The undisputed rulers in the jewelry industry: silver and gold. Both fine, both classics, but which should you choose?

KEYWORD(S): SILVER OR GOLD JEWELRY

 

 

The best place to start is to consider which color you prefer. Silver and white gold share a similar chilly lustrous hue, while rose and yellow gold offer warm, rich tones. Think about how that color will look against your skin tone, with diamonds or with your favorite colors of gemstones.

Gold Jewelry vs. Silver Jewelry
You want to fill your jewelry box with treasure made of gleaming metals and sparkling gemstones - but which metals will give you the appealing look you want? Gold jewelry and silver jewelry are both great choices, but they do have different properties and aesthetics. You can wear both gold and silver jewelry when you know a bit about both metal types. The right knowledge can help you buy jewelry with smart value and attractive style. Use these tips to select the right gold jewelry and sterling silver jewelry for your collection.

What exactly is a karat?
The standard measurement of gold is the karat, which is divided into 24 parts. Pure gold is 24 Karats, meaning 24 out of 24 parts are gold. Because pure gold is too soft and malleable to be used for jewelry, it is combined with other metal alloys to increase its strength. For instance, 14K gold is 14 parts gold and 10 parts other alloys, while 10K gold is more durable, with 10 parts gold to 14 parts other alloys.

Alloys used with yellow gold include copper and silver. Rose gold is created by combining gold with large amounts of copper. When creating white gold, pure gold is combined with copper, zinc, and nickel (or palladium).

Why sterling silver?
Since ancient times, people across the globe have considered silver a highly valued metal. Similar to gold, silver in its purest form is soft and delicate. To be used for jewelry, it is combined with metal alloys, such as copper, to increase its strength. When pure silver is mixed with less than 7.5% alloy, it is known as "sterling silver." Sterling silver is at least 92.5% pure silver and significantly more durable than regular silver.

       

Comparing Gold and Silver Jewelry:

Appearance
Gold jewelry is yellow and silver jewelry is grey, but there is more to the appearances of these pieces than the basic colors you have come to know. Both white gold and rose gold are very different from yellow gold. White gold is alloyed with nickel, manganese or palladium to give it a silver hue. Rose gold is alloyed with copper to make it pink. Sterling silver jewelry is usually silver, but oxidized silver can be dark grey.

Cost
Gold jewelry is generally more expensive than sterling silver jewelry. This is mainly due to the rarity and durability of gold. Sterling silver can tarnish over time and may cause an allergic reaction in some wearers. These factors make gold jewelry more expensive than sterling silver jewelry in many cases.

Durability
Gold is more durable than sterling silver. It is more scratch-resistant and it doesn’t tarnish. Both gold and silver are durable, however, because they are both precious metals. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent metal alloy. This metal alloy makes sterling silver durable enough for daily wear.

Care
Both sterling silver jewelry and gold jewelry should be cleaned regularly. Silver jewelry does tarnish over time, so it has to be polished occasionally. Silver cleaner and a soft cloth will remove tarnish easily. Gold jewelry can be cleaned with warm, soapy water or polished with a jewelry cloth.

Markings
Always check jewelry for markings to be certain of its metal type. Sterling silver will be marked with a “925” or "S925". Gold jewelry should be marked with the Karat, or purity, of the gold. Look for 18k gold, which is 75 percent pure, 14k gold, which is 58 percent pure or 10k gold, which is 42 percent pure.

We tried to comprehensive while making you aware of the differences between silver jewelry and gold jewelry.
Remember, a special piece will radiate beauty from the wearer no matter what the metal or stone.