What is sterling silver?
Sterling silver jewelry is composed of 92.5% (925 parts per thousand) silver and 7.5% copper alloy. The copper increases the silvers hardness. Produced in mines (mainly Peru and Mexico) sterling silver has become a popular affordable alternative to white gold or platinum. It can be polished into a higher sheen than any other white metals.
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The terms “sterling” and “pound sterling”, seem to have acquired their meaning over a period of time, and from several convergent sources. The first mention is that of “sterilensis” in 1078, and by the 13th century the term sterling had appeared. “Sterling” is believed to come from the Old Norman French esterlin (meaning little star) and Old English stiere (strong, firm, immovable). The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. Because pure silver is so soft, it should only be used when malleability is required, such as in handcrafted jewelry featuring weaving and other intricate designs. High-end Silver jewelry is often finished with rhodium giving it the appearance of platinum and is generally regarded as tarnish resistant. Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing large functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with
Sterling is an alloy that is at least 92.5% pure silver. Silver is the whitest of all metals. Pure silver is very soft. Sterling makes more durable jewelry and has better working properties. It is the standard in North America, Britain and Ireland. It is frequently marked “925”. The 7.5% that is not silver is traditionally copper. Our casting alloy, that almost all of our Celtic jewelry is made from is a de-oxidizing alloy of copper, boron and a silicon deoxidizer. This alloy is tarnish resistant and less likely to cause skin problems.
