People have linked silver to luxury for decades -- the phrase "silver spoon" is associated with wealth for a reason. Sterling silver -- 92.5% silver, 7.5% other metal alloys (usually copper) -- brings the tradition of luxurious silver to jewelry. Some people think sterling silver is only for earrings. Others think that it's just a cheap alternative to white gold. In fact, sterling silver is used in every type of jewelry imaginable to create looks that can be both timeless and trendy.

Modern jewelry designers are flocking to this noble metal because it's the perfect combination of malleability, beauty, and durability. Whether you're looking for everyday accessories or a timeless statement piece, you'll probably find sterling silver jewelry that seems like it's been tailored to your personal tastes. Here are the reasons you should add sterling silver to your jewelry box.


1. Sterling Silver jewelry is durable

When taken care of correctly, sterling silver jewelry can last you a lifetime. Savvy sterling silver owners know that their pieces can look exactly the same even after forty years! True 925 sterling silver is not cheap. The extra cost is more than worth it for the quality and lifetime value of the jewelry.

Some of your well-made pieces may even become family heirlooms in the future.

To make sure that you're getting the best quality jewelry you should buy from established, reputable jewelry companies, and look for marks like these in a hidden place on your new accessory:

2. You can easily keep up with the trends

Any woman who likes to keep up with the latest news in fashion and jewelry knows that the pace of fast-fashion jewelry trends can be dizzying. Keeping up with what's in and what's out is exhausting.

Luckily, sterling silver's popularity means it's almost always guaranteed to be in. The latest styles in jewelry will always include sterling silver, even if the designs change. Recently, for example, gemstones and uncut minerals have become a staple of spring and summertime accessories. Often, those stones are set in sterling silver. Keeping a few silver pieces on hand in your jewelry rotation is a sure way to make sure you always look your best.

3. There are endless options in Sterling Silver jewelry

Because silver is a relatively soft metal, it's easy for jewelers to mold and experiment with -- which means there are constantly new designs up for offer. The wide range of styles and designs in sterling silver mean that you're sure to find a piece (or twenty) that fits your personal style.

Whether you're looking for a locket, bracelet, ring, or pendant, there are thousands of options. Even sterling silver loyalists are never limited to the same variations on old concepts. Innovation is constant. There's always a new 925 sterling piece to spruce up your collection!

4. You can build a new jewelry collection in no time

The variety of sterling silver options available makes it easy to completely build or upgrade your jewelry collection. Maybe you want to build a look around one of your more expensive statement pieces. Sterling silver complements most metals, so you don't have to worry about anything clashing.

Likewise, if you're looking for unique high-end pieces, sterling silver should be on your list. Designers use it to cast their most creative designs all the time. One of the big perks of sterling silver is that it's not just popular with consumers -- it's also popular with designers. People are excited to buy the latest styles that designers create, and designers are happy to keep creating new things. Sterling silver jewelry is a win for both parties.

5. Incredible versatility with Sterling Silver jewelry

Sterling silver jewelry is appropriate no matter what the occasion may be. Embellishing an ensemble for the Met Gala? Sterling silver. Dressing up a casual dinner outfit? Silver. PTA meeting? You get the idea...You might even be able to wear the same piece for both occasions!

Why? Silver adds a classy touch to any look. Its versatility even extends to how it looks with other metals. Maybe you want to add sterling silver to a jewelry collection that already has a lot of white gold or platinum pieces. You don't have to worry that your new jewelry won't match your outfits as the old collection did. In fact, you can even wear sterling silver jewelry with a white gold or platinum piece and still create a look that is put together. The colors are close enough that you won't look like you're mixing up jewelry. Instead, you'll create a new image that is uniquely you.

6. Hypoallergenic jewelry

Unlike pieces that are made of inexpensive nickel, brass or other base metals, which can irritate your skin, sterling silver jewelry doesn't contain metal additions that can cause an allergic reaction. People who are allergic to metals such as nickel and or brass can wear sterling silver jewelry without much worry. This is especially important for accessories like earrings -- you can wear them without fear that a piercing will get infected. The metal addition to sterling silver is usually copper, which isn't as likely to cause an allergic reaction. Don your silver with confidence knowing that you won't face any consequences later.

7. Sterling Silver is easy to maintain

As beautiful as silver is, many women have avoided it at some point for one reason -- tarnish. It's disappointing to see a favorite piece suddenly look dirty or discolored after sitting in a jewelry box for just a bit too long. All silver can tarnish with time, especially if it's not worn often.

Here's the good news -- wearing your jewelry can actually help prevent tarnish. The oils on your skin 'clean' the metal, which means you don't have to worry about that dirty look. Even if your sterling silver jewelry does dull, there are easy ways to restore its original shine. Most craft stores or hardware stores carry a varnish that will work with your silver. Cleaning your jewelry with varnish and a fresh cloth will get the silver sparkling before you know it.

