What is the difference between silver and sterling silver? Find out the similarities and differences before making that next silver jewelry purchase.

Have you been wondering about the difference between silver and sterling silver? If so, you’re not alone. The easy thing to understand quickly is that we’re going to answer some of the main questions that people have between the two! Once you read this post, you’ll be educated about the difference and be able to easily distinguish between the two without issues.

What is the difference between Silver and Sterling Silver?

The Difference Between Regular Silver And Sterling Silver

The real difference that you’re going to find between silver and sterling silver is the amount of silver actually in them. Silver is just shy of 100%, coming in at 99.9% silver while sterling silver only has 92.5% silver actually in it and the rest is made up of a mixture of metals.

What is better: sterling silver or silver?

More than likely, you probably have jewelry that’s made of silver and sterling silver just sitting in your jewelry box. If that’s the case, you need to know which one is better. Comparing the two, sterling silver is actually better because it’s made up of a combination of metals that tends to make it a stronger choice.

Is sterling silver real silver?

Sterling Silver actually is made up of 92.5% of silver so while it’s not full silver, it is made up of real silver.

The Difference Between Regular Silver And Sterling Silver

Does sterling silver turn your skin green?

Yes, it can. If you’re wearing a piece of jewelry and you’re noticing that it’s turning your skin green, it’s more than likely going to be sterling silver that you’re wearing. This is because the air is mixing with the copper and it’s creating a reaction that will then turn your skin green on the areas that it’s touching.

How long will sterling silver last?

Sterling silver should have a really long shelf life. If it’s something that you’re going to be wearing every single day, it’s going to have a lifespan of 20 years or possibly even more. And the less that you wear it, the longer it’s going to survive.

Can you wear sterling silver every day?

You can but just know that the more you wear your ring, the more it’s going to probably tarnish as well. As long as you’re fine with that, there’s no worry about wearing your sterling silver jewelry every single day.

silvery jewelry

Can you wear sterling silver in the water?

Yes, you can. If you’re worried about it, just take it off. But for the most part, you should be able to wear your sterling silver jewelry in the water without issue.

What is the best way to keep silver from tarnishing?

The easiest way to keep silver from tarnishing is to keep it wrapped up and away from water, humidity, etc. This is a simple way to keep your silver as shiny and bright as possible.

Does real silver stick to a magnet?

You might be hearing a rumor float around that silver should stick to a magnet but this just isn’t the case. Silver is not magnetic at all so trying to see if it would stick to a magnet or not doesn’t really prove anything about the metal.

Now that you know a little bit about the two, let’s dive into some other commonly asked questions that people tend to have.

silver rings and bracelets

Will Pepsi clean silver?

Believe it or not, if you’re in a pinch to clean your silver, the acidity of soda can be a good thing to use. Just pour some in a bowl and use it to start cleaning. You’ll want to put it in for a short time and then take it out to see if you can get rid of the grime.

Will a toothbrush scratch silver?

As long as you’re using a soft-bristled toothbrush, you should be fine to use it to clean your silver. Always start with a small area first to test and be certain and then once you’re confident, you can move to another area and start cleaning.

Now that you are educated about the difference between silver and sterling silver, how is this going to change your perception of your jewelry? Do you think it’s going to have you wearing one more over the other or do you find that being educated is just a good thing to do so now you know how to properly care for it as well?

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