925 Sterling Silver Jewellery: Why It's the Kindest Choice for Sensitive Skin

If you've ever taken off a pair of earrings at the end of the day and found your ears red, itchy, or sore, you're not alone — and it's probably not you, it's the metal. Here in Townsville, where jewellery has to survive humidity, sunscreen, and salt air, choosing the right metal matters even more. That's why everything we make at Ariuna Silver starts with genuine 925 sterling silver.

What does 925 actually mean?

Pure silver is beautiful but too soft to hold its shape in everyday jewellery. Sterling silver solves this: it's 92.5% pure silver, alloyed with a small amount of other metals (usually copper) for strength. That's where the little "925" stamp comes from — it's a promise of purity you can check on the piece itself.

That 92.5% purity is what separates sterling silver from cheap "silver-toned" fashion jewellery, which is usually a base metal like brass or nickel with a thin silvery coating that wears off within weeks.

Why sterling silver is kinder to sensitive skin

The most common culprit behind itchy, irritated skin under jewellery is nickel — one of the most widespread contact allergens in the world. Quality 925 sterling silver contains no added nickel, which is why so many people who "can't wear jewellery" discover they can wear sterling silver perfectly comfortably.

If your skin flares up with fashion jewellery, switching to genuine sterling silver is often all it takes. It's a hypoallergenic-friendly choice you can wear all day, every day — earrings especially, since freshly pierced or sensitive ears react fastest to poor-quality metals.

Does sterling silver tarnish?

Yes — and it's completely natural. Silver reacts with sulphur in the air, skin oils, humidity, and products like perfume and sunscreen, gradually developing a darker film called tarnish. In the tropics, that process can happen a little faster. Tarnish isn't damage and it isn't a sign of poor quality; it's simply chemistry, and it's reversible with a gentle polish.

How rhodium plating keeps our silver brighter for longer

Here's the part we're proud of: our sterling silver jewellery is finished with a layer of rhodium, a precious metal from the platinum family. Rhodium doesn't tarnish, and it's harder than silver, so this finish does two jobs at once — it helps protect the piece from tarnishing and from everyday scratches, while giving it that bright, white, mirror-like shine.

It means less polishing for you, and a piece that keeps looking new through daily wear, even in our North Queensland climate.

Simple care tips

Even with a rhodium finish, a little love goes a long way: put jewellery on after sunscreen and perfume, rinse off salt water after a beach day, and store pieces in a dry pouch or box. That's it.

Find your everyday silver

From our Stud Pearl Dangle Earrings to the Palm Tree Malachite Necklace and the Opal Pendant Necklace, every piece is genuine 925 sterling silver, designed for real life in the tropics. Browse the full collection online at ariuna.com.au or come say hello at our kiosk at Willows Shopping Centre, Townsville.