Sterling silver is the standard for beautiful high-quality silver jewelry. It's over 90% pure silver, mixed with alloys to add strength and durability. And it won't wear down, as silver plating can. Sterling silver is the most popular concentration found in silvery items, and a marking of "925" can be visibly noted engraved onto either the backside or the inside of each piece. It is the most ideal percentage for having enough durability without loosing much of the natural bright sheen.