Why We Use 925 Sterling Silver, Brass & Stainless Steel For Our Jewellery
Why We Use 925 Sterling Silver, Brass & Stainless Steel Jewellery
When it comes to choosing jewellery, the metal matters just as much as the design. At Radish & Pear, every piece starts with one question:
Which metal is the best choice for this design and for the person wearing it?
Rather than making everything from a single material, we carefully choose between 925 sterling silver, brass and stainless steel depending on the style, purpose and price point. This allows us to create jewellery that is beautiful, long-lasting, comfortable to wear and accessible for different budgets.
Here's why we've chosen these three metals.
925 Sterling Silver Jewellery
If you've shopped with us before, you'll know that 925 sterling silver is at the heart of our collections. It's a precious metal made from 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper), giving it the perfect balance of beauty and strength.
Pure silver (99.9%) is actually too soft for everyday jewellery. It bends, scratches and loses its shape easily. That's why jewellers around the world use sterling silver—it offers the luxurious appearance of silver while being much more durable.
Why we love sterling silver
Perfect for sensitive ears
One of the biggest reasons we've invested so heavily in sterling silver is because it's one of the best materials for people with sensitive ears and sensitive skin.
Many cheaper jewellery metals contain high levels of nickel, which is one of the most common causes of jewellery allergies. High-quality 925 sterling silver is naturally nickel-free in many regions or made to strict nickel safety standards, making it an excellent choice for everyday wear.
If you've ever experienced itchy ears, redness or irritation from fashion jewellery, sterling silver is often a much kinder alternative.
It's a precious metal
Unlike plated costume jewellery, sterling silver is considered a precious metal, alongside gold and platinum.
This means your jewellery has intrinsic material value and, with proper care, can last for decades. Many people even pass sterling silver jewellery down through generations.
It can be polished again and again
Sterling silver naturally develops a light tarnish over time. While some people worry about this, we actually see it as one of its biggest strengths.
Tarnish is simply a surface reaction with oxygen and sulphur in the air—it doesn't mean your jewellery is damaged.
With a polishing cloth or silver cleaner, sterling silver can be restored to a brilliant shine again and again, meaning your favourite pieces can continue looking beautiful for years.
A premium jewellery choice
Sterling silver has a beautiful bright white shine that complements every skin tone and pairs effortlessly with both casual and occasion wear.
It's also an incredibly versatile metal, allowing us to create delicate everyday earrings, statement necklaces, stacking rings and timeless bracelets.
Gold plating on 925 sterling silver
One of the wonderful things about 925 sterling silver is its versatility. It provides the perfect base for gold-plated jewellery, allowing you to enjoy the luxurious look of gold while still benefiting from the quality of a precious metal underneath.
Gold plating is a process where a layer of real gold is bonded to the surface of sterling silver using an electroplating technique. When gold is plated over sterling silver, it's often referred to as gold vermeil if it meets certain thickness and purity standards. Even when it isn't vermeil, gold-plated sterling silver remains a premium choice compared to gold-plated base metals.
Brass Jewellery
Brass sometimes gets overlooked, but we think it's one of the most underrated jewellery materials available.
Brass is an alloy primarily made from copper and zinc and has been used in jewellery making for centuries.
The biggest advantage?
It allows us to create bold, detailed and sculptural designs while keeping prices much more affordable.
Why we use brass
It allows for more affordable jewellery
Not everyone wants to spend precious-metal prices every time they buy a new accessory.
Using brass allows us to offer beautiful statement jewellery at a lower price point without compromising on creativity or design.
Fantastic for intricate designs
Brass is incredibly workable.
It can be cast into detailed shapes, polished beautifully and finished with high-quality gold or silver plating, making it ideal for unique jewellery designs.
Many of our more playful, artistic collections simply wouldn't be possible without brass.
Lightweight yet durable
Brass provides excellent structural strength while remaining comfortable enough for everyday jewellery.
This makes it perfect for larger earrings and statement pieces that still feel comfortable to wear.
Beautiful warm colour
Brass naturally has a rich golden tone, giving jewellery a luxurious appearance even before plating.
Stainless Steel Jewellery
Stainless steel has become one of the fastest-growing materials in modern jewellery, and it's easy to see why.
Originally developed for industrial applications because of its incredible durability, it's now widely loved for minimalist jewellery and everyday essentials.
Why we use stainless steel
Extremely durable
One of stainless steel's greatest strengths is its resistance to scratches, dents and everyday wear.
If you're someone who rarely removes your jewellery, stainless steel is an excellent choice.
Highly resistant to rust and corrosion
Unlike many other metals, stainless steel resists moisture, humidity and oxidation extremely well.
This makes it ideal for everyday lifestyles.
Excellent for everyday wear
Because it's so strong, stainless steel keeps its shape exceptionally well.
It's ideal for simple necklaces, chains, hoops and everyday jewellery designed to be worn repeatedly.
Modern appearance
Stainless steel has a sleek, contemporary finish that works beautifully with minimalist jewellery styles.
Why Don't We Make Everything in Stainless Steel?
This is a question we're asked quite often.
Although stainless steel is incredibly durable, it's also one of the hardest metals used in jewellery making.
That strength makes it much more difficult to cast into intricate or highly detailed shapes. Creating delicate organic designs, whimsical charms or sculptural earrings is significantly more challenging than it is with sterling silver or brass.
For a brand like Radish & Pear, where every design begins with creativity rather than mass production, limiting ourselves to stainless steel would mean sacrificing many of the playful details that make our jewellery unique.
By using different metals, we're able to choose the material that best suits each individual design.
Why We Don't Believe One Metal Is Better Than Another
You'll notice we don't claim one metal is "the best."
Instead, each serves a different purpose.
925 Sterling Silver
- Precious metal
- Excellent for sensitive ears
- Can last a lifetime with proper care
- Timeless and luxurious
- Perfect for heirloom-quality jewellery
Brass
- Allows for more affordable jewellery
- Great for bold, artistic and detailed designs
- Versatile and easy to shape
- Beautiful warm golden appearance
Stainless Steel
- Extremely durable
- Resistant to rust and everyday wear
- Excellent for simple everyday jewellery
- Modern, low-maintenance finish
Each material has its own strengths, and choosing the right one depends on the design, your lifestyle and your budget.
Jewellery Designed With Purpose
At Radish & Pear, we don't choose metals based on trends—we choose them because they're the best fit for each individual piece.
Whether you're investing in 925 sterling silver jewellery for sensitive ears, choosing an affordable brass statement piece or looking for durable stainless steel jewellery for everyday wear, every design is created with the same care and attention to detail.
We believe great jewellery isn't about using one material for everything.
It's about choosing the right metal for the right design, so you can wear pieces you truly love for years to come.
Loved writing this for you guys, I hope it was helpful!
Lots of love, Anna xxx