Silver has always been a popular silvery white metal widely used in various jewelry. Its pure white color matches well with other gemstones of various colors, so there are many beautiful types of silver jewelry on the market. But did you know that there are actually many different types of silver for making jewelry? Different kinds of silver have different levels of silver content and durability. This article introduces 13 different types of silver into different classification for silver and their characteristics.

Table of Contents

Types of Silver in High Content

Fine Silver

Fine silver is the type of silver metal with the highest silver content in existence, it is also considered as the best highest quality silver. Fine silver is also called 999silver, which means that the silver content is as high as 99.9%. This type of silver metal usually has no other metal alloys and is almost pure silver, so the color is gentle silver-white and has a high gloss. Fine silver is often used to make high-end jewelry, which is the best silver for jewelry , especially exquisite jewelry such as necklaces, rings, earrings, etc.

Pros of Fine Silver: Almost no other alloy metals, so 999 silver jewelry is safer for people with sensitive skin and is not easy to cause allergic reactions.

                                  Good corrosion resistance and is not easily affected by oxides or other chemicals in the air.

Cons of Fine Silver: Does not contain other metal alloys, has a soft texture, and is easily scratched or deformed.

                                   When exposed to air and stains for a long time, fine silver may undergo slight oxidation and discoloration.

Britannia Silver

Britannia silver was originally widely used in the manufacture of traditional British silverware, tableware, tea sets and trophies, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. Britannia silver has a silver content of 95.8%, which is only slightly lower than fine silver. Small amounts of metals such as copper or zinc are usually added to the composition to enhance its durability. Due to the luster and high purity of Britannia silver, it is not easy to oxidize and is also often used in jewelry making.

Pros of Britannia silver: High silver content and a strong luster make it a brighter appearance than some other low-purity alloys.

                                          Other metals added and is more wear-resistant and less likely to be scratched or deformed.

Con of Britannia silver: Due to the presence of other metal elements, some versions of Britannia silver may be slightly more fragile than Sterling Silver and easily cracked or broken.

Argentium Silver

Argentium silver usually has a silver content between 93.5% and 96%, and the rest usually includes copper and germanium, which belongs to the high-purity of silver grades. Germanium not only enhances the hardness of silver, but also has anti-oxidation properties, reducing the oxidation and discoloration problems that traditional silver materials are prone to. The high content of silver makes Argentium silver closer to the appearance of pure silver. It is a high-quality raw material for the production of various silver crafts and decorations.

Pros of Argentium Silver: Argentium silver jewelry is not easily oxidized or discolored, so it requires less maintenance than ordinary silver jewelry.

                                            The luster can be maintained for a long time and is not easy to fade or lose brightness.

Con of Argentium Silver: Due to its higher silver content and the addition of germanium, the cost of Argentium Silver is usually higher than that of ordinary common silver.

Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is the most common type of silver alloy. Silver content of sterling silver is 92.5% and 7.5% other metals (usually copper), which can enhance the hardness and durability of pure silver, and is a type of silver that doesn’t turn green easily. Because of the silver content, pure silver is also called s925 sterling silver. The biggest difference between fine silver and sterling silver is the difference in silver content. Sterling silver is widely used, not only for common form jewelry such as necklaces and engagement rings, but also for home decoration and souvenir making.

Pros of Sterling Silver: It has high hardness and is not easily damaged by wearing or using.

                                        It is economical and retains a high value.

Cons of Sterling Silver: The copper in the composition reacts with sulfide when exposed to air to form an oxide layer, causing darkening or discoloration.

                                         A small number of low-quality Sterling Silver may contain nickel, which can cause allergic reactions on sensitive skin.

Types of Silver Alloys

Coin Silver

Coin silver is usually 90% pure, and the remaining 10% is mainly composed of copper or other metals. Coin silver has a warm white luster, but it is slightly duller than fine silver and has stronger wear resistance. Many antique tableware, tea sets and decorations are made of Coin Silver

Pros of Coin Silver: More wear-resistant and durable than pure silver, not easy to deform.

                                   Lower cost than pure silver, suitable for making items with high durability requirements.

Cons of Coin Silver: Contains more copper and is more easily oxidized than pure silver.

European Silver

European silver usually contains less silver than sterling silver, generally containing 80% silver (800 silver) or less. European silver has a soft white luster, but due to the lower silver content, its luster is not as good as high-purity silver. And the higher copper content, this silver is more susceptible to oxidation. In some European countries, alloy products with 80% silver or less are widely used, and the items are marked with “800” or “835” and other marks.

Pros of European Silver: Due to the lower silver content, the price is lower than Sterling Silver.

Cons of European Silver: The silver content is lower, and frequent maintenance is required to maintain the luster.

Modified Types of Silver

Non-Tarnish Silver

Non-Tarnish silver is a specially treated silver alloy that has extremely low oxidizability and is not easily tarnished or oxidized like regular silver. This silver alloy usually contains at least 90% silver, and the remainder may be composed of other metals such as copper, nickel, zinc or germanium to enhance its durability and resistance to oxidation.

Pros of Non-Tarnish Silver: Higher hardness and durability, not easily scratched or worn.

                                                Oxidation resistant, it is not easy to tarnish or lose its luster.

Cons of Non-Tarnish Silver: With the addition of special metals (such as germanium), Non-Tarnish Silver is usually slightly more expensive than traditional Sterling Silver.

Types of Silver Coatings

Silver-Filled

Silver coating for jewelry is a common jewelry design.Silver-Filled is a process that laminates a thicker layer of silver (at least 10% silver) onto a base metal (usually copper). This process is more durable than silver plating, but still cheaper than sterling silver or sterling silver.

