Why Sterling Silver Costs What It Does — and Why It’s Worth It
Let’s talk about sterling silver—and why it costs what it does.
This is something I get asked a lot, whether it’s in my DMs, at my booth, or just chatting with someone new.
“Why is sterling silver jewelry so expensive?”
A totally fair question. In a world where you can grab a “silver” necklace for $20 at just about any chain store, it might feel confusing to see a handcrafted cuff priced at a few hundred dollars.
So let’s break it down, piece by piece.
💰 The Spot Price vs. What I Actually Pay
If you Google “sterling silver price,” you’ll probably see something like $28 per ounce (that’s the spot price as of today). That’s the price of pure silver as a traded commodity—basically what silver is worth if you were buying and selling it like gold or oil.
But that’s not what I pay.
I buy sterling silver in ready-to-use forms—mostly sheet and wire. This silver has already been alloyed, rolled, milled, and prepped for jewelers like me to work with. It’s clean, consistent, and ready to be cut, soldered, stamped, textured, engraved… all the things.
That means my cost is much higher than the spot price—usually around $40 to $60 per ounce, depending on thickness, shape, and market demand. And that’s just the cost of silver before I even touch it with a tool.
🛠️ You’re Paying for More Than Just Metal
When you purchase a handmade piece from me, you’re not just buying silver—you’re investing in craftsmanship, time, tools, and skill.
Each piece starts out flat and blank. From there, it’s:
- Hand-cut and formed using traditional silversmithing techniques
- Soldered and shaped to fit stones or create form
- Textured, stamped, engraved, filed, sanded, and polished—usually in multiple stages
- And finally oxidized or finished to bring out every detail
There’s no factory. No assembly line. Just me, some fire, a saw, a few hammers, and years of practice.
That $600 cuff? It didn’t come out of a mold. It came out of hours of slow work, layered steps, and careful attention.
💎Sterling Silver Is An Investment
Sterling isn’t just beautiful—it’s valuable. It holds intrinsic worth and lasts a lifetime (or more) if cared for. It doesn’t chip, flake, or wear out. It can be repaired, reshaped, polished, and even handed down to the next generation.
When you buy real sterling silver, you’re choosing something that doesn’t just look good now—it holds up for the long haul.
That piece might be worn every day, then tucked away and passed on to someone you love. That’s the kind of value you can’t get from plated fast fashion.
🌵 A Final Thought
In a world full of cheap, throwaway goods… choosing sterling silver is choosing intention.
It’s saying yes to quality, artistry, and something that was made just for you.
So when someone asks, “Why does that cost more than what I saw online?”—you’ll know.
You’re not just buying metal.
You’re buying time. Skill. Story.
You’re investing in something that lasts.
Thanks for supporting my work, and for choosing handmade.
– Carlee 🤍
Want to see how it’s all made?
Follow along @carlee_stutz_custom_silver for behind-the-scenes silversmithing, process videos, and new pieces as they come to life
