PickGlobeSterling silver and stainless steel are both popular for everyday jewelry, and both can look similar in a product photo. They behave very differently over the years, though. Here is how they compare, and when each one makes sense.
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At a glance
| Sterling silver | Stainless steel | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An alloy of 92.5% silver, usually with copper | An iron alloy with chromium (and often nickel), resistant to rust |
| Marking | Usually stamped 925 | Often unmarked, or marked with a grade such as 316L |
| Tarnish | Darkens over time, cleans up well | Does not tarnish in normal wear |
| Hardness | Softer, scratches and bends more easily | Harder and more scratch-resistant |
| Weight | Dense and heavy | Lighter in a similar design |
| Resizing | A jeweler can usually resize a plain band | Often hard or impossible to resize |
| Price | Higher, because it contains precious metal | Usually lower |
| Look | Bright white with a warm, soft shine | Slightly greyer, a harder shine |
Appearance and tarnish
Sterling silver has a bright, soft shine that many people prefer. It will tarnish, though, particularly if it is stored in humid air or exposed to perfume, lotion or chlorine. Tarnish is a surface layer and polishes away. Our guide to cleaning sterling silver at home shows how.
Stainless steel keeps its finish with almost no care. If you want jewelry you can wear daily, shower in and forget about, that is its main advantage.
Durability
Stainless steel is the tougher metal. Sterling silver is soft by comparison, so thin chains can kink, rings can dent and surfaces pick up fine scratches. Neither is indestructible: thin plating or a weak clasp will wear out on any metal, so look at the construction as well as the material.
Skin reactions
Both metals can cause reactions in some people, and it depends on what else is in the alloy.
- Sterling silver is mostly silver, with other metals making up the rest. Most sterling uses copper. Some people react to those other metals. Rhodium plating is sometimes added over silver, and it can wear off.
- Stainless steel may contain nickel. Grades sold as "surgical steel" or 316L are commonly chosen for sensitive skin, but the term is used loosely, so check which grade the listing gives.
If you know you react to a metal, look for listings that name the metals used and say nickel-free, and speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure.
Resizing and repairs
A jeweler can resize and repair sterling silver in most cases. Stainless steel is far harder to cut and solder, so many stainless rings can't be resized. That makes the size more important, so measure carefully first, as explained in our guide to finding your ring size online.
Value
Sterling silver has some metal value, though jewelry typically sells for far less than its retail price. Stainless steel has almost none. That makes silver a better choice for pieces you may want to pass on or resell, and steel a practical choice for inexpensive, hard-wearing pieces.
Which should you choose?
- Choose sterling silver if you want the classic look, a metal that can be resized and repaired, and you're happy to polish it now and then.
- Choose stainless steel if you want low-maintenance, tough everyday jewelry at a lower price, and a fixed size is not a problem.
Also check that "silver" in a listing really means sterling. Words like "silver tone" or "silver plated" mean something else. Our guide to buying jewelry online explains the terms and quality marks.
The short version
Sterling silver looks classic and can be resized, but it tarnishes and scratches. Stainless steel is tougher, cheaper and needs almost no care, but is harder to resize and has little resale value. Check the metals listed for any skin sensitivity, and look for the 925 stamp when you want real sterling.