What is the difference between fine and sterling silver?
Fine silver is pure silver (0.999 or 99.9% pure). Sterling silver is 92.5% silver to which is added other metals, primarily copper, as alloys. These other metals make the sterling harder than fine silver. Fine silver will tarnish, but not as fast as sterling. It doesn’t tend to go as thoroughly black as sterling can go. Point of interest, silver does not “oxidize” – it is a sulphur reation, rather than an oxygen reaction. Silver? Sterling is an alloy that is at least 92.5% pure silver. Silver is the whitest of all metals. Pure silver is very soft. Sterling makes more durable jewelry and has better working properties. It is the standard in North America, Britain and Ireland. It is frequently marked “925”. The 7.5% that is not silver is traditionally copper. Our casting alloy, that almost all of our Celtic jewelry is made from is a de-oxidizing alloy of copper, boron and a silicon deoxidizer. To be considered sterling silver, the metal content must be made up of at least .925/1000 parts
