Sterling silver and white gold are two of the most popular metals for jewelry. Both the metals have a similar color which can make it difficult for some to distinguish between the two metals. 92.5% pure silver is mixed with 7.5% of metal alloys, mostly silver to make sterling silver. Whereas, white gold does not naturally exist on earth. Yellow gold is mixed with other metals to make it change the appearance, making it look like platinum. Yellow gold is mixed with nickel or zinc to make it platinum.
Ideal as jewelry forms, let us have a look at some of the important factors to determine which one you should choose between sterling silver and white gold.
A composition of the metals
Both the metals, gold, and silver are found in the earth’s crust. These are soft metals and usually mixed with alloys to make it ideal for jewelry. White gold is usually not lustrous and is mixed with rhodium to add brightness or color to it. In general, white gold of any type comprises of 50 percent of gold. The best variety of white gold consists of copper, silver, and gold. It is usually malleable and hypoallergenic at the same time. White gold, when mixed with nickel, is the strongest and durable but can cause allergies. So, before you buy check the type of metals your white gold is composed of.
White gold does not usually have a separate hallmark to identify it. It is usually stamped with the same hallmarks that are used for gold, which is 417 for 10K gold, .587 for 14K gold and .750 for 18K gold.
Whereas, pure silver is mixed with nickel, zinc or copper to make a more durable alloy for jewelry. Sterling silver is usually stamped with .925 or the words STER, STERLING, STG or Sterling Silver as a hallmark for jewelry items.
Durability
Silver jewelry can tarnish or bend easily. The jewelry items can bend or lose shape. Sterling silver, when mixed with other metals, is generally more durable and hard. Also, it does not scratch or damage easily. If you are in a proper way, a piece of sterling silver jewelry would last for a lifetime.
White gold is usually hard then a pure form of gold. It is tougher and more of scratch resistant. Usually, the less amount of gold karatage is in the white gold alloy, the more durable is the metal. This happens as gold is a soft metal and it becomes harder when other metals are mixed with it. 18k, 14k and 10k white gold are very much resilient, strong and also ideal for everyday wear. However, often the rhodium plating on the white gold can wear out with time. This would result in metal bleeding. The plating is also susceptible to scratches and requires frequent replating.
Maintenance and care
Sterling silver over a period of time can tarnish or become black, even if you store it properly. In order to retain the shine and luster, it is very important to take care of the jewelry item. In order to avoid this in the first place, polish and clean your sterling silver made jewelry at regular intervals. You need to store the pieces away any sort of moisture or excessive heat.
White gold requires less maintenance and will also not tarnish over time. This metal requires less of cleaning and care because the material is scratch resistant against elements like heat and water. The white gold may lose its shine over time but it can be cleaned by a professional jeweler or at home to bring back the luster. Over time, some of the mixed metals may wear off and the yellow gold can get exposed.
Which one should I choose?
Both sterling silver and white gold have their unique pros and cons and are very different from each other. You can get sterling silver from jewelry shops, online jewelry stores or Sterling Silver Jewelry Wholesale New York market. Similarly, always try to buy gold from reliable jewelry stores and check the hallmark before buying.
Jewelry made of sterling silver is hypoallergenic and also affordable at the same time. But on the other hand, it requires more maintenance than white gold. Whereas, white gold is much more durable and also easy to maintain. It is also expensive and often may cause metal allergies. You need to consider certain things before you decide which metal you need to go for.
Are you looking for an investment piece? Is it something you need to wear every day? If you are looking for an investment piece, then white gold is a good option to go for. If you plan to go for an everyday wear piece, then sterling silver made jewelry is the best option for you. Also, you need to think about whether you need to have a statement piece or does your jewelry have any sentimental value? Think before you actually opt for the right option that would suit your requirements.
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