Sterling Silver Necklaces

What is a sterling silver necklace made of?

Sterling means the metal is 92.5 percent pure silver, with the remainder made up of other metals that make it strong enough to wear. Pure silver on its own would bend and scratch too easily for a chain.

That standard is why sterling is the silver used in fine jewelry. When you compare silver necklaces, look for the word sterling in the details; a piece described only as silver tone or silver colored may be plated base metal instead.

Sterling is also a good way to test a look before committing to gold. If you are unsure whether you will wear a paperclip chain, a bar pendant or a long layered style, trying it in silver first tells you a lot about your own habits for far less money.

Picking a silver chain style and length

Choose the chain first, since in silver it is often the whole piece. Fine cable or box links suit a small pendant and disappear under a collar, rope and Franco chains carry more weight, Cuban links look bold on their own, and a paperclip chain gives a modern, open look.

Then choose the length. At 16 inches a chain rests on the collarbone; at 18 it falls just below and is the length most people wear with a pendant; at 20 it drops lower and leaves room to layer a second chain above it.

Silver or white gold for a necklace

Both look white, and the choice comes down to budget and upkeep. Silver costs less and suits trend pieces and layering chains you may rotate. White gold necklaces cost more, do not tarnish, and get their shine from rhodium plating that slowly wears and can be replated.

For a diamond pendant you plan to keep for decades, gold usually makes more sense. If you like a warm look at a silver price, gold vermeil is sterling silver coated with a thick layer of gold.

Easy ways to wear silver

Silver is made for stacking. Pair a fine silver chain with a slightly heavier one a few lengths lower, or wear a silver pendant with matching silver earrings for a set that costs far less than its gold version.

It also mixes well with white gold and platinum, since all three share a cool tone. That makes silver an easy first necklace for someone whose rings and watch are already white metal.