Understanding the materials that make your jewels is very important to us - it means you can make an educated purchase that we’re sure you’ll be happy with. Many of our brands use sterling silver in their designs - but what actually is it? 

Sterling silver has a luminous white colour and is a metal alloy composed of at least 92.5% pure silver and other metals like copper. 925 sterling silver contains 92.5% pure silver, expressed as 925 out of 1000. Pure silver is too soft for use in jewellery which is why it is mixed with other metals to make it more durable so your jewellery can be worn for longer. 

You can verify if a piece of jewellery is made from sterling silver in the UK by checking its hallmark - an oval mark with the number 925 in it. 

Sterling silver is one of the softest precious metals and can damage easily. Additionally the alloy metals may cause it to tarnish if exposed to water, chemicals, cosmetics and soaps. If your jewellery is designed to last a lifetime and be worn everyday - like wedding bands or engagement rings - it may be better to choose white gold or platinum. However sterling silver has lasting value and if taken care of, can last a lifetime. Please check out the care recommendations from our jewellery brands for specific instructions on how to look after your pieces on the product pages.

Sterling silver is a high quality, luxurious material whose refined, versatile & cool-toned lustrous colour make it ideal for your next piece of jewellery. Shop our edit of the best sterling silver jewels below.