Sterling silver and plated silver are two materials commonly used to manufacture silver jewelry at Horace. These materials differ significantly in terms of quality and durability.
Firstly, sterling silver is an alloy of pure silver and other metals, usually copper, which is used to increase the strength and durability of the silver. At Horace Jewerly, we commonly use 0.925 sterling silver. It is composed of 92.5% pure silver, which makes it very valuable. It has a beautiful silver color, is tarnish-resistant and easy to care for. The proportion of pure silver in the alloy is important, as it affects the quality and value of the metal. Sterling silver jewelry is tarnish-resistant and has a longer life than silver-plated jewelry.
Plated silver, on the other hand, is a layer of silver applied to another metal, usually brass or copper. In our case, 100% of the time on brass. The plating process involves applying a thin layer of silver to the base metal using electrolysis. Silver-plated jewelry is less expensive than sterling silver, but its durability and resistance to tarnish are also inferior.
In short, the main difference between sterling and plated silver is that sterling silver is an alloy composed of at least 92.5% pure silver, while plated silver is a silver coating applied to another metal. Sterling silver jewelry is more resistant to tarnish and has a longer lifespan than silver-plated jewelry, but it is also more expensive. Silver-plated jewelry is less expensive, but its durability and resistance to tarnish are inferior.
