pure silver silverware

[OKinsley]

Ah, the noble quest for pure silver silverware! It sounds fantastically luxurious, but in reality, it's a bit like wanting a chocolate teapot—it looks great but wouldn't survive its first use. Pure silver is a notoriously soft metal, far too delicate to withstand the rigors of spearing a steak or clanking against your dinner plate. It would bend and scratch if you so much as looked at it sternly.

This is where the magic of sterling silver comes in, as the fancy folks at Christofle point out. What we call "silver silverware" is almost always sterling silver. According to their description, this is an alloy composed of at least 92.5% silver, which is why it's stamped with a "925" mark. The remaining 7.5% is typically copper, which acts as a trusty sidekick, giving the silver the strength and durability it needs to function as actual cutlery.

So, while your flatware isn't technically "pure," it's as pure as it can get while still being useful. You're getting the brilliant luster and quality of silver with the added superpower of not crumpling into a sad, shiny ball the moment you tackle a tough piece of bread. It’s not a compromise; it’s just smart metallurgy.