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Metal Guide
What's the difference between white gold and platinum? How did stainless steel become a jewelry favorite? What makes sterling silver "sterling?" Our metals guide will answer these questions and more to help you choose the right metal for any occasion.
Silver
Since ancient times, people across the globe have considered silver a highly valued metal. Silver has many uses, one of which is jewelry. You'll find bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other accessories crafted of this precious metal.
Similar to gold, silver in its purest form is soft and delicate. In order to be used for jewelry, it is often combined with metal alloys, such as copper, to increase its strength. When pure silver is mixed with less than 7.5% alloy, it is known as “sterling silver.” Sterling silver is at least 92.5% pure silver and significantly more durable than regular silver. Sterling silver jewelry is stamped in various ways (such as "sterling" or "925") to indicate its content. At Kay, we only carry sterling silver jewelry.
Although some jewelry metals are resistant to tarnish, silver is not. If you have a silver piece that you do not wear very often, tarnish can build on its surface. Regular polishing with a silver cleaner can be a quick and easy solution. It's important to clean tarnish before it builds. Otherwise, it can cause long-term damage to your jewelry.
Since ancient times, people across the globe have considered silver a highly valued metal. Silver has many uses, one of which is jewelry. You'll find bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other accessories crafted of this precious metal.
Similar to gold, silver in its purest form is soft and delicate. In order to be used for jewelry, it is often combined with metal alloys, such as copper, to increase its strength. When pure silver is mixed with less than 7.5% alloy, it is known as “sterling silver.” Sterling silver is at least 92.5% pure silver and significantly more durable than regular silver. Sterling silver jewelry is stamped in various ways (such as "sterling" or "925") to indicate its content. At Kay, we only carry sterling silver jewelry.
Although some jewelry metals are resistant to tarnish, silver is not. If you have a silver piece that you do not wear very often, tarnish can build on its surface. Regular polishing with a silver cleaner can be a quick and easy solution. It's important to clean tarnish before it builds. Otherwise, it can cause long-term damage to your jewelry.