Where to buy affordable, everyday silver jewelry that you can sleep and shower in

Here are a dozen places where you can buy quality silver jewelry. Our favorite is Mejuri for its low-maintenance, high-shine pieces in trendy designs.

My stubborn sister will only wear silver jewelry, so I'm keen to which jewelry brands offer simple, on-trend pieces that suit her narrow taste. She also has sensitive skin (even a microscopic amount of nickel will inflame her ear lobes), so I'm also careful to choose sterling silver over anything made of "rhodium on brass."

What's the difference between silver and sterling silver? Pure silver (often labeled as .999 silver) may look all bright and shiny, but because it's soft, it's not actually very good for jewelry. It's easier scratch, bend or break.

Sterling silver is at least 92.5% pure silver, plus 7.5% of another metal (usually copper). This addition reinforces its durability, but can also cause it to oxidize and grow dull. Luckily, it's easy to clean and restore tarnished silver.

Silver jewelry has caught the eye of magpies everywhere for centuries, heralded for its lightweight, durability, and subtle sparkle. Today there are an innumerable amount of places to buy silver jewelry online, so I've narrowed down my favorite jewelry brands. Below you can find your next pair of comfortable everyday hoops, or a statement pendant to pass down for generations.

Our top 12 favorite brands for silver jewelry:

Best overall:Mejuri
The Mejuri motto is "fine jewelry for every day," and the brand's transparent pricing makes that goal feel way more attainable.

Best budget:Quince
Although the designs and selection are limited, it's worth noting that the DTC brand offers quality silver pieces for as low as $50.

Best statement pieces: Jenny Bird
For lightweight pieces that catch the light just right, Jenny Bird has bold earrings and collar necklaces to brighten your décolletage.

Best for gifting: Oak and Luna
With the option to customize your pieces, Oak and Luna makes it possible to create a personal memento.

Best trendy:Catbird
Always on the cusp of what's next — and with a wide assortment of silver jewelry — Catbird has something for everyone.

Best for bold textures and designs:Missoma
Purveyor of demi-fine jewelry, Missoma is known for its collection of contemporary statement pieces.

Best for pendants:GLDN
Whether buying a special treat for yourself or searching for the perfect gift, consider GLDN's delicate, customized jewelry.

Best for making an ethical impact:SOKO
As a "people first" ethical jewelry brand, SOKO prides itself on using business as a force of good.

Best for a splash of color:Kendra Scott
You'll not want for color when perusing the Kendra Scott jewelry collection. From dichroic glass to turquoise to amethyst, you've got your choice from the whole spectrum.

Best for raw gemstones:Ringcrush
An independent jewelry company based in Atlanta, Ringcrush offers a wide range of stackable rings, earrings, and necklaces made with raw gemstones.

Best for elevated essentials:Argento Vivo
Argento Vivo seamlessly combines effortlessness with upgraded style. The result is low-key luxury that'll turn heads but won't break the bank.

Best for affordable luxury:Linjer
Linjer has figured out how to sell high-quality luxury jewelry with price tags that won't cause you to stagger.

Best overall: Mejuri

The author wearing silver Mejuri jewelry.

Founded in Toronto by a jewelry trifecta — a third-generation jeweler, a former art director, and an engineer — Mejuri prides itself on transparent pricing and high quality. The brand's lineup of minimalist fine jewelry isn't meant to be squirreled away for a big occasion, either. Rather, they endorse the concept of wearing fine jewelry every single day. New pieces drop every Monday, so if nothing catches your eye this week, there's always the next.

Read our full review of Mejuri.

What to buy:

Best budget: Quince

The author wearing silver Quince earrings.

Quince has a limited selection of silver jewelry, but it starts at $50 a piece. Its direct-to-consumer model allows it to sell solid gold, sterling silver, and diamond jewelry for less because they source straight from manufacturers, effectively cutting out the middleman.

For our Quince review, associate style editor Gabrielle Chase chose to try a customer favorite to get an idea of the quality.

"Even though these are really subtle and quite small, the Silver Threader Drop Earrings are a best-seller from Quince's jewelry collection. I gather it's because the style is so easy to put on and forget about — they're extremely lightweight, and made with 925 sterling silver so they won't irritate your skin if you have a nickel allergy," she says.

She also tried on one of its lab-grown diamond rings, which you can read about in our full Quince Diamond Engagement Ring review. Quince also has men's jewelry like chains and rings.

What to buy:

Best statement pieces: Jenny Bird

Jenny Bird silver jewelry

"Whenever I'm at a press event in Manhattan, there are always at least a few stylish women in slicked back buns with some large, shiny Jenny Bird studs bobbling at their ears. I've tested some of its Mega U-Link earrings that were too heavy on me, so instead I tried the Small Colette Hoops and they were just the right weight. Their abstract, gnarled fish hook shape makes them a standout, but they're also very wearable.

