Sterling Silver Earrings

What does sterling mean?

Sterling is a standard, not a style: it means the metal is 92.5 percent pure silver, with a small share of other metal mixed in for strength. Pure silver on its own bends too easily for posts, hooks and clasps, so the alloy gives earrings the stiffness they need while keeping the cool white shine people want. When a description says sterling, you know you are buying solid silver all the way through rather than a plated base metal.

How much are silver earrings worth?

Most of a silver pair's worth sits in its design, its finish and any stones it carries, not in the weight of the metal. Silver is a precious metal, but it trades far below gold, so the melt value of a pair of earrings is usually small. That explains why two pairs of similar weight can be priced very differently: one may carry gemstones or detailed work, the other may be a simple shape.

If you are buying, judge a pair on how it looks and how well it is made, and expect it to be worth wearing rather than an investment. If you are thinking about resale, assume an offer well below what you paid. For jewelry meant to hold value, solid gold or diamonds are the better home for your money.

Sterling shapes worth trying first

Sterling is the place to experiment. A bold hoop, a long drop or an unusual shape you are unsure about costs far less in silver than in gold, so you can find out what suits your face before spending more. Classic studs and small hoops make sense in silver too, for anyone who likes a cool white tone and rotates pairs often.

Building a set is easy as well: pair your earrings with silver necklaces or silver bracelets in the same cool tone.

When gold is worth the step up

Choose silver for fun, variety and trend pieces, and choose gold for the pair you want to wear for decades. If you love the look of gold on a silver budget, gold vermeil puts a real gold layer over a sterling core, though that layer can wear with heavy use. For daily studs or hoops you never take out, solid gold is the lower maintenance choice, and it pairs naturally with an engagement ring in the same metal.