How Does Sterling Silver Differ From Silver Plate? Stainless Steel?

The categories are differentiated by minute features; in the internal makeup of each type of metal. Although the types of flatware may look very similar on the outside, they are in fact very different.

Sterling silver - To earn the 'sterling silver' stamp, the piece must contain a minimum of 925 parts fine silver per 1000, or 92.5 percent of pure silver (the rest is alloy). To increase durability and workability, generally, copper is added to the alloy.

Silver Plate - Otherwise known as "modern silver," silver plate has a majority composition of a base metal (usually zinc), and is coated with 100 percent silver through an electroplating process. The quality of silver plate is determined by the thickness of the silver coating. Although silver plate doesn't carry the same air as sterling silver, it lasts nearly as long and is an affordable alternative. Silver plate is dishwasher-safe.

Stainless Steel - At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, stainless steel won't tarnish, rust, chip or wear out. Composed of a mixture of steel, chromium, and nickel, stainless is both durable and popular for everyday use. Quality is measured by grades: 18/8 and 18/10, translating to 18 percent chromium and 8 or 10 percent nickel, respectively. The more nickel, the shinier the look of the flatware. Stainless is also dishwasher-safe.