Sterling silver is an alloy of silver that’s weight is made up of 92.5% of silver and 7.5% of some other metal, typically copper. Sterling silver is used the most often in jewelry and household items because of its beauty coupled with the durability.

So for jewelry and household objects, why use a silver alloy instead pure silver? This is because fine silver (99.9%) is too soft to craft larger objects, and thus copper is added to give it strength and durability. With the combination of silver and copper, people can create jewelry and other larger objects such as sterling silver medals and other fine products. Pure silver is so soft that it is usually only used in handcrafted jewelry that requires weaving and other intricate designs.

High quality silver objects are marked with a stamp of quality. This shows the precious metal content of the item. Under federal law, the mark must be with a maker’s mark or registered trademark. Acceptable marks of quality for sterling silver include, but are not limited to:

• sterling
• sterling silver
• ster
• .925

Make sure to look for the fineness mark on the underside of the jewelry you are considering purchasing.

If you properly care for a sterling silver jewelry item, such as sterling silver medals then they can last your entire lifetime. There are certain things you can do to ensure that your sterling silver item lasts as long as possible.

First, make sure to store it in a cloth pouch or separate compartment in your jewelry box so it doesn’t rub up against and get scratched by other jewelry. If you’re doing some household cleaning, make sure it isn’t exposed to ammonia, bleach or other household chemicals as these can cause damage to it. Also be sure to not be wearing it while swimming in chlorinated water, as this can cause damage as well.

Second, silver can suffer from tarnish build up and needs to be taken care of regularly. Tarnish is a naturally occurring dulling that silver objects can suffer from just by being exposed to air. It is easily taken care of by polishes and other products that specifically target and remove tarnish. You can find special cloths and polishes at most hardware stores to care for your sterling silver item.

If you’re interested in other silver alloys that aren’t sterling silver, you can look up and research the following names:

• Billon
• Britannia Silver
• Goloid
• Electrum
• Argentium sterling silver
• Shibuichi
• Platinum Sterling