Hobbies And Interests
Metal Silver
As a metal, silver is a chemical element (Ag, atomic number 47), and has been widely used by people throughout history for jewelry, tableware and industrial purposes as well as a store of value.
Silver Alloys
Since silver is a soft metal, alloying it with other metals makes it more durable. One common alloy, called sterling silver or .925 silver, is 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper.
Silver Plate
Silver plate is neither the metal silver nor a silver alloy. Instead, it's a thin layer of silver applied to another metal. The layer is typically 20 to 30 microns thick, or less than 0.001 inches.
Silver Plate Uses
The most common use of silver plating is for tableware. When new it resembles more expensive sterling silver tableware, but it's much less expensive to manufacture, since it contains very little silver.
Durability
The silver finish on silver plate items may last a number of years, but it wears off eventually. Sterling silver items, by contrast, will tarnish, but it's virtually indestructible.
Resale Value
Since it is made of a precious metal, sterling silver items retain value for resale. Silver plate items have little resale value.