Fine silver is considered pure silver and is identified by the hallmark stamp .999. It’s not alloyed with any other metal. Fine silver is very soft and malleable. Because it scratches and dents so easily, fine silver is less commonly used in jewellery pieces that will experience hard wear such as rings, it is more suited to earrings or pendants. Fine silver offers a lustrous bright white colour and is slow to tarnish.
Sterling Silver is an alloy made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper and is identified by the hallmark stamp .925. The copper lowers the melting temperature of the metal while increasing the strength and durability. Sterling silver is prone to tarnishing, which can be easily cleaned with a silver cloth or silver cleaning products. Sterling Silver is still relatively soft compared to other materials used in jewellery such as platinum and gold alloys. Generally, the lower the gold karat in the gold alloy, the more durable the metal. Sterling silver takes a beautiful polish, looks great and is considerably cheaper than gold hence its popularity in jewellery fabrication.
