Is anodised zirconium or sterling silver harder wearing?

Anodised zirconium, at Mohs 8.5 against 2.75. Airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, so anything below that scratches from ordinary wear alone.

Sterling silver, at 10.5 g/cm³ against 6.5. That is 1.6 times the weight, which is very obvious on the hand rather than a technicality.

No. Sterling silver can be resized by any jeweller. Anodised zirconium cannot, so we replace it free for life instead.

Anodised zirconium, starting at £195 against £145. That is about 34% more before any stone or inlay.

Only Sterling silver. Anodised zirconium is not a precious metal, so no hallmark exists for it.

Comparison

Anodised zirconium or Sterling silver?

Anodised zirconium is meaningfully harder, so if your hands take a beating the choice is largely made for you.

	Anodised zirconium	Sterling silver
Surface hardness	Mohs 8.5	Mohs 2.75
Density	6.5 g/cm³	10.5 g/cm³
Resizable	Replaced free	Yes
Hallmarked	Not applicable	Yes
Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes
Price from	£195	£145

What the difference actually feels like

Sterling silver is 1.6 times the weight of anodised zirconium for the same ring. On paper that is a number; on the hand it is the difference between a ring you forget about and one you are aware of every time you move. Neither is better. It is worth knowing which you want before you spend anything.

Anodised zirconium sits at Mohs 8.5 against 2.75. Ordinary household dust carries quartz at Mohs 7, which is the line that matters: below it a ring collects fine scratches from nothing more than daily life. That is not a marginal difference between these two, it is the main one.

Sterling silver can be resized and anodised zirconium cannot. Fingers change over decades, so this matters more than it seems at the point of buying. Our answer either way is that we cover it: a resize on one, a free replacement on the other, for as long as you own the ring.

The straight answer

Choose anodised zirconium if anyone who wants colour that will not wear off, or if hands that react to nickel.

Choose sterling silver if a hallmarked precious ring on a small budget, or if pendants and earrings.

Still torn? The metal chooser asks six questions and picks one, and it will tell you if neither of these is right.

In both materials

Rings to look at

Multi toned

Anodised channel

A band of real colour, set between natural metal edges.

From £315 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 mm

Multi toned

Anodised bevels

Colour on the edges instead of down the middle.

From £330 6 / 7 / 8 mm

Truly unique

Faceted, anodised

Cut into facets, then coloured, so each plane catches differently.

From £355 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 mm

Common questions

Is anodised zirconium or sterling silver harder wearing?: Anodised zirconium, at Mohs 8.5 against 2.75. Airborne dust contains quartz at Mohs 7, so anything below that scratches from ordinary wear alone.
Which is heavier?: Sterling silver, at 10.5 g/cm³ against 6.5. That is 1.6 times the weight, which is very obvious on the hand rather than a technicality.
Can both be resized?: No. Sterling silver can be resized by any jeweller. Anodised zirconium cannot, so we replace it free for life instead.
Which costs more?: Anodised zirconium, starting at £195 against £145. That is about 34% more before any stone or inlay.
Are both hallmarked?: Only Sterling silver. Anodised zirconium is not a precious metal, so no hallmark exists for it.