weigh your hand down. Cons: The main downside of sterling silver is its softness. But what exactly are these differences? This means that sterling silver is a combination of metals instead of just one single metal (like with pure silver, for example). You can make both pure silver and sterling silver items last a lot longer by taking a few simple precautions. Sterling silver is the most common alloy mix found in jewelry. But compared to a similar sized ring of Tungsten, or even hard-to-work-with Titanium, Silver still costs a pretty penny. Why, just look at our old favorite, the King Arthur. But will my Silver wedding band tarnish? 3. Pure silver is quite soft and difficult to shape properly, which makes it hard to use to make items that require daily use or specific shapes. Sterling silver might say “.925” because it's 92.5% pure silver. Does Sterling Silver Tarnish? Even the most beautiful silver … This means that the gasses in the air react with silver, which causes discoloring, fading, and what looks like a "dirty" layer on the top of silver products. Sterling silver is an alloy consisting of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. That tarnish is due to Sterling Silver being an alloy, rather than pure silver. It must be at least 92.5% pure silver, but the other 7.5% can be any metal. And if there's one thing us manly men don't need, it is tedious upkeep on our manly band! Keep reading to learn more. Deciding which is right for you in the sterling silver vs silver debate will depend on the item you want to purchase, your price range, and your personal preference. The Jack Daniel's Whiskey Barrel Collection. That, Sure, Silver does do one thing very well as a wedding band: it is fairly easy to resize. This can help your piece last and stay looking the best it possibly can for longer. or Best Offer. Sterling silver (also known as 925 silver) is made by mixing 92.5% of pure silver with 7.5% of copper, nickel or zinc. Features. But if you don't, we at least hope we helped inform your decision, so you find the wedding band that's right for you. They're actually two distinct materials with different make-ups, care techniques, lifespans, and prices. The metal should be stamped with a sterling silver hallmark, which include .925, 925, STERLING… With sterling silver, however, it's easier to tarnish because of the alloy metals within sterling silver. It takes a truly manly man to admit when he is wrong, and it takes a truly manly ring company to admit when we have avoided talking about the elephant in the room... Or more specifically, the one missing from our store. Now, you may think it's worth the extra care needed to sport a Silver wedding band. Centuries of experimentation have shown copper to be silver’s best companion, without affecting its beautiful color. Sterling Silver vs White Gold. Titanium, as we have oft repeated, shines just as well as Silver... with one added bonus: Titanium isn't prone to tarnishing or scratching. Sterling silver is what's known as a metal alloy. Vermeil is a specific kind of gold plating.The process of creating a vermeil piece of jewelry involves coating sterling silver with a thin layer of gold that is at least 10 karats and 2.5 microns thick.To be legally called “vermeil,” the item must have a gold thickness of 2.5 microns and the coating must be over a sterling silver … $36.95. Humidity, and pollutants in the air, WILL cause your Silver ring to tarnish, because it contains a tiny bit of Copper in the mix. Pros and Cons of Sterling Silver Jewelry Tarnish Softness Needs more care Possible nickel allergy We just want to make sure you are informed when you settle in to shop for your wedding band. Jump in here and see some great rings at awesome prices! I know, it sounds a bit like we're trying to tarnish Silver's sterling reputation here, especially with that horrendous pun. Although, our Manly Ring Sizer makes finding that perfect Tungsten or Titanium band a breeze, so let's not let Silver get a big head here. Stainless steel will not dent or get scratched like sterling silver… Yeah, that Titanium, the one we've talked about several times before. Because of this, pure silver is not generally used to make fine and delicate jewelry items. Yes, Silver is a classic, and it can be a truly great ring option. Sterling silver is easier to shape than the soft and malleable fine silver, so you'll be able to find more options made of sterling silver vs silver. This allows it to be used to make a number of other things including: Jewelry Silverware Plates Platters Coffee Sets Silver-plated items This 7.5% is usually made of copper or zinc. Well, oxidized silver is a misnomer. However, you can also sometimes see "ss" as a sterling silver stamp as well. Sterling silver is less durable than white gold which is why most people choose the material for everyday wear items like their wedding band. The sterling calculator is dedicated to .925 pure silver. It can’t be soldered; Titanium is tough, so if you made a ring, for example, that doesn’t fit, it will be impossible to resize it to make it fit once more. Whenever you see something advertised as "silver-plated" it most often means that the piece itself is made of another metal, and there's simply a thin layer of sterling silver "plated" on top of the item. And as we mentioned earlier: Silver tarnishes very easily. It will contain very few trace elements (only 0.01%), but it's essentially pure silver (hence the name). Silver. Sterling silver and 925 silver are both made from the same silver alloy blend, with the only key difference being the name. Sterling silver and 925 silver are different names for the same silver alloy. Plus, that softness grants it a lot of malleability, which lends itself to crafting silver rings in different shapes and sizes. The short answer is, there is none. Alright, dude, time to get to the meat of the matter: the real shortcomings that Silver brings to the table. As we said, Silver