Silver and sterling silver are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they do not always mean the same thing. Let's take a look at how jewelry marked as sterling silver is different from items made of pure silver. Advertisement. read more
Although sterling silver is more durable than pure silver, the additional metals in the alloy make sterling silver more prone to tarnishing. This happens because the copper, nickel, zinc or other mixtures in sterling silver may react with oxygen and other elements in the air. read more
Unlike silver, sterling silver is approximately 7.5 percent copper. Although copper is the standard metal blended with silver to form sterling silver, other metals are also used from time to time. Sterling silver is most commonly utilized in jewelry and silverware. read more