Pros of Silver-Filled: The thicker layer of silver is less likely to wear and has a longer lifespan.

Compared to sterling silver, Silver-Filled jewelry is more affordable.

Cons of Silver-Filled: The inner metal may oxidize and discolor over time.

Silver Plated

Meaning of sterling silver plated is to plate a layer of silver alloy onto the base metal using a special process. In contrast to silver-filled, silver plated coats a very thin layer of silver on the base metal. The silver layer is usually composed of at least 10% silver.

Pros of Silver Plated: Low cost, cheaper than pure silver.

Cons of Silver Plated: The silver layer is very thin, and silver-plated jewelry is easily worn and tarnished due to friction or contact with moisture.

Handcrafted Types of Silver

Tribal Silver

Tribal silver does not usually contain actual silver in the traditional sense. It originates from indigenous cultures around the world, especially in India, Africa, America and Southeast Asia. It has strong ethnic characteristics and primitive artistic sense.

Pros of Tribal Silver: Exquisite craftsmanship, full of personality, and high collection value.

Cons of Tribal Silver: Due to the use of more metals and complex designs, tribal silver jewelry may be heavy.

Decorative Types of Silver

Tibetan Silver

Tibetan silver usually has a low silver content or contains no silver, but is composed of metals such as copper, zinc, and aluminum. The ratio of copper and zinc can affect its color and luster.

Pros of Tibetan Silver: Cheaper than pure silver, suitable for the mass market.

Cons of Tibetan Silver: It is easy to be damaged or scratched during use, and the surface may lose its luster.

Nickel Silver

Nickel silver is a metal alloy that does not contain silver. Its main components are nickel, copper and zinc. Nickel silver is often used to make cheap jewelry and decorations, especially for consumers who have high requirements for appearance but limited budget.

Pros of Nickel Silver: It has good corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance, so it is not easy to rust or discolor.

Cons of Nickel Silver: It may cause skin allergic reactions.

German Silver

Many people will be misunderstood by the name of German silver. German silver is actually an alloy that does not contain silver. Its main components are copper, zinc and nickel, so it is often called nickel silver or white copper. It looks similar to silver and has a bright color. It is often used to make decorations, tableware, coins, etc.

Pros of German Silver: It is relatively cheap and is an economical choice to imitate the appearance of silver.

                                        It has good corrosion resistance and is not easy to rust. It is suitable for use as kitchen utensils and tableware.

Cons of German Silver: Because it contains nickel, it may cause skin allergies or discomfort.

                                         After long-term use, the surface may oxidize and darken.

Comparison Chart of Different Types of Silver

Types of Silver

How to Identify the Types of Silver?

  • Check the marks and stamps: You can look for marks with “999” or “925” or similar to indicate purity, indicating that the silver content is 99.9% and 92.5%.
  • Use a magnet to test: Most pure silver and silver alloys (such as Tibetan Silver, etc.) are not magnetic. If the magnet can attract the object, then the object may contain iron or other magnetic metals.
  • Acid test: There are special silver testing acids on the market. When using it, drop the test liquid on the surface of the silver. If the color of the silver surface changes, the purity of the silver can usually be judged. For high-purity silver, the test liquid usually does not cause obvious color changes.
  • Appearance and gloss check: Different shades of silver can also roughly judge the purity of silver. Fine silver and sterling silver and other silver jewelry have a higher gloss and a smoother surface.
types of silver Aquarius birthstones
Amanda sterling silver sapphire engagement ring set

Conclusion

In general, although many people think that fine silver is the best type of silver for jewelry, it also has its disadvantages, such as being too soft and easily scratched. So this is why sterling silver is the most used type of silver in jewelry. Not only does it have other metals added to increase durability, but it is also cheaper. Amanda offers you all kinds of both vintage antique and modern unique sterling silver wedding rings for your big day. Contact to customize your ideal rings here.

FAQs About Types of Silver

Silver is relatively soft, with a hardness of 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale. Its durability depends on the types of silver. Sterling Silver is stronger than pure silver due to the addition of copper. However, compared to gold, silver is less durable. Gold, especially 18K or 22K gold, is generally more durable and resistant to wear and tear.

Silver looks shiny and bright, while tarnished silver appears dull or dark. Fine silver (99.9% silver) tarnishes less but is softer. The best quality silver for jewelry is Sterling Silver (92.5% silver) due to its balance of durability and appearance. These are key types of silver used in jewelry.

Real silver is called fine silver (99.9% silver). Silver is a soft metal, with a hardness of 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale, making it prone to scratching and bending.

Yes, 925 is real silver, commonly referred to as Sterling Silver. Sterling Silver is made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals (usually copper). The term Sterling Silver and 925 silver refer to the same thing, and both are high-quality types of silver used in jewelry.

Items like jewelry, cutlery, coins, and decorative objects are commonly made of silver. The durability of silver depends on the types of silver used. Sterling Silver can last a long time with proper care, while fine silver (99.9% silver) is more prone to wear due to its softness. The numbers for silver refer to its purity, such as 925 for sterling silver, which means 92.5% silver content.

Sterling silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals, typically copper. As for a metal that looks like gold and doesn’t tarnish, platinum is a good option. It has a gold-like appearance and is highly durable, not tarnishing over time.

Sterling silver is not considered cheap, as it is made of high-quality materials and offers durability. The purity of sterling silver is 92.5% silver (referred to as 925), meaning it contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper. While sterling silver is a form of silver, it is not the same as pure silver, which has a purity of 99.9% (fine silver).