And don't be fooled—not just any grade of "silver" qualifies as a sterling silver ring. A manufacturer must meet stringent standards in order to call their product sterling silver. The term refers to the purity of the silver, which must be at least 92.5 percent, with another metal alloyed with the silver to give it strength and durability. Traditionally, the other metal has been copper, but in the modern age many other metals are being used. But no matter what metal is used, a sterling silver ring must meet the 925 standard.

Almost everyone is familiar with the plain sterling silver ring, and it remains a very popular choice for its simplicity and elegance. For those looking for something different, the sterling silver puzzle ring, with its intricate detail and interlocking bands, is an excellent choice. Originally known as a harem ring, these rings were designed for sheiks who wanted to keep their multiple wives honest. If the wife removed the ring to cheat on him, it would fall apart, revealing her sin. Sterling silver spinner rings are rings made from two bands, one inside the other. The slightly larger size of the outer ring allows them to spin freely on top of the inner ring. These are often casually referred to as "worry rings", because of the wearer's tendency to play with the sterling silver spinning bands.

For dazzling beauty, nothing compares to sterling silver cubic zirconia rings. Cubic zirconias are as beautiful and as brilliant as real diamonds, and only trained jewelers can tell them apart. But sterling silver CZ rings, while being just as dazzling as diamond rings, cost far less. Every year, more and more engagement and wedding rings are made from sterling silver and cubic zirconia.

There are sterling silver rings to suit all tastes and budgets. And not just for women—there are lots of ring choices for men, too. Men’s rings have a more masculine look, being wider and thicker, with many design styles sure to please any man. No matter what style ring you’re looking for in sterling silver, or whether a man’s or woman’s ring, you’ll be amazed at all the affordable choices available. The difficulty most people have is narrowing their choices to just one. Whichever one you choose, you can't go wrong, as long as it's genuine 925 sterling silver.