925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
Jewelry in solid 925 sterling silver with the 925 stamp on the clasp: Cuban, rope and king's chains, bracelets, moissanite earrings and rings. Not sure about the width? Start with the 4 mm Cuban chain, our most chosen silver model.
925 sterling silver is the international standard for silver jewelry: 92.5% pure silver, completed with 7.5% other metals. Pure silver is too soft to make jewelry from; that small addition makes it hard enough to wear every day. All jewelry in this collection is solid silver.
What you notice about real silver
You feel the difference with a plated or base metal piece straight away. Silver is noticeably heavier in the hand and has a deeper, warmer shine than steel. The solid silver models have no layer on top that can wear off: what you buy is the material itself, from the outside in. Some of the moissanite pieces do have a white gold plating over the silver, so those have a layer. What the stamp means and how to recognize real silver yourself is explained in what 925 silver means.
The 925 stamp
The clasp of our silver jewelry carries a 925 stamp: the fineness mark that shows the metal is 92.5 percent silver. That is something different from an official hallmark from an assay office; our pieces do not carry one. In doubt about whether another piece is real silver? Look at that stamp and at the weight first.
In this collection
Silver chains in four links: the Cuban link in 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm, the rope in 2, 3 and 4 mm, the king's chain in 2.5 mm and the anchor (jasseron) chain in 2.8 mm, in lengths from 45 to 60 cm. Silver bracelets: the 4 mm Cuban bracelet, the 2.5 mm king's link bracelet and the clover bracelet with cubic zirconia. With moissanite there are a 5 mm tennis chain and tennis bracelet, a 12 mm Cuban link chain and bracelet, four pairs of earrings, the clover studs and two rings. The clover pendant is solid silver too, without coating.
Which width in silver?
Silver is heavier than steel, so a silver chain feels fuller at the same width. A 2 to 3 mm chain is fine enough for a pendant, 4 mm stands on its own without feeling heavy, and 5 to 6 mm is a chain with real presence. The 4 mm Cuban chain has been our best-selling silver model over the past six months, followed by the 3 mm rope.
Lengths and sizes
The silver chains come in 50, 55 and 60 cm (20, 22 and 24 in), the anchor chain also in 45 cm. 50 cm falls just below the collarbone, 55 cm on the top of the breastbone. The 4 mm Cuban bracelet comes in 20 and 22 cm, the 2.5 mm king's link bracelet in 18, 20 and 22 cm. The moissanite rings are US sizes: the solitaire ring 5 to 9, the tennis ring 7, 8 and 9.
Silver or stainless steel?
Silver-tone stainless steel looks like silver, but it is not a precious metal: it is lighter, the shine is cooler and it has no residual value. On the other hand, steel does not tarnish and needs no silver cloth. Choose silver if you want the weight and shine of a real precious metal, and steel if you want something you never have to take off.
Wearing silver next to silver-tone steel? Up close you will see the difference in shine: silver is warmer. So keep to one material per spot, for example a silver chain with a silver bracelet, and steel for your watch.
Silver for men and women
For men, the 4 to 6 mm Cuban and the 3 and 4 mm rope are the silver chains that stand on their own. The 2.5 mm king's chain, the 2.8 mm anchor chain and the 2 mm Cuban are fine enough for a pendant or a slimmer neck. The moissanite studs and the clover studs are worn by men and women alike.
Care
Silver reacts slowly with the air and can turn duller as a result. That is normal and not a defect: with a soft silver cloth it is gone again in a few minutes. Which methods work and which you had better avoid is explained in our guide on how to clean silver jewelry. Solid silver can go in the shower; do take it off before the pool, because chlorine attacks silver. Also take the models with a white gold plating off before the shower and the gym, because that layer wears through. Avoid perfume and store your jewelry dry and separately.
Silver jewelry as a gift
A silver chain is a gift with weight, literally. Not sure of the length? Choose 55 cm for a man and 50 cm for a slimmer neck. A pair of 5 mm moissanite studs is the silver gift with no size question. Every piece comes in a Carpe Ice jewelry box.
Looking for something that needs less care? Have a look at silver-tone stainless steel: it is bare, polished steel with no coating, it does not tarnish and a wipe with a dry cloth is enough.