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Sterling silver is a silver alloy containing 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper, and 0% nickel.
However, low-quality or mass-produced sterling silver jewelry can be contaminated with nickel particles during production, causing skin reactions in people with nickel sensitivities.
Certified nickel-free sterling silver comes with a certificate and is stamped with a NF mark. A NF 925 hallmark signifies the sterling silver jewelry is 100% nickel free. Plated sterling silver (different types of gold vermeil) is safe when the gold plating is nickel-free and undamaged.
Nickel silver contains no silver but is made of copper, nickel, and zinc.
Take this quiz and test your knowledge on the topic of sterling silver and nickel contamination.
Does Sterling Silver Have Nickel in it? Or is It Nickel Free?
No, sterling silver doesn’t have any nickel in it. Sterling silver is a silver alloy that contains 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper and 0% nickel.
However, low quality or mass produced sterling silver jewelry can be contaminated with nickel particles during production. This technically makes a sterling silver item non-nickel free. The amount of nickel in such cases is extremely low, but often enough to cause a skin reaction in people with nickel sensitivities.
Another option is for sterling silver item to be plated and the plate contains nickel. In that case nickel would be in direct contact with the skin and dermatitis on your skin would quickly develop.
For example, here’s someone complaining their rhodium-plated sterling silver chain is giving them rashes all over the body. It got so bad they had to remove the offending jewelry and get on strong medications to subdue the reaction.
Is There a Type of Sterling Silver (925) That Doesn’t Contain Any Nickel in It?
Yes, there’s a type of sterling silver that doesn’t contain any nickel in it. It’s sterling silver that has been certified as “nickel free” by the manufacturer.
Certified nickel free sterling silver jewelry comes with a certificate issued by the manufacturer and is stamped with a NF mark. A NF 925 silver hallmark signifies that particular piece of jewelry is 100% nickel free.
Here’re are some examples of certified nickel-free sterling silver.
Can You Wear Sterling Silver if You’re Allergic to Nickel? Is it Safe?
No, you can’t wear sterling silver if you’re allergic to nickel. It isn’t safe for you because even a little bit of nickel causes a severe bout of dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Nickel allergies are caused by free nickel ions that are corroded by sweat and other body fluids and not by the total amount of nickel in the sterling silver alloy. However, it’s reasonable to assume that more nickel in sterling silver is more allergenic rather than less.
It’s not possible to become desensitized to nickel. You can’t hide from this problem and you’ll have nickel allergy for life if you’ve had it at any point in the past.
The best you can do is avoid jewelry that contains nickel, including sterling silver contaminated with this metal.
Is it Possible to Tell Whether Sterling Silver Jewelry Has Nickel in it?
No, it’s not possible to tell whether sterling silver jewelry has nickel in it. Nickel contamination is microscopic and invisible to the naked eye, and only your skin will be able to tell for sure once it starts suffering.
You can be cautious though and only buy certified nickel-free sterling silver jewelry from reputable sources.
Is Plated Sterling Silver (Vermeil) Safe for People With Nickel Allergies?
Yes, plated sterling silver (different types of gold vermeil) is safe when the gold plating above the sterling silver base is nickel free.
Different types of gold vermeil (yellow gold vermeil, white gold vermeil, rose gold vermeil…) are made by plating a sterling silver base with a different type of colored gold that’s sufficiently thick (2.5 microns).
Gold composition in various vermeil types varies, but none of them contains nickel. This is true even for white gold. White gold can be made with nickel but it can also be made without it and when shopping you’ll need to pick certified nickel-free white gold vermeil.
Besides giving it color, the other purpose of gold plating over sterling silver is to protect the wearer from nickel-contaminated sterling silver. The jewelry owner has nothing to worry about as long as the plate is intact.
Here’s an example of a person whose rose gold vermeil necklace caused her a severe rash on her neck. It’s because the rose gold plating was damaged in several places and sterling silver under the plate wasn’t nickel free.
Sterling Silver vs Nickel Silver- What are the Differences?
