Sterling Silver Bracelets

Why choose sterling silver bracelets?

Because they let you play. Sterling is 92.5 percent silver, a real precious metal with a clean white shine, and it costs a fraction of what solid gold or platinum do. That makes it easy to own several and wear them together, or to give one without overthinking it.

Silver is also a good test run. If you are not sure you will wear a chunky chain, a slim bangle or an open cuff, a silver version tells you how it feels on your wrist day after day before you spend on gold.

Chain, bangle or cuff in sterling

Pick the shape by how the bracelet should sit. A chain drapes and moves, works on most wrists and is the easiest gift to get right, since a common bracelet length for women is about 7 inches. A bangle is a rigid circle that has to pass over the hand, so it needs the right size. An open cuff slides on from the side of the wrist, which makes its fit more forgiving than a closed bangle.

For a first silver piece, a chain is the safe start; add a bangle or cuff once you know the fit you like.

Silver beside white gold and vermeil

Silver and white gold look close enough to wear together. The differences show over time: white gold gets its bright finish from rhodium plating, which slowly wears and can be replated, while silver tarnishes and polishes back. Side by side in a stack, they read as one cool tone.

Gold vermeil starts as sterling silver too, with a layer of gold of at least 10K on top. Mixing a vermeil piece into a silver stack is an easy way to add warmth for little extra cost.

Stacking silver on the wrist

Combine shapes and weights. A fine silver chain bracelet, a slim silver bangle and one bolder piece make a stack that looks put together without matching exactly. Keep the heaviest piece closest to the hand so the finer ones stay visible.

If you wear a watch, put the stack on the other wrist, or keep it to one slim bracelet beside the watch so metal does not grind against the case. For a step up in the same tone, see white gold bracelets; to finish the look, add sterling silver necklaces; and for gifts with a set ceiling, browse budget-friendly bracelet gifts.