What is sterling silver? Everything about this material, from properties to environmental impact

Would you like to know more about the materials we use for our slow jewellery collections? In our previous blogpost we told you all about our conscious materials, but in this blogpost we want to zoom in on one of them: sterling silver. A lot of our pieces come in sustainable sterling silver, but what exactly is sterling silver? What makes it different from other types of silver, and how can you identify whether a piece was made of real sterling silver? You’ll find the answer to these questions and more in this article.

Sterling silver vs. pure silver, stainless steel and nickel: what’s the difference?

Apart from sterling silver, jewellery can be made of a lot of materials that look the same on the outside, but at their core are very different. You may wonder what the difference is between sterling silver and pure silver, and similar-looking materials such as stainless steel. Pure silver, or fine silver, consists of 99.9% silver and is a natural material that is found in the Earth’s crust. Even though this noble metal looks beautiful in its pure form and is less prone to tarnish, its texture is usually too soft to be able to be made into jewellery as it is so difficult to shape. That’s why silver is blended with other metals, such as copper, to create a stronger, more shapeable material altogether. Sterling silver is such a material: it’s an alloy of pure silver, containing about 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. As the percentage of fine silver is still very high, the material looks lustrous and beautiful, yet it’s also durable and strong. Other materials that look similar to silver, are stainless steel and nickel. Stainless steel is actually an alloy of iron instead of silver. It is a durable, tarnish-free material, yet it often lacks the natural and elegant finish of sterling silver. Nickel is a silvery-white metal that is also commonly used in jewellery. It’s a strong material, but like natural silver, nickel tarnishes over time. Furthermore, many people are allergic to nickel: it can cause allergic contact dermatitis, resulting in an itchy rash. As not many people tend to be allergic to pure silver, sterling silver is usually a more skin-friendly choice.  

 How to check if jewellery is made from real sterling silver

As sterling silver jewellery is not only friendly on your skin, but is also just a strong and beautiful material in general, many people prefer their silver-colored jewellery to be made out of sterling silver. But how can you make sure that a piece of jewellery is made from real sterling silver? There are two ways to identify sterling silver jewellery: the first way is to check the 925 stamp. Nearly all sterling silver jewellery pieces have a tiny stamp with this number, referring to the percentage of pure silver in the material. With silver rings, you can commonly find this stamp on the inside of the band, while on silver necklaces and bracelets it can often be found on a separate little charm. The second way is to smell the jewellery: sterling silver is odorless, so it should not have a noticeable smell. If it does have a smell, especially a sulfur-like odor, then it is not made of sterling silver (or at least not entirely).

The environmental impact of silver – and why we use recycled silver

While silver is a naturally found material, it has to be mined. Unfortunately, the mining process of silver is not environmentally friendly at all: every single gram of mined silver releases about 190 grams of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Apart from the environmental impact, mine workers also often face poor working conditions, including exposure to harmful contaminants in the air as they are working. For these reasons, at Julia Otilia, we choose to work with recycled silver or eco-silver. The silver we use is locally recycled in the Netherlands, making it a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly choice.

Silver: properties & symbolism

Fine silver is shiny and light-reflective, with an almost white color. In its purest form the material is soft and malleable and conducts heat and electricity. As silver is a noble metal, it is often said to symbolize wealth and success. The color of silver is also believed to represent grace, elegance and sophisticated glamour. It provides those who wear it with strength, clarity, clear focus and feminine energy. Furthermore, some say silver is like a mirror of the soul, which helps us to see the beauty in ourselves as others see it.

Our favourite sustainable silver jewellery pieces

Our top 5 favourite sustainable silver pieces from the jewellery collection include:

1. Our Enchanting Ocean bangle bracelet, which adds sophistication to any outfit;
2. Our Pure Pearl necklace, as both silver and pearls symbolize purity;
3. Our natural Pearl Creole earrings, which match perfectly with the Pure Pearl necklace;
4. Our infinitely elegant Floral Mist ring;
5. And lastly, our ocean-inspired Ebb Tide earrings.

Julia Otilia is a sustainable, ethical and fair jewellery brand from Utrecht, the Netherlands. Are you looking for a new piece of sustainable silver jewellery? Don’t forget to check out our collection.