Simple Style: Best Silver Chains

Silver Chain Buyer's Guide

As you can probably tell, you don’t have to spend a fortune to be able to afford a simple - yet perpetually trendy - silver chain in this day and age. However, taste is ultimately subjective and you may want to venture further in search of the perfect piece of jewelry. To help make your search easier, we have compiled a list of essential things to consider before rushing into any purchase.

Keep these factors in mind while making your decision and you’ll come away with a quality chain every time, no matter how much or how little it costs.

Things to consider before buying a silver chain

Type of silver

Silver jewelry can take many shapes and comes in many forms. If you don’t know what you are looking for, you can easily come away with a metal chain that doesn’t have a single ounce of silver at all.

Sterling silver necklaces are the highest quality chains available. Unfortunately, pure silver is much too soft to make jewelry, which is why most jewelers use sterling. This material is 92% pure silver combined with a metal alloy. To find out whether a chain is made from sterling silver, simply look for the stamp. There should be .925 marking somewhere on the item.

You can also find silver-plated necklaces. These are made by layering sterling silver on top of another cheaper metal. As you might expect, these types of chains are usually more affordable while still achieving a similar look of sterling silver. The cheapest silver-style chains are silver-tone necklaces, these are usually made from metals such as nickel but don’t actually contain any silver. Of course, this doesn’t bode well for people with sensitive skin. More on that in a moment.

Skin issues

You may not have thought to give your skin much consideration when purchasing a piece of jewelry. You have to remember that this chain will be resting on the skin whenever it is being worn. As such, you may want to buy a hypoallergenic necklace that does not contain any nickel. Cheap metals like nickel can cause irritation. Most cases are relatively minor, but it is not unheard of for people to end up in the emergency room because of a bad reaction to a piece of jewelry.

It is better to be safe than sorry, especially if you have a history of sensitive skin issues already.

Durability

We’ve all had some experience with a piece of jewelry breaking within a few weeks of purchase. While this is always going to be an issue if you are buying very thin necklaces, there are ways to limit the odds of your new chain snapping in half as soon as you try to put it on.

Sterling silver is the most durable of the silver-style chain varieties. It is an incredibly hardy metal alloy that can last years if cared for correctly. Superficial damage and surface scratches can usually be polished away.

If you do need to make repairs, you’ll find that most jewelers charge a relatively small amount. It isn’t difficult to restore sterling silver to its former glory.

Jewelry brand

Obviously, you are going to want to do some research into silver chain brands before you make your purchase. There are so many brands to choose from, many of which produce quality necklaces. However, you need to keep in mind that the more popular brands, the more expensive the jewelry is likely to be.

Silver chains or white gold chains?

To the untrained eye, sterling silver and white gold look very similar. If you didn’t know any better, you’d have trouble figuring out which is which. They are both alloy and have a similar shine and polish. However, there are a number of different properties which make them inherently different metals.

One of the biggest differences between the two is the value. White gold is much more expensive than silver, though not as expensive as platinum or gold, while silver is the cheapest.

You’ll also find that white gold is a lot easier to look after than its silver counterpart. This is mainly due to the fact that white gold never tarnishes or oxidizes. White gold is a lot easier to clean and never really loses its luster. That being said, the rhodium plating applied to white gold jewelry has a tendency to wear thin. Eventually, you’ll have to take white gold jewelry to a professional for reapplication.

You’ll also find that white gold is much more durable than silver.

Silver chain price range

The average price of silver is much less than other precious metals. However, you can still expect quite a large price range. Typically, most silver chains are going to cost you between $30-$100. However, as our guide proves, you can find silver chains for as little as $10. On the other end of the scale, some silver chains are sold for as much as $500, especially if they come with a stone or crystal.

How we choose our silver chains

There are a number of factors we had to consider before including any of these silver chains in our best list. We aim to provide trustworthy and on-trend suggestions that’ll benefit the average consumer.

We consider things like the type of steel used to make the chain, the variety of widths and lengths available for any given product, the reliability of the brand, how easy it is to break the chain, the overall price, and customer reviews.

Silver Chain FAQ

Q: Is sterling silver valuable?

A: Compared to other precious metals such as gold, platinum, and palladium, silver is relatively inexpensive and usually much more affordable. This is due to the fact that silver is more easily mined compared to its counterparts.

That being said, silver can still dazzle when used tastefully in the construction of a necklace. Beauty and elegance don’t have to cost a lot.

Q: Why does silver tarnish easily?

A: The most annoying thing about silver jewelry is its tendency to lose the attractive shine and eventually turn black. Some of the cheaper silver chains are resistant to tarnishing, but the same cannot be said about sterling silver. These types of jewelry start to fade because the metals in the alloy (usually copper) react with the sulfur and water in the air.

However, this isn’t the only thing that causes the discoloration. Makeup, perfume, and detergent can also have an adverse effect on silver chains.