When it comes to choosing the perfect pair of silver earrings, especially for everyday wear, you’ve likely seen both sterling silver and silver-plated options.
If you’re like many of us, you may wonder what sets them apart, and—more importantly—why at Missana, we choose to use sterling silver for our earrings.
Let’s look at the differences between sterling silver and silver-plated earrings, focusing on durability, sensitivity, and how to make sure you’re getting the quality you deserve.
Here’s everything you need to know about why we only use 925 sterling silver for our earring collection.
Sterling Silver vs. Silver-Plated Earrings – What’s the Difference?
At first glance, sterling silver and silver-plated earrings may look identical.
But they’re actually quite different in terms of material composition and how well they hold up over time. Here’s a quick comparison to clarify:
-
- Sterling Silver: Sterling silver is made up of 92.5% pure silver, with the remaining 7.5% typically being copper or zinc. This slight addition of another alloy makes the metal more durable while keeping its beautiful shine. You should look for the “925” stamp on sterling silver earrings, indicating their purity level.
-
- Silver-Plated: Silver-plated jewellery, on the other hand, is made from a base metal (usually brass or copper) that’s simply coated in a thin layer of silver. While it gives a silver-like appearance initially, the silver coating is much thinner and more prone to wear off, revealing the base metal beneath. This often shows up as a pinkish colour along the edges of the piece after only minimal wear as the copper base metal starts to show through the thin silver coating.
Triple Hoops in 925 Sterling silver
Durability for Everyday Wear
If you’re looking for hypoallergenic jewellery in Australia or pieces that can withstand daily use, sterling silver is a perfect choice. Here’s why:
Long-Lasting Shine – Sterling silver is naturally robust and doesn’t flake or chip like silver plating. With proper care, a pair of sterling silver earrings can last for decades.
Reduced Risk of Tarnishing – While all silver tarnishes over time, sterling silver holds up much better than silver-plated jewellery. The thin silver layer on plated pieces wears down with daily wear, particularly in high-contact areas like earrings.
Easy to Restore – If your sterling silver earrings start to look a little dull, they can be polished back to their original shine. Silver-plated jewellery, however, loses its silver layer over time, making it harder (if not impossible) to restore once worn through.
Comfort and Suitability for Sensitive Ears
One of the main reasons we choose sterling silver at Missana is its suitability for sensitive ears.
Many people experience allergic reactions or irritation from base metals used in silver-plated jewellery, such as nickel, copper, or brass.
If you’ve been searching for the best earring material for sensitive ears, sterling silver is an excellent choice.
It’s often called a hypoallergenic jewellery option, though technically, it’s the absence of nickel and certain other metals that makes it less likely to cause reactions.
How to Tell If Your Earrings Are Sterling Silver
When shopping for silver earrings, knowing how to distinguish between sterling silver and silver-plated items is important. Here are some tell-tale signs:
Look for the 925 Stamp – Authentic sterling silver is typically marked with “925” or “S925,” indicating it’s made from 92.5% silver.
If your earrings don’t have this stamp, they may not be sterling silver.
Magnet Test: Silver isn’t magnetic, so if your earrings stick to a magnet, they’re likely silver-plated with a base metal core.
The “Rub Test”: Rub a small, inconspicuous part of the earring with a soft white cloth. If there’s any greenish or dark residue, it might be silver-plated over a copper or brass base.
The “Ouch Test”: If you’ve been wearing your earring a little while and find your ears start to itch, the earrings are probably plated rather than sterling silver. This is because the base metal used in silver-plated jewellery is not silver, and is more likely to cause an allergic reaction.
Why We Use Rhodium Plating on Our Sterling Silver Earrings
Duo Supernova hoops Lulu Charm and Bloom Charm in rhodium plated sterling silver.
While sterling silver is durable and hypoallergenic, it still has a natural tendency to lose its’ shine over time, resulting in the need for cleaning and polishing.
That’s where rhodium plating comes in. Rhodium is a metal in the platinum family and is known for its reflective, tarnish-resistant surface.
At Missana, we use rhodium plating on most of our sterling silver earrings for a few key reasons:
Enhanced Durability: Rhodium is much harder than silver and provides an additional layer of protection, helping prevent scratches and minor damage.
Tarnish Resistance: Rhodium doesn’t tarnish like silver, so it helps keep your earrings looking bright and shiny, even with frequent wear.
Added Hypoallergenic Properties: Rhodium plating is ideal for sensitive ears, as it adds an extra layer of hypoallergenic protection on top of the sterling silver.
For anyone looking for hypoallergenic jewellery Australia trusts, rhodium-plated sterling silver is a go-to.
Bright and Polished Look: Rhodium’s bright, white-silver color complements sterling silver beautifully, adding a bit of extra dazzle that catches the light.
Why Sterling Silver Is Ideal for Silver Statement Earrings
Ava statement pearl earring with Tiara hoop, Kite stud and Dazzle stud.
For statement earring lovers, sterling silver offers both the quality and the bold shine you want in your favorite pieces. With sterling silver, you get:
-
- Sturdiness for Chunkier Designs: Because sterling silver is solid metal, it’s strong enough to support larger, more intricate designs without feeling overly heavy on your ears.
-
- A Timeless Look: Sterling silver ages beautifully. While silver-plated jewellery loses its shine with use, sterling silver develops a subtle patina that enhances its vintage appeal.
Building Your Silver Earring Stack
One trend we’re loving at Missana is building a silver earring stack—layering multiple earrings along the ear for a personalized, chic look.
Sterling silver is an ideal choice for stacking because it won’t cause irritation, making it perfect for multiple piercings or daily wear.
When you invest in sterling silver, you know your earrings will stay comfortable, tarnish-free, and durable enough for endless combinations.
We offer many options for silver earring stacks, from chunky hoops and coloured gemstones to shiny studs, that help you build your perfect look.
Choosing Sterling Silver for Everyday Wear
So, is sterling silver good for sensitive ears? Absolutely. Here at Missana, we prioritize quality, durability, and comfort in every pair of earrings we create.
By choosing sterling silver with rhodium plating, we’re able to provide you with earrings that are not only beautiful but built to last.
If you’re looking for hypoallergenic jewellery in Australia or the best earring material for sensitive ears, sterling silver is a wonderful choice.
The added rhodium plating gives you peace of mind, knowing your earrings will stay bright, polished, and comfortable.
Whether you’re making a statement with bold silver earrings or choosing one of our created for you silver earring stack sets, you can trust that your Missana earrings are crafted to meet your high standards for quality and style. Happy styling!
