Common Silver Jewellery Myths – And the Truth Behind Them
Silver has been used to create jewellery for thousands of years, but there are still plenty of misconceptions about this metal.
Some of these myths might even be stopping you from choosing jewellery you would otherwise love! So, let’s take a closer look at three common silver jewellery myths.
Myth 1: Silver Jewellery Only Suits Cool Skin Tones
You may have seen styling guides suggesting that silver jewellery should only be worn by people with cool skin undertones, while those with warmer undertones should stick to gold.
First off, does anyone know what undertone their skin is? (i certainly don't!)
Secondly, jewellery doesn’t need to follow such strict rules!
Silver can look beautiful against warm, cool and neutral skin tones, and so much more goes into the overall look than the colour of the metal alone.
Your clothing, makeup, gemstones and even the finish of the silver can completely change how a piece looks when worn. A highly polished silver necklace, for example, can create a very different effect from a softly matte or oxidised design.
Most importantly, jewellery is personal.
If you love wearing silver and feel confident in it, that matters far more than whether a colour chart says it’s the “correct” metal for your skin tone.
The truth: Silver jewellery can be worn beautifully by every skin tone. Choose the jewellery that makes you feel good.
Myth 2: Fine Silver (.999) Is Too Soft for Jewellery
This one contains a little bit of truth, but it lacks context.
Fine silver, also known as .999 silver, is approximately 99.9% pure silver, meaning it has more silver and less base metals. While, sterling silver is marked as 92.5% and contains additional metals, commonly copper, which make it harder.
So yes, fine silver is naturally softer than sterling silver as it doesn't have as much added base metals in it.
But that doesn’t mean it’s unsuitable for jewellery!
Fine silver is well suited to pieces such as pendants and earrings, which generally get less impact and wear than something like a ring that's constantly coming into contact with surfaces throughout the day.
This is one reason I love using silver clay in my work. Silver clay begins as a wonderfully workable material that I can shape, texture and sculpt by hand. Once fired, the binder burns away and I'm left with solid fine silver.
Where a design needs additional strength — such as chains, ear wires or other components — I can combine fine silver with eco-sterling silver.
It's about choosing the right material for each part of the design rather than declaring one type of silver “better” than another.
The truth: Fine silver is softer than sterling silver, but that doesn't make it unsuitable for jewellery. It can be a beautiful choice for appropriately designed pendants, earrings and other pieces. Plus a bonus for silver clay artists, Silver clay somes in both Fine .999 & Sterling .925!
Myth 3: Silver Jewellery Is Difficult to Look After
If you've ever heard that silver jewellery darkens over time, you might think that its too much work to maintain it and opt for a different metal.
Thankfully, caring for silver jewellery is much simpler than you might think!
Silver can naturally tarnish as it reacts with substances in its environment and on our skin when we wear it. Things such as moisture, cosmetics, perfumes and chemicals can all affect how quickly this happens.
But tarnish doesn't usually mean your jewellery is ruined.
In many cases, a gentle polish with a suitable silver polishing cloth is all that's needed to bring back its beautiful finish.
There are also a few simple habits that can help:
Put jewellery on after applying perfume, moisturiser and other beauty products.
Remove silver jewellery before swimming or using a hot tub.
Store pieces somewhere clean and dry when you're not wearing them.
Keep individual pieces separated where possible to help prevent scratching and tangling.
Give your jewellery an occasional gentle polish rather than waiting until heavy tarnish develops.
And if a much-loved piece does need a little more attention, professional cleaning can often bring it beautifully back to life.
The truth: Silver jewellery isn't difficult to care for. A few simple habits and occasional cleaning can help keep it looking beautiful for years.
Silver Jewellery Is Made to Be Worn
Jewellery shouldn't come with a long list of rules about who can wear it, when it can be worn or how difficult it supposedly is to own.
Whether you prefer fine silver jewellery, sterling silver or a combination of both, the most important thing is finding pieces you genuinely love and will enjoy wearing.
I believe jewellery should be worn, treasured and become part of your story — not left sitting in a jewellery box because of a myth you once heard online 🤍
Looking for Handmade Silver Jewellery?
Explore my collection of handmade silver jewellery, created slowly and thoughtfully using recycled silver. From easy-to-wear Wardrobe Staples to one-of-a-kind designs, each piece is made to be worn, loved and treasured.
And if you have a silver jewellery question you'd love me to tackle in a future blog post, I'd love to hear it!
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