Neither sterling silver nor stainless steel is better than the other. The reason we use both at Arias Design Co is that different people need different things from their jewellery, and neither metal wins outright. What matters are the qualities you're looking for.

We've always made all our earrings with stainless steel findings because we think they strike the right balance of durability, affordability and hypoallergenic properties and make a safe choice for those with sensitive ears. We've since added 925 sterling silver hooks and posts as an option on a number of our styles, because some people specifically want sterling silver, and there's plenty of good reasons why!

Here's a breakdown of what we think of both, so you can choose the right metal for your jewellery with confidence.

Stainless steel earrings

Stainless steel is what most of our earrings use. It was the obvious choice for the earrings we were making, because it's the most practical option for everyday wear, and we make jewellery to stand up to real life. 

• Won't tarnish over time, even with daily wear

• Resistant to water, humidity and general everyday contact

• Hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive ears

• Won't turn your skin green (that's a cheaper metal problem, not a stainless steel one)

• Very durable and holds up well long-term

• Clean silver finish, though not quite as bright as sterling silver

In my opinion the only thing that could be perceived as a downside is that they don't have the same high shine brightness that sterling silver has, but I don't really find it to be noticeable when you're wearing them - plus you can upgrade on all dangly styles and a good portion of the stud styles too.

If you want earrings you can put in on Monday and not really have to think about until Friday (apart from taking them out to sleep, shower etc), stainless steel is the ideal metal for your earrings.

Browse our stainless steel earrings  →

925 sterling silver earrings

925 sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. That combination gives it strength that pure silver (which is actually too soft for jewellery) doesn't have, while keeping the bright shine the metal is known for.

• right, high-shine finish that other metals don't quite match

• Hypoallergenic for most people

• The 925 hallmark is a recognised quality standard

• More expensive than stainless steel, reflected in the price of the earrings

• Can tarnish over time, particularly when exposed to air, humidity or perfume

• Easy to clean and bring back to full shine when needed

The tarnishing is the main practical consideration. Interestingly, sterling silver earrings you wear regularly actually tarnish less than ones sitting in a drawer. The friction of wearing them keeps them polished naturally. But if you tend to leave jewellery stored away for weeks at a time, they'll likely need a clean before you wear them. I've also learned the hard way that certain environments can have an effect on sterling silver jewellery - the first time I went to some of the hot springs towards Rotoroa my silver turned black from all the sulphur in the water!

Sterling silver is the more special-feeling option of the two. For gifting especially, the quality of that shine is a nice touch.

Browse our 925 sterling silver earrings  →  

A note on sensitive ears

This is probably the question we get asked most often, so it's worth its own section.

Both stainless steel and sterling silver are hypoallergenic, meaning they're safe for most people with sensitive skin or metal sensitivities. The most common cause of reactions to earrings is nickel, which is found in a lot of cheaper metals and low-quality plated jewellery. Both stainless steel and sterling silver contain little to no nickel, which is why they're the metals recommended for sensitive ears.

If your ears have given you trouble in the past with cheaper earrings, either of these should be a significant improvement. If you're prone to significant metal sensitivity, sterling silver is often the slightly safer choice purely because of the purity of the silver content.

And if your ears are freshly pierced, definitely lean toward sterling silver until they're fully healed.

Browse hypoallergenic earrings  →

Side by side

Which should you choose?

If you're buying for yourself and you want earrings that just work, stainless steel is a genuinely excellent choice. It's what the majority of our pieces use, because it suits everyday wear so well. Durable, hypoallergenic, tarnish-resistant, and beautiful.

If you're buying as a gift, or you want that brighter silver finish and you don't mind a bit of occasional upkeep, sterling silver is worth the step up. The shine of 925 silver is genuinely different, and when you're giving something to someone, that quality is felt.

Both options are available across most of our earring styles, including our stud earrings, huggies, hoops and dangle and drop earrings. If you're not sure which style suits you, browsing the full earrings collection and filtering by metal is the easiest way to compare.

And once you've chosen, take a look at our guide on how to look after your earrings — a bit of simple care goes a long way with both metals.

All our earrings are handmade in our Auckland studio. 20% of our annual proceeds go to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Whatever metal you choose, you're wearing something made with care.