Stainless Steel vs. Sterling Silver: What Are the Differences?

The silvery shimmer of a beautiful bracelet, elegant necklace or luxurious ring might not come from the material you expect but there are two that always stand out. Stainless steel and sterling silver are a couple of the most popular metals used in creating fine jewelry. In fact, many of the unique choices found at The Bradford Exchange are handcrafted with these metals. But when you are not sure what a piece of jewelry is made of, it might be hard to tell the difference between the two since they both give off a similar shimmer.

In today’s blog we’re going to take a look at the differences between stainless steel and sterling silver by examining the pros and cons of each metal. We feel this information could be extremely useful, especially if you are shopping for fine jewelry that showcases a distinctive silvery look.

Stainless Steel Jewelry: The Pros

1. Has a superior resistance to oxidation and rust.

2. It is hypoallergenic.

3. It is moderately more affordable than sterling silver.

4. It is waterproof, so you don’t have to remove it for water-based activities.

Stainless Steel Jewelry: The Cons

1. If damaged, it is difficult to repair because of the strength of the metal.

2. It is more susceptible to visible dents, scratches and dings.

Sterling Silver Jewelry: The Pros

1. It is a precious metal so it will retain value through the years.

2. It is easy to repair because it is softer than stainless steel.

3. It is prized for its superior shine and luster.

Sterling Silver Jewelry: The Cons

1. It is slightly more costly than stainless steel.

2. It is vulnerable to tarnishing over time.

3. It can cause an allergic reaction for some people.

Thanks so much for reading! Hopefully our little primer on stainless steel jewelry vs. sterling silver jewelry was informative and helpful. Remember, there are many beautiful silvery things to discover around here, and you don’t even have to look very far to find them.