The different types of Silver used in jewelry

The differences between what type of Silver, or the kinds of finishes can be confusing. I wanted to give my you a info page to help you understand what's what. Also what different "stamps" put on jewelry means (i.e .925, SF, Ster, SS)

There is a big difference between solid, fine,filled, plated, Nickel Silver, German Silver, Tibetan Silver etc. And for you to know the quality of what you are getting, including the exact amount or lack of Sterling Silver that is in a piece of jewelry, a knowledge of the differences is important. The list may seem long, but once I explain the differences, it is easy to understand.

STERLING SILVER /.925

First Pure, or fine Silver is too soft on its own and not suitable or durable enough to make jewelry. It must have an additional element to give it strength. Sterling Silver IS .925. The .925 is basically saying, 92.5% is pure Silver and 7.5% is another metal, most often Copper or Brass. The addition of the other metal increases it's hardness. Any purity less than .925% is not Sterling Silver. Sterling's prices fluctuate, but have been on a steady increase for quite awhile, and the high price makes it prohibitive for many.

SILVER FILLED (SF)

Calling it "filled" is a bit misleading as it is actually a 5%--10% top layer that is bonded to the base metal. It is hundreds of times thicker than "plating" and looks and wears much like Sterling Silver or .925. It will not flake off or be worn off by chemicals. Especially the 1/10%. Many jewelry artists will use Silver Filled when they need to create pieces at a lower price point, while not totally sacrificing quality and durability. Silver filled is less expensive than solid Silver.

Solid Sterling Silver .925

 Plated 

This is a layer that is placed over a base metal. The metal that is used can vary between solid copper or a mix of other metals. Its durability or how long the plating will last will depend on if it receives contact wear (i.e. a ring band will have much more wear than earrings). It is also very dependent on each person's own chemical makeup. Some people are much more "acidic" than others. This acidity will greatly influence how long the plating will last, as well as how it is stored and how much caution is used when subjecting it to everyday chemicals such as perfumes, oils, perspiration etc.; wearing it while swimming in the pool or ocean, showering with it on an so forth. Its life can be lengthened greatly when not exposed to these things. Storing it in a sealed bag can also be a big help, to keep the air from it when it's not being worn. Along with not being as durable, the price will be much less.

Bali, Thai, and Mexican Silver 

Slot of quality Sterling Silver is produced from these nation's.

Nickel Silver, German Silver & Alpaca Silver

You will see these "types" of silver too, but the use of silver in the titles describe the color only, they don't contain any Sterling Silver whatsoever. They are describing the color. These "silvers" are a copper alloy with nickel and often zinc. The usual formulation is 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc. The term alloy is given to any metal that is made up of two or more elements.  

Many people are sensitive to Nickel. When people talk about being allergic to jewelry, it is most often the Nickel that they react to.

Tibetan and Tribe Silver.                                        These are made from base metals, some which may include dangerous and vary greatly. Nickel and Lead are often used because it is cheapest for unscrupulous sellers.  

S925 Chinese Silver  

Sometimes stamped S925 , or S925 China.  Don't confuse this stamp for a Scandinavian piece of jewelry, which are high quality. S825 is not a Hallmark for China. And basically their items are made of nickel & copper.  They may put a very thin layer of Sterling, but it will wear off in a short amount of time. You can even take a cloth and buff the top layer easily off to reveal the brown copper. 

Basically if you see ".925" jewelry for sale for a ridiculously inexpensive price, be very wary. Silver plating is not Sterling, even though they stamp it. 

🌼 I've never seen a .925 stamp on such small items like ear wires or on bails that were authentic. Another tip off is when the finding is stamped so it is in full view when you are wearing the piece. 

🌼 The .925 Metal jewelry stamp can be purchased at most suppliers by anyone.

🌼The price of the 100 count bails for $8.62 is a obvious red flag. Depending on the market value of Sterling at the time you might be able to purchase 4 or so for that price.

.925 Sterling Silver 92.5% Silver & 7.5% other metal. Most often copper or brass. Remember, there must be at least 92.5% Silver to be considered Sterling.

STER STG SS These also denote Sterling Silver. And oftentimes you may see another stamp which will be the Artists Signature or "Makers Mark". Most of the time it will be initials or a symbol.

SF Sterling Filled

NF Nickel Filled

There was a time when you could look at a piece of jewelry and see the .925 stamp, and be confident that what you are looking at is Sterling Silver. Unfortunately, unscrupulous sellers from China and other Asian countries have come along and purchased the stamp and put it on items that are only plated or even sometimes may not contain any Silver at all. So remember, if you are paying much less than other Sterling is selling for, and it is coming from an Asian country beware! Marketplaces like eBay are not going to stop these sellers because of the huge volumes they move.

💜I hope this info was helpful.  If you have any questions that I didn't answer, feel free to contact me! Jodi