ster·ling sil·ver | ˈstər-liŋ sil-vər
noun
A silver alloy made up of at least 92.5% pure silver, which is the standard fineness for silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver that is made up of 92.5% pure silver and consists of 7.5% other metals, which can include copper, zinc, germanium, and in rare cases platinum. This is done because of the softness of silver in its pure form, making it difficult to use for functional items like fixtures or flatware. The type of elements and metals used in sterling silver often depends at least partially on its function. Because sterling silver is prone to tarnishing, some metals can help to reduce this risk or to make it more resilient to heat or other functional applications.