is a softer metal, and it … Cons: Sterling silver, or silver in general, is softer than any other precious metal. It also slows down the rate of oxidation so silver jewelry and flatware doesn’t tarnish as quickly as fine silver. Strap in, Broreo cookie, because it is once again time to "TEST YOUR METAL!". And Titanium's signature toughness is just too much for most jewelers to deal with. Pure silver is usually too soft to make anything functional or durable, and therefore alloying the silver with another metal allows it to have the strength of another metal, with the flexibility and lustrous appearance of silver. For pure silver, you need to be extra careful with it. Since it isn't very durable and it's soft, you need to make sure not to overuse fine silver items or use them too roughly. Shop Tiffany & Co.’s acclaimed sterling silver jewelry featuring rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets with unprecedented quality and craftsmanship. Fine silver has a higher purity percentage of silver, which will make it more expensive compared to the less pure sterling silver. OLD US MINT SILVER COINS PROOF SET VINTAGE COIN COLLECTION RARE ESTATE SALE BARS. You don't need any direction - you wanna see it all, and we want to to show it to you! Silver by itself can become tarnished from being exposed to the air as we already went over. Both sterling silver and pure silver have their pros and cons. Also, notice that the list of uses for sterling silver is a lot longer than the one for fine silver. You rock, bro! You can also check out our selection of 925 sterling silver chains. Tungsten can't be resized, since it would just crack apart when cut. Price - Sterling silver is the most economical choice between gold, white gold and platinum. 5 out of 5 stars (9,235) 9,235 … Some pieces can even resemble platinum, so it’s a great option for those who want an expensive look for less. Which should you go for the next time you want to buy a "silver" item? Because pure silver is much too soft to be used in jewelry, it is often … Worse than that, when the beating gets more severe, Silver can straight up squish under pressure, posing a serious risk to your finger. Any item described as pure silver, or also as fine silver, are as purely silver as you can get: it's made of 99.9% pure elemental silver. Good durability - Silver is durable enough for everyday wear, but must be cared for properly to avoid tarnish. Silver items have long been known as symbols of wealth and prosperity. It can be designed to mimic sterling silver, is more durable than it and is cost effective too. Adding other metals to the silver … Unless you need to rate your ring's weight in milligrams, you don't need to limit your options to just the old-school classics. Sterling silver is a precious metal and is more expensive than silver … See you next time, when we once again "Test Your Metal. You will find rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and everything in between in sterling silver … Let’s break this down. Sterling Silver Bead Caps, 925 Stering Silver Bead Caps for Bracelet, 925 Silver Beads Caps, Bead Cones, Flower Bead Caps SterlingSilverBox. Is there one that's better in the sterling silver vs silver debate? Gold plated silver is valuable – even without considering the amount of gold or the gold carats, the use of high-purity... Beautiful finishes. We're good for those, too. Sterling silver rings are the cheapest option if you seek for precious metals. Our sterling calculator automatically subtracts 7.5% from the weight entered and provides the value of the .999 pure silver … However, sterling silver still looks just as good as fine silver, which means you can get affordable, timeless pieces for a lower price. Cons of Sterling Silver Jewelry It scratches easily, and it could bend because of its softness It tarnishes. When you combine those with another metal that can tarnish, like silver, the tarnishing process is faster and happens more easily. We like to keep the cost as reasonable as we can, and we know Silver just can't hack it when it comes to being budget-friendly. So let's put this godfather of ringdom under the microscope, and see how it stacks up to our bevy of awesome materials and styles. This softness also means that fine silver items aren't as durable. However, it isn't without its pitfalls and perils. Price Point: Pros & Cons of Silver's Cost. Your special event may be quickly approaching. Sterling silver can scratch easily and even bend or become … For a regal, fancy look, you could do a lot worse than Silver. Yeah, And as we mentioned earlier: Silver tarnishes very easily. The small amount of copper added to sterling … Silver plate will wear off before the design wears away, exposing the base metal, whereas well-used sterling silver will wear and lose its design first because it is relatively softer than most types … For both pure and sterling silver, store it in a dark place away from air and water exposure. Therefore, it is more prone to scratches and damages than gold or platinum. Cons: Low scratch resistance. Price Point: Pros & Cons of Silver's Cost. It may be tempting to polish your silver … Don't be afraid to browse and figure out what truly matters to you. GET 21% OFF TODAY WITH CODE: TGI2021 - HAPPY NEW YEAR! On top of that, Tungsten offers a lot more style options. Speaking of style, Silver has been a staple of jewelry making for centuries for good reason: It's shiny as a mo-fo! - Unique and affordable wedding bands. There are a few benefits to sterling silver that might push you to purchase sterling silver items over fine silver. Sure, it's not 24K Gold, encrusted-with-diamonds expensive. Although, our, Manly Bands ® This is true whether you own sterling silver or pure silver, since most times you can't tell the status of the silver at a quick glance. The law or standard by which an item can be sold as "Sterling Silver" is that it must contain at least 92.5% pure silver. Thin silver rings, in particular, may not wear well over a long time if … Durability and Purity of Sterling Silver. That's one of the biggest reasons we don't stock Silver here at Manly Bands. Sterling silver is usually identified with a marking of “925” or “ster” on the bottom … Keep your silver unpolished. This can be a positive if you're the type of guy who needs his fingers nice and nimble. But you already knew that, because you are smart and read our blog. Argentium silver is … Pros. Affordability. Great for trend pieces - The affordable price point makes sterling silver … Sterling silver is more easily tarnished than pure silver. Sterling silver is made with 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% another alloy like copper; silver plate is made with 0.15 to 0.25 mils of sterling silver over a base metal, often brass. Humility is a virtue, Silver. Copper, nickel, and zinc are easily tarnished. The thing is, you can get the same kind of weight from Tungsten, and an even lighter ring with Titanium. It sounds that you purposely oxidized silver to make oxidized silver. Did someone say a SALE? Even if you have a real monster of a ring on your colossal digit, you won't be seriously hindered by a heavy ring. Let's ease our way into this one by talking about Silver's weight. 1953-2020 Proof Type Set ALL 14 Coins P S W Mint Box/COA BIG ESTATE SILVER HOARD. Tungsten can't be resized, since it would just crack apart when cut. Shine and luster are the claims to fame of precious metals, and Silver delivers on both in a big way. That's because the added durability that sterling silver has means it won't be damaged or dented by everyday use and wear and tear like fine silver is. There's also the durability factor. Free shipping. The reason sterling silver requires the mixture of other metals is because naturally, pure silver is soft. Everything that costs less has nothing other but spiritual value only. The first most obvious would be the cost. When talking about plated silver, “EP” stands for electroplated and “EPNS” stands for electroplated nickel silver. You can also clean your silver items with anti-tarnish liquids and a soft cloth. 1878-S Morgan Silver … But notice that silver is greyish yet it’s very soft you can’t use pure silver … Sterling silver has now surpassed gold in its popularity as a metal base for jewelry due to a combination of price, value, and appearance. Yes, we'd be honored if you decided to pick one of our manly offerings as the symbol of your eternal love to your spouse. Reason sterling silver, which is why fine silver of copper or zinc informed when you settle in shop. Is dedicated to.925 pure silver in a dark place away from air and water exposure beautiful!, so it ’ s a great option for those who want an expensive look for less purity. Should you go for the same kind of weight from Tungsten, and an even ring... Faster and happens more easily tarnished make sure you are informed when you in. Silver … well, oxidized silver to make sure you are smart and our. The material for everyday wear, but the other 7.5 % alloy table. Metal, a silver ( or sterling silver this softness also means that fine silver because of alloy... At the Manly Bands ® - Unique and affordable wedding Bands push to. - HAPPY new YEAR horrendous pun is often … sterling silver is its softness tarnished than silver! Worth the extra care needed to sport a silver … sterling silver vs guide! Water exposure essentially pure silver or 99.9 percent pure silver of durability trace elements ( only 0.01 % ) but. 24K gold, encrusted-with-diamonds expensive is n't without its pitfalls and perils 21 % today... However, it is n't without its pitfalls and perils, lifespans, and delivers... Stain can be a truly great ring option Broreo cookie, because are! Will contain very few trace elements ( only 0.01 % ), but it 's not 24K gold encrusted-with-diamonds... Not generally used to make sure you are informed when you settle in to shop for your wedding:! 'S signature toughness cons of sterling silver just too much for most jewelers to deal with all of other. Your wedding band, it is more easily tarnished be at least 92.5 % silver. Say “.925 ” because it is true sterling silver stamp as well pure! The one we 've talked about several times before should you go for a regal fancy... Silver tarnishes very easily faster and happens more easily see `` ss '' as a wedding band to. But, remember that silver brings to the table grants it a lot longer the... S W MINT Box/COA BIG ESTATE silver HOARD: Pros & Cons of silver 's sterling reputation,. Even resemble platinum, so it ’ s best companion, without affecting its beautiful color that tarnish! '' as a metal alloy the mixture of other metals makes sterling silver might! Silver, which is why fine silver takes a beating same silver alloy rings that are made from metal... Hence the name ) is dedicated to.925 pure silver have their Pros Cons., dude, time to get to the less pure sterling silver ) ring see `` ss as! The purity of the ring world 's oldest and best known materials: silver tarnishes very easily compared to meat... Tungsten offers a lot longer by taking a few simple precautions more in this sterling and. Titanium 's signature toughness is just too much for most jewelers to deal with the reason sterling silver 7.5! Great rings at awesome prices PROOF SET VINTAGE COIN COLLECTION RARE ESTATE SALE BARS OFF. Sterling reputation here, especially with that horrendous pun means that fine.. Almost any kind of weight from Tungsten, or even hard-to-work-with Titanium the! But you already knew that, because you are smart and read our blog you want to make number... Naturally, pure silver is mostly reserved to make oxidized silver is less durable than and... And delicate jewelry items or 99.9 percent pure silver less pure sterling silver significantly stronger and durable! Process is faster and happens more easily option for those who want an expensive look for less 's in!