The world of metals is vast and confusing. But we’re about to make it a little easier. Prepare yourself for some metal education !

What’s the Difference Between Sterling Silver and Stainless Steel?

Well, let’s talk about what stainless steel and sterling silver have in common first: both are alloys (meaning they are metals made up a combination of two other metals).

Now for the differences:

Stainless steel is made up of steel and chromium. It contains within it the strength and durability of steel with the luster, easy maintenance and resistance to corrosion of chromium. Stainless steel is used in surgical equipment, cookware, architecture and jewelry, among many other uses.

Sterling silver is made up of silver and another metal, most commonly copper, though potentially zinc or platinum. Silver by itself is too soft for most functional purposes, hence why its alloyed with another metal. This means it has the strength and functionality of the alloyed metal with the beautiful and lustrous appearance of silver.

Sterling silver is used to produce cutlery, jewelry, musical instruments (some manufacturers prefer to use sterling silver over brass).

Differences between sterling silver and stainless steel also include:

Stainless Steel:

More scratch resistant than silver

Doesn’t tarnish

Less lustrous

Sterling silver:

Less scratch resistant than steel

Tarnishes

More lustrous

Lighter in weight

One of the main benefits of sterling silver is its appearance; it looks brighter and shinier. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is more durable and can last longer; it doesn’t tarnish but its also not as shiny.

Sterling Silver Tip: If you see a marking on that reads “.925,” this signifies the minimum fineness required for an object to be considered sterling silver.

A pure silver business card.

It’s a special occasion and you’re dressed to kill! Every hair is in place, your outfit is to die for and…you keep itching your neck all evening long.

Why? Your necklace (while it looks fabulous) is a piece of costume jewelry and not hypo-allergenic. Let the hives begin! 

If your earrings, necklace or other piece of jewelry causes an itch or a rash on your skin, chances are you may be allergic to nickel.

It’s considered one of the most common skin allergies, mainly because nickel is used in so many items, including jewelry, cell phones, zippers, eyeglass frames, belt buckles and keys.

If you have a nickel allergy, you’ll notice symptoms 12 to 48 hours after you come into contact with it (though some notice symptoms earlier). Generally, the rash is specific to the area where the jewelry made contact but it can spread (sweat can worsen it, for example).

What can be done about a nickel allergy? 

Take steps to avoid nickel contact. If you want piercings or tattoos, have it done with sterile, surgical-grade, stainless steel instruments. Take care to avoid piercing guns (since they can contain nickel and cause bacterial infections).

When you purchase jewelry, make sure its made of surgical grade stainless steel or either 24-karat yellow gold. Beware of white gold (which may contain nickel).

Other nickel-free metals? Pure sterling silver, copper, titanium and platinum. If you simply must wear earrings that have nickel in them, add plastic covers.

Nickel chunk.

I could say “any color goes with yellow gold” but that would mean a very short article. So let’s get a little more specific, shall we?

Yellow gold pairs well with numerous colors and skin tones. More specifically, when pairing colors with yellow gold, the following are complimentary (meaning they look great with one another):

• Green
• Light Purple
• Deep Purple
• Black
• Grey
• Hot Pink
• Pale Pink
• Light Blue
• Navy Blue
• Royal Blue
• Brown

Colors that don’t go with yellow? Silver. (But don’t let that stop you from mixing metals, like silver and yellow gold. Some colors “clash” in an eye-catching and interesting manner. Innovative, risk-taking fashion often means breaking the rules and taking some chances.)

Figure it this way: if you were decorating a room in your home with yellow, what color would you choose? Or how about nature? What colors naturally appeal to you when you’re outdoors? Consider your fashion choices in the same way.)

Nature always gets it right. You can too!

If you’re anything like me, you don’t like getting rid of jewelry, even if its broken or you haven’t worn it in a while. Why? Sentimental value, for one. My grandmother gave me this necklace (with a broken clasp) or my first boyfriend gave me his high school ring (okay, I did ditch that).

But is there a chance that there are pieces in our jewelry boxes that may be worth more than we think? Perhaps there are some pieces made of expensive metals, for instance. There are some quick and easy ways to find out.

The Magnet Test. Cheap or phony pieces of jewelry will cling on to a magnet while authentic pieces will not. Simple enough, right?

The Acid Test. This is easy enough with the right materials. It will test gold 14k or up. Here’s how it’s done:

Think outside the (jewelry) box. Expensive metals can often be in our kitchen or dining room, not just in our jewelry box–namely sterling silver flatware which can be passed down for generations and worth more than you think.

Remember: one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure. There might be pieces you own that aren’t made of the finest metals or gems but are vintage or made by a particular highly coveted designer a long time ago. eBay is a great way to find out what vintage jewelry is hot and what’s not.

According to the president of WP Diamonds, Andrew Brown, the most popular engagement ring style in the last 100 years is clearly a “round solitaire diamond, around one carat, set on a simple yellow-gold band.”

This is no surprise to the custom designers in our studio, since we’ve created hundreds of similar solitaires over the years. They’re a classic design afterall, even though some say solitaires are not as popular as they used to be. 

According to Bloomberg, this group of buyers are looking for less expensive, more unusual rings, leading to a big rise in the popularity of coloured diamonds, as well as vintage rings.

This may be true, but solitaires (we predict) will continue to possess classic appeal for many years to come. Here’s a recent custom designed solitaire everyone that’s caused everyone in our studio to ooh and aw.

How to get your dream solitaire:

It’s simple. Share your ideas, images or Pinterest boards with us. Or have a one-on-one custom design consultation with a member of our team. We’ll combine your favorite elements to create a completely unique ring just for you.

Choose your gemstone:

• Mined diamonds
• Moissanite
• Other lab grown diamonds (Pure Grown, Brilliant Earth)
• Custom cut gemstones (sapphires, rubies, etc.)

Choose your metal:

• 14kt or 18kt gold
• Mocha gold
• Platinum
• Rose, white or yellow gold
• Palladium

Share your ideas via:

• Pinterest boards
• Collected images
• Written or drawn ideas

Be involved in the process:

• Review your personal project page for updates.
• Provide feedback throughout the entire process.
• Share updates with friends and family.
• Review a 3D print of your piece to ensure complete satisfaction before it’s made.
• See a professional video of your piece after it’s complete.
• Have fun…custom design is a genuinely creative process!

Unsure of what you want?

That’s okay too. Our seasoned team of custom designers is waiting to talk to you. We’ll ask you just the right questions to get you started with the magical process of custom design jewelry.

Contact us to make your custom design dreams come true!

Call (888) 724-8222 or reach us at support@schubach.com. We generally respond within 24 hours (and never share your email address).

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