How to choose a Sterling Silver Pendant Chain

With today being the start of British Summertime, signifying longer days and shorter nights, we thought it would be a great time to publish our blog post that will help to consider the best types of Sterling Silver Chain to match your Pendant - whether the intention is for style, comfort or functionality. When it comes to meeting people and being out and about, necklaces, pendants, and other neckwear can often be one of the first things someone will notice, with the neck being at an eye-level.

The common types of jewelry pieces hosted on a Sterling Silver Chain usually include Beads, Charms, Lockets, and Pendants.

Whichever of these you are wearing with a Sterling Silver Chain or that made from another precious metal, each Pendant will feature inherent characteristics that are important to consider when matching with a Chain.


Weigh the Sterling Silver Chain

Reading this, you may already have an idea in mind for whether you’re looking to wear your pendant every day or occasionally and this will quickly help to seek out the most obvious but important characteristic of your chain: durability.

Whether it’s everyday wear or occasional wear, a Sterling Silver Chain always has to be durable and support the weight of a pendant. Whilst you may find chains with a relatively fine link width/thickness can hold much heavier chain beyond 5 times their weight and of course, it can be visually appealing, in the long run, the constant weight may not hold or may experience wear & tear slightly more. Ultimately, this will depend upon the style of chain link concerned and this will either result in the deforming or stretching of the links or in rare instances even breakage. Some chains fair much better than others simply because of the link shape than others like Sterling Silver Curb Chains.

Overall, this is generally common for Women who are often looking for a feminine and dainty look that Fine Chains possess. Many a time this isn’t usually an issue and fine Sterling Silver chains or other precious metal chains can hold the pendant. However, to be on the safe side when you’re choosing a Sterling Silver Chain for your Pendant ideally you want to ensure that the weight of the Pendant is less than the Chain or the Pendant weight is up to x1.5-2 times heavier than the chain.

Whether your Pendant is lightweight, medium, or quite heavy – you should make your choice accordingly, since the ultimate disappoint isn't just in the damage of the chain but a potential to lose the pendant altogether.

Width of the Sterling Silver Chain

The next thing that is vital, is to ensure that you can hang your pendant upon the Chain. Sounds fairly straightforward right? Well, although most Pendants will have a basic bail where one end is attached to the pendant and is a simple round shape to thread the chain straight through, other Pendants may have more unusual styles. This includes pendants where there is no obvious bail but a hole running in an unusual area such as through the side of the pendant in order to create a floating effect.

Either way, we need to make sure the width of the Chain links is narrower than the bail itself. Additionally, you’d also have to make sure at least one end of the chain will pass through the bail to thread the chain through. If not you can either look at changing the bail on your pendant if possible or opt for a narrower chain end or chain link width. Occasionally, Sterling Silver chain ends can be adjusted and reshaped to pass through a certain type of pendant bails, but should only be done by a professional jeweler to prevent irreversible damage.

Chain Link Styles Matter

You’ll often find certain styles of chain share the same width or thickness of link, but it shouldn’t be assumed that they can support the weight of a pendant equally. For example, let’s take a look at 2mm Curb Chain vs a 2mm Popcorn Chain. This is a great example because the Curb Chain is made from a solid wire, twisted and then soldered to hook onto the subsequent link. Compare it with a Popcorn chain, and you’ll find that this style is comprised of delicate domed shaped links, which when assembled together will a chain of 2mm width, the individually solid dome links are light in weight. Therefore, a Popcorn chain would be ideally suited to lighter pendants for occasional wear.

If you’re looking for quick advice for the sturdiest types of chain, we’ll cover in more detail in our following blog posts, but that won’t stop us from providing the following suggestions, all of which will support a Pendant much beyond their weight but will also fashionably suit the pendant.

Classic Types of Sterling Silver Pendant Chains suitable for every day wear & sturdy support, but not interfering with the dynamics or mood of a pendant include:

Style after substance

Achieving the functional aims is great in finding a sturdy chain – but the fun starts in choosing the chain style to match the pendant.

For men and women, when wearing jewelry, it should feel like an enhancement to your look and have a feel-good factor. It can also feel rewarding when we can customize or personalize our look in some way.

There may be several aims and often, it can be a balancing act to achieve your preferred look or style. The intention may be to make the Pendant stand out more and be the center of the attention or to just blend a Pendant and Chain together where both may either be bold or both may be light and dainty.

Pendant Size & Weight

Usually, when smaller pendants are paired with chains with fine link widths, it creates a look that ensures the attention stays on the pendant. For women when wearing a pendant that you have matching earrings for – going for a dainty chain will help to maintain the attention on the set of the pendant and earrings with the chain merely playing the role of a brilliant supporting actor! Overly thick Sterling Silver chains, on the other hand, would take the attention away from the pendant and achieve a focus the chain – which is great is the chain is eye-catching.