Why We Choose Stainless Steel Over Sterling Silver Every Time!
As jewellery makers, it is important to use products that you know your loyal customers will love! To keep those glowing 5 star reviews, it’s not just about having aesthetically pleasing creations, but also having a product that is functional for everyday use.
When it comes to choosing the right findings for the job, it can be a little overwhelming, whether to choose Gold, Gold Plated, Sterling Silver, Silver Plated, etc, etc. Well, have you ever thought about Stainless Steel? Sure, it doesn’t sound as elegant as Sterling Silver, but it is arguably a far better material to work with that can offer fantastic jewellery results that will last over time. Let’s take a look at the difference between Sterling Silver and Stainless Steel!
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver (also known as 925) is a very popular material to work with, offering an elegant touch to your designs that your customers will respect. Sterling silver, in particular, is composed of 92.5% pure silver (hence the 925 name) and 7.5% copper alloy, meaning it is a mix between Silver and Metal components. Although Silver isn’t especially rare, it is considering a precious metal, making it a desirable choice for starting out in the world of jewellery making.
However, there are some downsides to using Sterling Silver. As a small business, building a collection of Sterling Silver findings can add up and requires you to make your sellable products more expensive. Although they may appear more intriguing to the customer, they may not be as satisfied as you think. Because Sterling Silver is a mix between metal and silver, it can tarnish easily if not cared for and can result in a product that won’t last long and has a weak material, meaning it is delicate and can easily bend out of shape. Not only does this make it difficult to work with, but it also can bend out of shape when worn. However, it should be noted, this level of malleability is great for people working with more intricate designs!
Pros:
- Creates a beautiful and delicate finish to your jewellery.
- More appealing than plated silver (plated silver tarnishes easily.).
- More lightweight and allows your jewellery sit nicely.
- Easy to work with for smaller, more delicate creations.
Cons:
- Tarnishes very easily.
- A lot more expensive, especially when you need to invest in many different sterling silver components.
- Too flexible, meaning it can bend out of shape very easily.
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel is composed of a variety of alloy metals, and is a fantastic, yet underrated, material to work with in your jewellery making ventures. Also used for cutlery and surgical equipment, this metal is admired by many for its ability to offer a shiny and clean finish. There are many different variations of stainless steel, which means steel used for jewellery can look different to more practical steel tools. Stainless steel has a slightly darker silver finish than sterling silver, similar to a gunmetal colour.
Some may stereotype stainless steel to be dull and not a very aesthetic choice for jewellery, but on the contrary! It can offer an even higher level of sheen than sterling silver, making any piece of jewellery not only look great, but also extremely durable.
Stainless steel is strong and functional for everyday life, making it a great material to consider when making jewellery. You don’t need to worry as much about corrosion or tarnishing when used in the shower, with beauty products or exposed to everyday elements (although we would recommend taking care with it, because like any alloy material, it isn’t immune to the elements). It is also scratch resistant and will keep the shape that you originally wanted it to be.
Whilst stainless steel offers endless benefits, it should be noted it isn’t as malleable, making it a little tougher to work with. But the result means that it will last far longer and resist everyday antics!
Pros:
- An affordable option in jewellery making.
- Durable and scratch resistant, making your jewellery more desirable.
- A high shine level, that won’t tarnish.
- Corrosion resistant, making out perfect for everyday use.
Cons:
- A little tougher, meaning it isn’t good for bending.
Overall
We feel pretty passionate about stainless steel (who knew you could be this passionate about metal!) as a material to work with in the jewellery making world. Although sterling silver is great for more intricate creations and offers an appealing perception, surgical steel is the one to use for day to day creations! Not only will you be thrilled by the high shine quality, but also how well it lasts. You will be proud as a jewellery maker to sell a product that you know will last and requires little maintenance.
It was this conclusion that led us to stocking a FULL RANGE OF STAINLESS STEEL FINDINGS! At first, we didn’t know which to choose, stainless steel or sterling silver. But as we did more and more research, it was clear who was the winner! We are thrilled to offer a collection of reliable and beautiful findings that we know you and your customers will love.
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