Which mineral is found abundantly in the Earth's crust, is incredibly malleable, and has both conductive and antimicrobial properties?
If you said "silver," you'd be correct.
This gorgeous precious metal has been used for silver jewelry, tableware, and other decorative purposes for centuries, and it's still popular today.
Most silver jewelry for women these days is made from sterling silver, a durable metal with an incredible shine. If you're looking for a new sterling silver ring, bracelet, necklace, or pair of earrings, you can't go wrong by looking for sterling silver jewelry.
Keep reading to learn more about what sterling silver is, how to care for it, and how to choose the right sterling silver jewelry for you.
What is Sterling Silver Jewelry?
When you first start shopping for silver jewelry, it's important to understand the different kinds of silver jewelry that are out there before you start researching. This will help you to streamline your research process and make an informed purchasing decision.
Without this knowledge, you're likely to get overwhelmed or waste time looking through jewelry that doesn't actually meet your needs. You might also end up overpaying for a lesser-quality product.
Sterling silver is a metal alloy made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. The other metal in the alloy is usually copper.
Why, you might ask, do jewelry makers combine less expensive metals with silver to create their pieces? Doesn't this lower the overall quality of their products?
In fact, the opposite is true. Silver is a very soft metal. This makes it very easy to shape into jewelry, silverware, and other items, but it also makes it very delicate.
If your jewelry was made of pure silver, it would easily scratch and corrode, and it wouldn't hold its shape as long as sterling silver does. Sterling silver gives you the best of both worlds: a high-quality product that won't damage sensitive skin but is still durable and affordable.
Authenticity Tests for Sterling Silver
There are a few different ways to tell whether a piece you're considering purchasing is truly made of sterling silver or not.
Most sterling silver pieces will have a mark that says "925" or another number somewhere in the metal. This means that the piece is made of 92.5% silver, making it a true sterling piece. Some sterling pieces will have a smaller percentage of silver in them, with the number of the stamp indicating the percentage of silver in the piece.
If you can't see a marking on the piece, you can also hold a magnet up to the jewelry or rub a piece of white cloth on it. Sterling silver will show no magnetic properties and will leave a dark mark on the white cloth.
Create Your Personal Style
Now that you have a thorough understanding of what to look for when on the hunt for silver jewelry, it's time to think about the types of jewelry you're looking for. Consider both your personal style and your desired use for the jewelry you're buying.
If you're having a hard time deciding on a style, do some research through the people around you. Draw inspiration from celebrities, online influencers, and the people in your life. Create a mood board or wishlist for yourself with pieces that you like and admire.
In terms of usage, decide whether you want something for everyday wear or just for special occasions.
Figure Out Where to Shop
Next, choose whether you want to buy new or used pieces. While used pieces will likely cost less than new pieces, you'll also probably need to look longer for the piece that you want. Used sterling may have already started to tarnish, leaving you with pieces that no longer have the signature sterling shine.
For these reasons, we recommend purchasing new sterling silver jewelry if you can.
Ask your personal contacts for recommendations on where to buy jewelry. If you notice someone wearing a piece of jewelry that you love, ask them where they got it! They'll be able to tell you which places have the best customer service as well as the range of product options you're looking for.
While it might seem ideal to purchase from a company that allows for in-person shopping, purchasing from a jewelry store website can actually be better in some instances.
For example, you can truly take your time examining each piece without having a salesperson watching your every move. Also, comparing jewelry prices piece-by-piece is much easier online than it is in-store.
Just make sure that you're reading online reviews and doing your research before you make any impulse purchases online. Check out not only the specific piece you're interested in buying but also the reputation of the store as a whole.
Read Up on Jewelry Care
The final step to buying silver jewelry is understanding how to take care of it. After you've spent all this time researching and finding the perfect piece to add to your collection, it would be a shame to let it age prematurely out of ignorance of how to care for it.
Many retailers will give you care instructions when you purchase your item. Always follow the maker's instructions if they provide them to you. If they don't, most sterling silver jewelry will benefit from the following care practices.
When you're not wearing your jewelry, keep it sealed in an airtight container and out of sunlight. After wearing the piece, wipe it down with a cloth to remove dirt and oils from it before storing it away.
If your jewelry does tarnish, gently clean it using one of a variety of at-home methods.
Sterling Silver Made for You
Keep these things in mind the next time you're looking to buy sterling silver jewelry. Make sure you're buying authentic pieces, choosing the right jeweler to purchase from, and protecting your new jewelry from tarnishing.
If you're looking for a reliable, high-quality silver jewelry store to purchase your next pieces from, look no further than Dreamland Jewelry! With low prices, fast delivery, and an uncompromising emphasis on customer service, we can help you find exactly what you're looking for.
Ready to get started? Shop our online silver jewelry collections today!