There’re many differences between sterling silver and nickel silver.
Sterling silver is an alloy with at least 92.5% pure silver, while nickel silver (also known as German silver or alpaca) is a silver-colored alloy containing no silver at all, but instead is made of copper, nickel, and zinc. The main differences are in their composition, which affects their value (sterling is precious, nickel silver is not), potential for allergic reactions (nickel causes them), and durability and appearance.
Sterling silver items are stamped with markings such as “925,” “92.5%,” or “Ster”. Nickel silver won’t have these markings. Common nickel silver stamps/hallmarks are EPNS (Electroplated Nickel Silver), German Silver, Alpaca/ Alpakka, Argentan, Maillechort and New Silver.
| Comparison | Sterling silver | Nickel silver |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | 92.5% silver+ 7.5% copper. | 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc |
| Color and tarnish resistance | Easily tarnishable. | Nickel silver tarnishes faster than sterling silver because it contains significantly more copper than sterling silver (60 vs 7.5). |
| Durability and scratch resistance | Sterling silver isn't as durable and strong as nickel silver. | Nickel silver is more durable and scratch resistant than sterling silver. Because nickel silver contains nickel, a metal much stronger than copper from sterling silver. |
| Cost | Sterling silver is significantly more costly than nickel silver. Sterling silver is a precious metal alloy that's 92.5% pure silver, while nickel silver is an inexpensive base metal alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc that contains no actual silver. | Nickel silver is more affordable than sterling silver because it contains no real silver and is made of base metals. |
| Skin tone compatibility | Sterling silver is compatible with cool skin tones, as its cool, brilliant shine harmonizes with the pink, red, and blue undertones of cooler complexions. | Nickel silver looks best on individuals with cool skin undertones. It complements the natural pink or bluish hints in cool-toned skin, creating a bright and radiant appearance. |
| Hypoallergenic properties | Sterling silver is less allergenic than nickel silver. | Nickel silver is more allergenic than sterling silver as it contains a lot of nickel in its alloy. |
Does Sterling Silver Have Nickel in it? Or is It Nickel Free? Is There a Type of Sterling Silver That Doesn’t Contain Any Nickel at All? Conclusion
Pure sterling silver (92.5% silver, 7.5% copper) doesn’t contain nickel.
Cheaper or mass-produced sterling silver jewelry can be contaminated with trace amounts of nickel during production. Or different types of gold vermeil can feature a nickel-containing plating which then causes allergic reactions.
To guarantee nickel-free sterling silver, look for jewelry certified and stamped with NF 925.
References:
- Sterling Silver / Nickel Allergy- https://www.reddit.com/r/jewelry/comments/1ar4bjc/sterling_silver_nickel_allergy/
- Vintage Cat Brooch Pin~NF 925 Silver~Abalone~Rhinestones~Swinging Tail~Thailand- https://www.etsy.com/listing/4349934718/vintage-cat-brooch-pinnf-925
- Ornate 14k Gold STERLING silver Signed NF Green Chrysoprase large ring- https://www.etsy.com/listing/1765122494/ornate-14k-gold-sterling-silver-signed
- 925 Sterling Silver Marcasite Ring – NF Nickel-Free Size 7- https://www.etsy.com/listing/4416305776/925-sterling-silver-marcasite-ring-nf
- Desensitization for nickel contact allergy- https://www.aaaai.org/allergist-resources/ask-the-expert/answers/old-ask-the-experts/nickel
- Nickel reaction from rose gold?- https://www.reddit.com/r/NickelAllergy/comments/1e2b9xl/nickel_reaction_from_rose_gold/
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is the owner of Nikola Roza- Everything You Can Learn About Precious Metals. He writes for people who love precious metals and jewelry and who're interested in adding gold, silver platinum and palladium to their retirement portfolios. Nikola is passionate about gold IRAs and investing in multiple asset types for a safer financial future. He also runs a successful online jewelry store where you can buy precious metal jewelry and various replicas of famous coins and bars. Learn about Nikola here.
