Everyone knows what silver is. It' s on the Periodic Table of Elements, number 47 (Ag) to be precise. But what is the difference between silver as an element, and the sterling silver that you find on jewelry store shelves? If you don't know what sterling silver happens to be, and what makes it different from the silver that you would see in a chemical lab, the answer might surprise you.

The silver that you see in jewelry is sterling silver, which is an alloy made of 92.5% silver, and 7.5% copper. This is why sterling silver is also called 925 sterling silver – 925 is the number that corresponds to its millesimal fineness minimum. Millesimal fineness minimums are how the purity of precious metals is measured. Overall, sterling silver is a very, very pure alloy of silver. This means that it will be worth a lot more than non-sterling alloys, which may only have 85% silver purity.

Once people find out what sterling silver is, they often wonder why jewelry isn't made of pure silver. There is a very good reason why you will never see a bracelet, necklace, or broach made out of pure silver. Silver, in it's 100% pure form, is too soft to actually mold into jewelry. If you were to wear a bracelet made of pure silver, it would break apart very quickly. You wouldn't be able to use a clasp to wear it, and it's very possible that it would fall apart before you even were able to try to put it on. Because of the frailness of pure silver, jewelry has to be made in alloys like sterling silver or Britannia silver.

Sterling silver is one of the most common forms of silver alloy, and this are many reasons why this is the case. Britannia silver, which is a purer alloy of silver than sterling silver, is typically a poor choice for jewelry because it's still quite easily broken. The less pure the silver alloy happens to be, the more problematic tarnishing becomes. Very low grade silver alloys can tarnish almost instantly. Sterling silver, therefore, is the perfect mix of strength, durability, and a low rate of tarnish. As such, jewelry fans from around the world usually pick sterling silver as their material of choice for necklaces, bracelets, rings, and charms.

Not all sterling silver is the same, either. Mexican sterling silver is considered to be one of the highest quality forms of silver in the world. Ideal for artisan crafting, Mexican sterling silver has been used for centuries as the material of choice for some of the world's most beautiful jewelry. Sterling silver has always been considered to be an heirloom material, perfect for gifting from generation to generation. If you want to experience the beauty, the shine, and the history of the world's greatest silver, choosing Mexican sterling silver is the best way to do it.