What is recycled sterling silver and is it good quality?

Short answer: yes. Sterling silver is a genuine precious metal standard (92.5% pure silver) and recycled sterling silver is exactly the same quality as newly mined silver - it's simply been reclaimed and refined rather than freshly dug out of the ground.

What 'sterling silver' actually means.

Sterling silver is an alloy containing 92.5% silver by weight, with the remaining 7.5% usually copper, added to give the metal strength (pure silver on its own is too soft for everyday jewellery). This is a genuine, regulated standard - often marked 925 - not a marketing term, and it's the same standard used by fine jewellers everywhere. We never work with plated metals, so there's no risk of a coating wearing away over time.

What makes it 'recycled'?

Recycled sterling silver is silver that's already been in circulation - collected from industry, then refined and melted down to remove impurities before being rolled back out into sheet or wire, ready to be made into something new. Some of what we use is even recycled in-house, from our own studio offcuts. Once refined, recycled silver is chemically identical to newly mined silver - there's no difference in quality, durability, or how it wears.

Why it matters?

Choosing recycled silver means one less piece of newly mined metal entering the world, without any compromise on quality. For jewellery that's meant to be worn every day, for years, that feels like the right trade-off to us.

Caring for it

Sterling silver will naturally tarnish over time with exposure to air and moisture - that's normal, not a fault. Keep it looking its best by putting jewellery on last (after perfume and hairspray) and taking it off first, and give it the occasional polish with a soft cloth. We include one complimentary with orders over £50.