What's the difference between sterling silver and silver plated and how do you tell which is which?

Question

What's the difference between sterling silver and silver plated and how do you tell which is which?

Answer 1

Fine silver is 99.9 percent pure or more, but it is very soft and unsuitable for most uses.

Sterling silver is defined as 92.5 percent pure or higher. The remaining 5 to 7-1/2 percent is usually copper because this has been found to be the best metal to alloy with the silver to not discolor it, while making it hard.

"Silver plated" is either pure but usually sterling silver plated over a base metal.