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If you're looking for sterling silver rings in Farmington, NM, there are a few things you should know before you buy. In this article about different precious metal qualities and quality markings, we went over how to know whether something is sterling silver or not, and what sterling silver means.
In today's article, let's talk about some of the pros and cons of sterling silver rings vs gold or platinum.
Compared to gold and platinum, silver jewelry jewelry is relatively inexpensive. It's a pure, valuable, precious metal that allows you to get a shimmering white metal for a fraction of the price of white gold or platinum.
As discussed in our article on platinum vs white gold engagement rings, white gold (among the most popular precious metals for jewelry) gets its white color from alloy metals. Sterling silver is naturally white and contains only a small amount of alloy metals that add to its durability
(In terms of purity, a minimum of 925 out of 1000 parts must be pure silver to be called sterling silver. No more than 75 parts per thousand can be an alloy metal.)
And while platinum is a naturally "white" metal, it is significantly more expensive than sterling silver.
So sterling silver rings are both naturally "white" and relatively inexpensive.
One of the downsides of silver is that its prone to tarnishing. Tarnishing is a chemical reaction on the surface of the silver. It's a thin layer of corrosion on the surface of the metal that needs to be removed with cleaning and polishing.
If you're thinking about buying a sterling silver ring, you should be aware that the metal tarnishing is normal and be prepared to have it cleaned and polished regularly.
It's very common these days to see sterling silver fashion jewelry with diamonds. However, when it comes to sterling silver rings, you should know that they're not ideal for larger diamonds.
Sterling silver rings are great for fashion, but they're not ideal for an engagement ring with a larger center diamond.
Gold is more durable than sterling silver and is a more secure setting for one of the most important jewelry purchases of your life. If we were to rank the top 3 precious metals for their suitability to hold your engagement/wedding diamond, here would be the order: Platinum, Gold, then Silver last.
As with many things in jewelry, the metal that makes up the jewelry you choose is ultimately a matter of taste. Some people just like the look of sterling silver better than white gold or platinum.
The one exception to that is with your engagement ring. Most jewelers will not sell or set an engagement diamond into a sterling silver engagement ring, simply because it's not safe to do so.
If you're looking at sterling silver rings, make sure it's a fashion ring containing either small diamonds or no diamonds at all. More commonly, sterling silver rings are set with non-precious or semi-precious stones.
Have you seen our Jewelry Under $200 Collection? You'll find some great sterling silver jewelry there:
And if you're looking for incredible sterling silver jewelry that's made right here in New Mexico, come shop KABANA jewelry right here at Garcia & Co. Jewelers in Farmington, NM:
