sterling silver vs silver plated

Answer 1

Sterling Silver is the way to go.

Because sterling silver is an alloy and therefore solid, it will not be compromised when worn down like silver-plating. A scratch on it's surface will not expose any different color or metal, because their make-up is uniform and solid.

Scratches on silver plating reveals a different color, or a surface that will tarnish at a different rate, and over time these differences will become more noticeable.

Sterling silver will be more expensive as compared to silver plating, but it's still cheaper than gold.

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