Silver jewelry is traditional jewelry, while stainless steel jewelry is new trend jewelry, they both have a shiny silver look, unfortunately, this shiny silver finish is not only attractive but also confusing to many people. So, How should stainless steel and sterling silver be distinguished? Read this article for more details.
Additionally, there are multiple factors that need to be considered to make an informed decision before buying or selling.
You will Learn in this Post
How to distinguish stainless steel and silver?
Distinguishing stainless steel and silver can be compared from four aspects of their specific gravity, color, softness and hardness, and price.
Gravity
The specific gravity of stainless steel is 7.8, and the specific gravity of silver is 10.5. At the same size, silver is heavier than stainless steel.
Color
Silver is whiter, and stainless steel is off-white.
Hardness
Silver is softer than stainless steel. When you bite with your teeth, silver can bite out the print, but stainless steel can’t bite.
Price
Silver is much more expensive than stainless steel.
Pros and Cons – Stainless Steel vs Sterling Silver
Every metal has its pros and cons, and stainless steel and silver are no exception. Here are the pros and cons of both material jewelry:
Advantages of stainless steel
1. The texture is very tough, wear-resistant, and hard to dent.
2, Low maintenance cost, after polishing, the surface has a brighter luster/reflection.
3. Strong corrosion resistance, you can shower with stainless steel jewelry.
4. More affordable than sterling silver jewelry.
Disadvantages of stainless steel
1. Extremely rigid – difficult to resize or repair.
2, usually not appreciated.
3, Stainless steel is hypoallergenic but does contain 8-12% nickel, if you have a nickel allergy this could be an allergic reaction as even surgical grade stainless steel may not be suitable for someone with a nickel allergy.
Advantages of sterling silver
1, The soft material can easily create complex designs.
2. The damage is easy to repair.
3. It is more affordable than gold or platinum.
4. It will hold its value for many years because it is a precious metal.
Sterling silver disadvantages
1. Due to its inherent softness, it is more prone to damage such as scratches.
2. The surface of stainless steel is more mirror-like, while sterling silver has no mirror effect.
3. Compared with stainless steel, it is easier to tarnish and turn black.
4. Sterling silver is not hypoallergenic, and people who are allergic to copper tend to react to sterling silver.
5. Much more expensive than stainless steel.
Which Is Better – Stainless Steel vs Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.25% copper, with refined craftsmanship. Over time, you may appreciate the matte and bronzed feel of sterling silver.
However, if your choice is based on how long your jewelry will last, how easy it is to maintain, and whether it will tarnish, stainless steel will be your winner.
In fact, you should dispel the idea that stainless steel jewelry is cheap and worthless because it’s cheap, these days, it’s becoming more and more popular, and you can find them in many jewelry stores.
So your choice between stainless steel and sterling silver ultimately comes down to preference.
Points to note when giving gifts
Whether to choose stainless steel or sterling silver depends on the person’s lifestyle.
1, If they are active and like to wear jewelry every day, stainless steel is a better choice.
2. Sterling silver jewelry is a great gift when you want to commemorate a particular occasion, whether it’s an anniversary, birthday, or any other special day.
3, If they like swimming, stainless steel is also the right choice.
4. If you know they have allergies and sensitive skin, please choose stainless steel jewelry.
Jewelry Care – Stainless Steel vs Sterling Silver
With proper care and handling, your jewelry will maintain its beauty and last for a long time. To ensure your jewelry lasts, we’d like to share some information about stainless steel and sterling silver.
Sterling Silver Jewelry Care
Sterling silver will tarnish over time and should be polished occasionally with a soft impregnated polishing cloth, however, soft cloths will not remove scratches, so it is important to protect sterling silver jewelry according to our recommendations.
1. Jewelry should be stored separately in an anti-fouling jewelry box or jewelry bag to prevent it from being damaged by friction.
2. Avoid contact with the silver solution, polishing solution, ultrasonic cleaning, and strong corrosive chemicals.
3. Minimize contact with cosmetics, lotions, perfumes, and detergents.
4, Remove jewelry before swimming, showering, exercising, or other activities that will sweat a lot.
Stainless Steel Jewelry Care
While stainless steel jewelry won’t tarnish or corrode and doesn’t require special care, it can scratch. So it is very important to protect stainless steel jewelry according to our recommendations.
1, Minimize contact with other items that may damage your stainless steel jewelry.
2. If your jewelry is really scratched, you can use jewelry polish or polishing cloth to polish it.
3. Store your stainless steel jewelry separately from jewelry made of other metals.
Like many other metals, stainless steel will dull over time, however, that doesn’t mean it’s good to throw away, as you can restore its shiny luster with simple cleaning methods, which can be done at home.
See: How To Clean Stainless Steel Jewelry?
Summary
Stainless steel and sterling silver look very similar, but there are real differences between them. Stainless steel is more durable and less expensive, and sterling silver is more valuable than stainless steel, nonetheless, both metals are versatile and high-quality metals that can be used in all kinds of jewelry making.
We are a stainless steel jewelry manufacturer, offering custom and wholesale services. If you want to know more, please contact us.
