If you are thinking of buying sterling silver jewelry, the first thing you need to know about genuine sterling silver is that sterling silver can be very expensive. This is because it is a precious metal, and by virtue of this fact, it is a rather expensive piece of metal.
But then again, sterling silver is not pure silver but a silver alloy, so what makes it expensive?
Some basics of sterling silver
Sterling silver is, as mentioned above, an alloy of silver. It is made of 92.5% that is alloyed with 7.5% copper. Why the alloying?
Well, pure silver is too soft and extra malleable, and though it can be used to create jewelry, technically, the resultant jewelry from pure silver is too soft and impractical.
Alloying the pure silver with copper results in a more durable metal version, 925 sterling silver, which makes stunning and very durable jewelry. The high percentage of pure silver in sterling silver means that the jewelry is also valuable. Obviously, the 925 Sterling Silver stamp or name is because of the presence of 92.5% pure silver.
These pieces of sterling silver jewelry and pieces will have 925 hallmarks on them, as well as other marks like Ster, Sterling Silver, or Sterling, among others.
4 reasons why is sterling silver so expensive
1. Sterling silver is durable.
This is the very first thing that makes sterling silver jewelry one of the top choices for anyone interested in silver jewelry.
All you need to do when it comes to this kind of jewelry is to take care of the sterling silver pieces. Essentially, as long as you take great care of the jewelry, the jewelry will easily last your whole lifetime, which is why most of the savvy owners of sterling silver pieces have several pieces of jewelry that look as good as new, very many years later – sometimes 40+ years.
Just bear in mind that for you to enjoy these benefits and to have good quality sterling silver that lasts your lifetime, you must invest in true sterling silver, and this kind is not cheap. The high price tag for these pieces comes from the quality of the metal and the fact that they will last a lifetime.
And thanks to the durability of sterling silver pieces, most of the family heirlooms are actually sterling silver pieces that are very well made, which means that you really need to make sure that you are investing in the very best quality of sterling silver pieces, looking marks and stamps that authenticate the quality of the sterling silver pieces. To ensure that you have legitimate pieces, look out for stamp options like .925. 925 Sterling Silver, Sterling, or Sterling Silver.
2. Sterling Silver is Trendy
Even if you are not thinking about what the sterling silver jewelry could be or mean to your family after so many years, the other reason why sterling silver is expensive, but you should still buy it is because it is trendy, and the metal allows you to keep up with trends easily.
This might not be the most obvious thing to come to mind, but at the end of the day, any woman would love to be able to keep up with trends, and this would only be possible if you have a piece or pieces of jewelry that allow you to enjoy that versatility, even if it means paying more in the first place.
Sterling silver means that you never have to worry about what’s in or out of trendy, and you are guaranteed that there will always be a new stunning piece of sterling silver, and even with design changes, just that one design or stunning piece will be exactly what you need for years to come. The best part is that the sterling silver pieces end up being your wardrobe staples, even in different seasons.
4. Endless Variety to Choose From
In the world of fashion jewelry, this is one of those things that would result in cheaper options of jewelry, but the malleability and versatility of the sterling silver pieces, along with the fact that this precious metal gives you many stunning options to choose from, means that you will always get the best possible level of value for your money, which translates to the high price tag attached to the sterling silver pieces.
Note that the availability of multiple designs of sterling silver jewelry comes from the fact that sterling silver is relatively soft, with just the right level of malleability, which would mean that there are many new designs that you can choose from.
At the same time, the properties of sterling silver make it rather easy for you to find the kinds of pieces that suit your personal style seamlessly, and whether you’re looking for a ring, bracelet, necklace, locket, or any other kind of pendant, there will be a 925 sterling silver piece that you will find and love.
5. Hypoallergenic Metal
While tarnish is akin to sterling silver’s Achilles heel, the biggest win for sterling silver and the main reason for the versatility and the high demand for sterling silver jewelry is the fact that the metal is hypoallergenic. If you have sensitive skin, you will be happy with sterling silver jewelry because you won’t suffer irritations on your skin.
Most of the metals that irritate the skin have just one irritant – nickel. Nickel is the metal that causes allergies to metals that is manifested as irritated skin. Since sterling silver is free of nickel, you wouldn’t have to worry about allergies as you would with brass and other metals used in jewelry.
And with safety and comfort as the biggest concerns for anyone looking to spend a good amount of money on jewelry, and with sterling silver known for being hypoallergenic, it is an ideal option for you, worth the money hence the high price tag.
When it’s all is said and done, sterling silver is expensive, but the price tag for sterling silver depends on different factors such as the finishing, stone setting for the piece, stone cutting options, as well as the casting and stamping techniques used for the pieces.
Conclusion
In addition to being a rare and precious metal, sterling silver is also so expensive because it is durable, trendy, versatile, hypoallergenic, and it generally offers everything you didn’t know you needed. In many ways, it is a worthy investment.
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Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.