Silver Collection

Silver and pearl complement each other more than almost any other pairing in jewellery. The cool, clear tone of silver brings out the cream and white in a pearl's surface, and together they give you something plain without being empty.

In the Ecru Atelier silver collection, natural freshwater pearls are set in 925 sterling silver. The collection includes necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings and matched sets.

What Does 925 Sterling Silver Mean?

The 925 refers to purity. 92.5% of the piece by weight is silver, and the remaining 7.5% is other metals added for strength.

That ratio isn't arbitrary. Pure silver is so soft on its own that it can't hold a stone in place and dents in normal wear. Adding a small proportion of another metal makes silver both durable and workable, which is why 925 became the international standard for jewellery.

You'll find the 925 stamp inside a piece or near the clasp. It's the mark that tells you what you're holding is genuinely sterling silver.

Silver Pearl Necklaces

The silver pearl necklaces in the collection range from single-pearl pendants to designs with pearls set along the chain.

The thing most often overlooked is length. Between 40 and 45 cm sits at the base of the neck and works with shirts, blouses and closed necklines. From 50 cm up the necklace falls below the collar, which suits V-necks and open necklines better.

One advantage of a silver chain is that it doesn't shift the pearl's colour. Gold plating brings a warm undertone with it, while silver stays neutral, so whatever colour the pearl actually is, that's what you see.

Silver Pearl Earrings

The silver earrings come as studs, hoops and drops.

Silver matters more in earrings than anywhere else, because earrings are the only jewellery in constant contact with a piercing. That turns metal choice from a cosmetic preference into a comfort question. Sterling silver is the option least likely to cause problems for sensitive ears.

Our pearl studs run from 3.5 to 9 millimetres. Smaller sizes suit everyday wear and larger ones suit occasions, while drops are usually chosen for evenings.

Silver Pearl Bracelets and Rings

Silver has a practical edge in bracelets. The wrist takes more friction than anywhere else during a normal day: keyboards, bag straps, desk edges. Plated pieces wear through faster there. Silver has no plating layer to wear off, so it only dulls over time, and polishing brings it back.

The same logic applies to rings, with one addition: a silver ring can be resized by a jeweller if the fit is wrong. Plated pieces usually can't be.

Silver or Gold Plated?

Three things settle it.

Colour. Silver is cool and neutral, gold plating is warm. Matching whatever is already in your jewellery box makes everything easier to wear together.

Lifespan. Silver tarnishes but polishes back, so in principle it lasts indefinitely. Plating thins over time and eventually needs redoing.

Skin. If there's any metal allergy, silver, without hesitating.

Why Silver Tarnishes

Tarnish comes from silver reacting with sulphur in the air. It isn't a fault, it's what silver does, and it's reversible.

A few simple habits slow it down. Keep pieces away from perfume, hairspray and sea water. Put jewellery on last when you're getting ready and take it off first. Store it in a closed box rather than leaving it out.

Tarnished silver cleans up with a soft cloth or a silver polishing cloth. With pearl pieces there's one thing to watch: keep polishing liquids off the pearl itself. Pearl has a porous surface and chemicals damage it.

For more on looking after silver, see our guide on how to polish silver and for what the 925 mark means, our article on What Is 925 Sterling Silver covers it.