Sterling silver is not magnetic as it is made up primarily of silver, which is in fact diamagnetic. This means that the silver will repel a magnet.
• Alloys used in sterling silver
Sterling silver is made up of 92% silver and 8% alloy. These alloys can be a number of metals including zinc, copper and steel. Only when the alloy in question is steel is there a chance that the sterling silver can be magnetic. Some would argue that using steel in the process of making sterling silver means that the sterling silver loses some value, and is in fact simply a metal object. Copper is the most common metal that is mixed with silver to produce sterling silver. It is also used as an alloy with gold and is commonly used to create rose gold, an alternative to yellow gold and white gold.
• Why mix silver with other metals?
Silver is generally mixed with other metals, as in its purest form it is too soft to be able to create solid objects. This is the main reason that zinc and copper are added as both of these metals are harder and react well with the silver, and enable it to become a more solid metal, allowing solid objects to be made from it.
• Alternative versions of silver
There have, in recent years, been a number of new alternatives mixed with silver to create sterling silver, besides zinc and copper. The most common of these new versions is argentium sterling silver, which is silver, mixed with both copper and germanium. The germanium provides less tarnish to the silver than if it is mixed just with copper or zinc, and also has increased durability.
• Alloys used in sterling silver
Sterling silver is made up of 92% silver and 8% alloy. These alloys can be a number of metals including zinc, copper and steel. Only when the alloy in question is steel is there a chance that the sterling silver can be magnetic. Some would argue that using steel in the process of making sterling silver means that the sterling silver loses some value, and is in fact simply a metal object. Copper is the most common metal that is mixed with silver to produce sterling silver. It is also used as an alloy with gold and is commonly used to create rose gold, an alternative to yellow gold and white gold.
• Why mix silver with other metals?
Silver is generally mixed with other metals, as in its purest form it is too soft to be able to create solid objects. This is the main reason that zinc and copper are added as both of these metals are harder and react well with the silver, and enable it to become a more solid metal, allowing solid objects to be made from it.
• Alternative versions of silver
There have, in recent years, been a number of new alternatives mixed with silver to create sterling silver, besides zinc and copper. The most common of these new versions is argentium sterling silver, which is silver, mixed with both copper and germanium. The germanium provides less tarnish to the silver than if it is mixed just with copper or zinc, and also has increased durability.
