Benefits of Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is one of the most popular choices for jewellery pieces - and for good reason. The benefits of sterling silver are:

1. It’s durable

It’s harder (and cheaper) than fine silver so you’ll have your pieces of jewellery for years and years if you look after them. Sterling silver is made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper whereas fine silver is 99.9% pure. The copper mix makes the silver more durable and resistant to scratches or bending. This doesn’t mean that your sterling silver jewellery is indestructible, but it will have a longer lifespan than fine silver jewellery. Check out our Jewellery Care Tips page for more advice on looking after your jewellery.

Our ethically sourced sterling silver hand pendant

2. It’s hypoallergenic

Sterling silver is generally hypoallergenic. It is usually made of a combination of 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% other alloys. This extra alloy is usually copper and luckily both fine silver and copper are hypoallergenic. This makes sterling silver rings and earrings a great choice for people with sensitive skin. Our Dant Sterling Silver Stud Earrings are a popular everyday earring at the moment and our customers love how comfortable they are!

If you suffer with significant issues with irritation from wearing rings or earrings, it’s best to consult a dermatologist.

3. It’s timeless so it’ll always be in fashion

Silver jewellery has been popular for centuries due to it’s beautiful shine and versatile colour. It’s believed that the 1st pieces of jewellery were made shortly after its discovery around 5000bc. Before the days of mass production and fast fashion, sterling silver was a scarce commodity which only the wealthy could afford. Its sense of exclusivity and value has not faded through the centuries, making it as desirable today as it was generations ago. Plus, all the jewellery made by us is sourced ethically using recycled and sustainable sterling silver. Take a look at the gorgeous Dwylo Sterling Silver Necklace and the Asgwrn Sterling Silver Necklace to see how our ethical silver shines.

4. It’s more affordable than gold

Silver’s price makes it a fantastic everyday choice compared to gold and platinum. It has the exclusivity of belonging to the precious metal family, but a fraction of the price tag. It’s far easier to build a fantastic sterling silver jewellery collection due to it’s affordability, so if your favourite designer brings out a delicious new collection, it’s more likely you’ll be able to get the full set! Our customers love wearing the Nunc Necklace, Mihi Bracelet and Mea Hoop Earrings together, all from the same Interius collection.

Also, if you’re keen to change your look often, playing around with different styles and pieces, silver gives you more scope to experiment within your budget. It’s also a fantastic option when giving gifts!

5. You can easily update the look of your silver jewellery and turn it into gold vermeil

Gold vermeil jewellery is actually sterling silver jewellery with a thick and durable layer of real gold particles applied to the surface using the process of electroplating. This means that the jewellery looks like solid gold, but the main material is silver which makes it cheaper to buy. So if you're itching to update your jewellery collection and fancy branching out to gold, why not consider vermeil. Check out our Gold Vermeil Collection to see how our eco sterling silver jewellery looks in rich 18 carat gold. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss getting your jewellery gold plated.

Duxford Studios creates wearable art inspired by the human form, modern culture and the sensation of touch. All of our pieces are cast from hand carved wax in recycled sustainable sterling silver and other precious metals. Shop our full collection on our website, or get in contact about a custom jewellery design commission.