When someone offers you silver-plated jewelry, your answer should be simple: nope, nope, nopity, nope. Silver-plated jewelry is often advertised as an affordable choice to sterling silver, but the drawbacks of silver-plated jewelry far outweigh the initial cost savings.
What is Silver-Plated Jewelry?
Silver-plated jewelry consists of a base metal—often brass or copper—coated with a thin layer of silver. This layer is electroplated onto the base metal, creating the appearance of real silver at a fraction of the cost. While silver-plated jewelry can initially look shiny and attractive, its appeal diminishes over time due to several inherent issues. It’s not long-lasting.
Silver-plated pieces can tarnish quickly and severely. Tarnishing occurs when the thin silver layer reacts with elements in the air, causing it to darken and lose its luster. Once tarnished, silver-plated jewelry is challenging to clean effectively. Polishing it can easily wear away the fragile silver layer, leaving you with all plating and no silver.
Another concern with silver-plated jewelry is its durability. The thin silver coating is susceptible to chipping and flaking off, especially with regular wear. This exposes the base metal underneath, which not only affects the appearance but can also cause skin irritation in some individuals, particularly those sensitive to certain metals.
The reality is that silver-plated jewelry can easily become just “plated” jewelry.
Choose Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver is valued for its durability, timeless appeal, and lower maintenance requirements. Sterling silver is an alloy composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. This blend of metals strengthens the silver, making it more durable and less prone to bending or breaking compared to pure silver, which is too soft for everyday wear. (If you ever see jewelry made of 100% pure silver – run far away from it.)
One of the great advantages of sterling silver is its resistance to tarnishing. While sterling silver can still tarnish over time, proper care and polishing can easily restore its original brilliance. It will look brand new!
Here at Sunbird Jewelry, we pair our Sterling Silver metals with gemstones and designs that highlight the luster and beauty of Sterling Silver. The shiny brilliance of Sterling Silver radiates along with Lapis Lazuli, scarlet, sapphire, and green crystals, and our pearl shell earrings.
Invest in Quality Jewelry
When considering purchasing silver jewelry, investing in sterling silver over silver-plated pieces is the best choice in the long run. While silver-plated jewelry may seem like a cost-effective option initially, its tendency to tarnish, chip, and deteriorate quickly means it will need frequent replacement. In contrast, sterling silver jewelry, with its durability and timeless appeal, offers lasting value and enjoyment for years to come.
Check out all of Sunbird Jewelry's Sterling Silver Earrings.