Jenny Bird also has bold, artsy necklaces that light up your décolletage. I wear my Sundra Collar when I want to dress up a plain black turtleneck, and it always earns me compliments." — Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor, Insider Reviews

What to buy:

Best for gifting: Oak and Luna

"Almost every piece on Oak and Luna's site is completely customizable, with tons of nameplate necklaces, initial pendants, and more. There's even some jewelry that's meant to be a tribute to you and your partner, like this Initial Lock Necklace," writes style editor Samantha Crozier. Plus, the delivery is surprisingly quick, so you can plan your gift to arrive in good time.

You can add onto Oak and Luna's silver jewelry with its extensive array of charms. They make great collectibles if you want to start a tradition: a new charm for every milestone.

What to buy:

Best trendy: Catbird

catbird ring

Based in Brooklyn, New York, it makes perfect sense that Catbird has become synonymous with plucking up-and-coming jewelry designers from a crowd and letting them dazzle a bigger audience. All pieces are brought to life in its Brooklyn studio utilizing ethically sourced materials — including conflict-free diamonds — and 1% of all sales is donated to nonprofits such as Citizens Climate Lobby, Centers for Reproductive Rights, and the ACLU. Though first a store-front in New York, you can now shop the full range of Catbird jewelry online. Pieces run the gamut from sparkling engagement rings to dainty anklets.

What to buy:

Best for bold textures and designs: Missoma

missoma lucy williams silver square snake chain necklace

There's a fine line between deliciously bold and overtly gaudy, and Missoma has managed to toe said line exquisitely well. For example, the Claw Collection puts a twist on an otherwise traditional silhouette, and the Twisted Collection is rich with bold textures. The pieces are also meant to layer and stack with each other — they even have pendants that clip on to other pieces — so keep adding until you find the balance that speaks to your style. If you're unsure of where to start, Missoma has conveniently written up numerous guides.

What to buy:

Best for pendants: GLDN

gldn silver

Eager to create the perfect personalized gift, Chrissy Lavdovsky set up a little shop out of her own kitchen and started plugging away. Her business blossomed on Etsy, and nearly 20 years later she has assembled a 100+ team of passionate artisans. To this day, GLDN still specializes in personalized jewelry, including initial necklace pendants, inscribed cuffs, and delicate rings with your choice of lettering. GLDN's symbol pendants are beautiful as well — have your pick from florals, hand gestures, faces, and more.

What to buy:

Best for making an ethical impact: SOKO

soko silver earring

The SOKO motto is "style driven by a greater social purpose" and it fuels everything the brand does, from sourcing materials to handcrafting pieces to delivering its products. The company works with female artisans in Nairobi, Kenya, allowing them to not only bring their modern designs to life, but also connecting them with the global market. This culminates in both beautiful jewelry and a sense of dignity and purpose for artisans. All materials are sourced ethically.

What to buy:

Most colorful: Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott silver jewelry

Austin, Texas-based entrepreneur Kendra Scott started her eponymous jewelry line in 2002 with $500 in her pocket. The affordable line has since boomed into a $1 billion-dollar venture and her jewelry is sold in major retailers across the world. Her goal then was the same as it is now: to craft beautiful, high-quality gemstone pieces at approachable price points. Scott's signature design is a bold gemstone — such as rose quartz, amethyst, or obsidian — wrapped in gold- or rhodium-plated metal. Most pieces are customizable, and customers can even play with the "Color Bar" tool to design their own pieces.

What to buy:

Best for elevated essentials: Argento Vivo

argento vivo silver

Founded in the mid-'90s and still going strong, Argento Vivo has mastered the formula for understated elegance. The brand sells a wide range of jewelry styles, ranging from signet rings to dainty pendants to petite studs. For those who prefer personalized options, there's no shortage there, either. Argento Vivo periodically collaborates with other brands — recent examples include Smith & Cult and Kelsey Simone — and new designs are dropped every Friday.

What to buy:

Best for raw gemstones: Ringcrush

ringcrush

If you're seeking silver jewelry that's a bit rougher around the edges — quite literally — Ringcrush is a great place to start. The Etsy seller has quickly become a beloved purveyor of all things raw gemstones, selling everything from statement earrings to dainty necklaces to stackable rings. Each item is handcrafted by one of the brand's eight artisans, and customers can choose their preferred metal (including sterling silver) and then their preferred raw stone. A raw gemstone is usually rougher in texture versus smooth and polished, and often has a natural, abstract shape. Common stones offered include opal, citrine, diamond, amethyst, and turquoise among others. Because the stone is less processed, it's often less expensive.

What to buy:

Best for affordable luxury: Linjer

linjer silver

Stuck between unsustainable fast fashion and ultra-expensive luxury, Linjer set out to find a middle ground. Today, the brand prides itself on high-quality products sold at a third to a quarter of the cost you'd expect. Linjer keeps prices down in several ways, including selling exclusively online versus paying for the overhead of a brick-and-mortar storefront. They also utilize recycled silver. In addition to women's jewelry, Linjer sells watches and handbags. The brand also sells men's watches and leather goods.

What to buy:

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