Different Types of Silver and Their Uses

It is a bright and shiny silver, which has 92.5% pure silver and the other 7.5% is copper or other metals. These metals are mixed in this silver to make it harder and more durable. The cost of this silver is less than fine silver, but this alloy can easily get tarnished over time. You can easily clean it with the help of any polishing material you get from the market. The Hallmark sign on this silver can be the number 925, or it can be a word like sterling or stg. 

1. Argentium Silver and Non-Tarnish Alloys 

This is a new alloy in the market that was made to solve the problem of tarnishing. It is made of 93.5%, 94%, or 96% pure silver, and the remaining part contains germanium in place of copper. The percentage of pure silver is higher compared to sterling silver. The germanium content present in it helps the alloy to maintain its shine over time. This silver is a very good choice for those who wear silver jewelry on a daily basis. The Hallmark sign you can find on this alloy is .935 or .960. 

1. Coin Silver  

This is made of 90% pure silver and 10% copper, and earlier this was a common alloy that was used in the United States. In the past, silver content was mostly used in coins, but now coins are made from cheaper metals. There are still some special collectible coins and antique pieces that still have high silver content, and they are marked with a stamp of .900.  

1. Bali, Thai or, Mexican Silver  

A lot of silver comes from the places like Bali, Thailand, and Mexico. But it is important to make sure that it is high-quality silver by checking a stamp or label that confirms its silver content. Some lower-quality silver from these countries only tells you the country name without giving a guarantee that it has good-quality silver content.

Also, Check - Silver Rate in India

Types of Silver Coatings  

There are two types of silver coatings: 

1. Silver-filled 

Silver-filled is a type of metal with a thin layer of sterling silver (5% or 10%) over a brass core. It is not the same as solid sterling silver and it is affordable. It needs special care because it gets tarnished over time. You can easily clean it with a silver polishing cloth.  

Silver-Platted  

Silver-plated jewelry is made from a base metal with a thin layer of silver on top. It is used to make low-priced costumes and jewelry. With time, the silver layer can get scratched off, and the metal underneath will start showing. This kind of jewelry usually does not have a stamp, but you can check the company logo. 

Types of Fake Silver 

There are three types of fake silver which are available in the market. There is no silver content present in the given below metals: 

1. Nickel Silver 

It is a German silver which contains no silver in it. Here silver means the color and not the silver content. It is actually a base metal alloy that is made mostly of copper, nickel, and zinc. It looks like sterling silver; that is why it is mostly used in the fashion industry to make silver finishing costumes. But it can be allergic to some people due to the high nickel content present in it. 

1. Tibetan or Tribal Silver 

Tibetan silver and other types of silver labeled as "tribal" silver are made from base metal alloys that only look like silver. The contents of these alloys can vary a lot, and many don't have any silver in them at all. Some may even contain dangerous metals like lead. So, you should be careful when buying this jewelry.