One of the questions we get asked most often here at thevintagepearl.com is “What is the difference between sterling silver and pewter”? While this is not meant to be a definitive list we want to be able to answer this question with what most often concerns our customers.
There are a few things to consider when choosing sterling silver vs. pewter.
Pewter
- Our fine pewter is unique in that it does not tarnish.
- It is a mixture of different metals, including mostly tin, a small amount of copper, and sometimes even has a bit of silver in it.
- Pewter is softer than silver so it will bend or dent easier.
- It also has that beautiful shine similar to sterling silver but it will start to naturally dull over time. You can easily bring back its shine with a few wipes of one of our jewelry polish pads.
- It is a lower price point which is always nice when you can purchase a beautiful necklace for a little less, and makes it a great option for younger girls.
Sterling Silver
Precious metals like Sterling Silver will require a little more maintenance.
- Sterling silver will naturally tarnish over time, but it is easy to clean up with one of our polish pads.
- It has a higher price tag, but it also has a higher quality to it which makes it a piece of jewelry that you can keep for a lifetime.
- Sterling Silver will have a brighter luster than Pewter.
Both are sterling silver and our fine pewter is nickel-free.
Each of our pieces is shipped out with a small jewelry polish pad — if you need another one just let us know!
If you have any questions regarding which choice would be best for you please feel free to ask! We have our customer service team ready to answer any questions you may have. Please email us at [email protected]
4 Comments
I received a beautiful necklace as a retirement gift from my school. How can I know if it is pewter or silver? My guess would be it is pewter because there is no stamp identifying it as silver.
Hi Darlene, I meant to reply directly to you but instead it is just a regular comment. I wasn’t sure if you’d get notified if it wasn’t a direct reply to you so I thought I’d now do it the right way, lol, and at least let you know. I wasn’t able to copy and paste it here and it was too long to write again. So it’s down below!
It’s sterling silver plates 08 stamped
The necklace could be stainless steel or possibly sterling silver plated. Did you check the clasp? If that is stamped then most likely the whole necklace would be sterling as well. It could just be an alloy metal which contains a multitude of metals including copper, in which from a lot of wear may tarnish easily. The clasp will be the first to start tarnishing if so as it usually is sitting directly on your skin (neck). If you’re really curious so you know how to take care of the metal, I would bring it to a jeweler and they would be able to tell you what type of metal it may be. In any case, always wipe with a soft cloth when removing it to help take off any oils remaining from your skin. Also, keep it in a cool dark place without moisture and that should help keep it looking nice as long as possible.