The quality and silver content of all silver jewelry must be indicated accurately. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has established a set of countermark and identification mark indicating silver contents in jewelry, which should be checked when buying them.
Only jewelry with sterling silver content equal to or exceeding 92.5% can be called silver jewelry. Sometimes, silver jewelry may also engraved with such figures as .925, 9·2.5 or 925, which are accurate identification marks that ensure your bought sterling silver containing authentic standard composition. In buying silver jewelry, you should check the jewelry maker’s trademark or inspection hallmark of jewelry traders in London proving the purity of gold or silver in the jewelry. Professional jewelry will explain about these hallmarks in more detail. The price of silver jewelry and gift made of silver is determined by the content of noble metal, structure design and silversmith’s workmanship. The buyer should exercise extra care to look over its hook to see whether it’s able to fasten firmly.
In buying silver necklace, you should spread it out to see whether the loops twist together or warp. In buying silver-plated accessory, you should check plating thickness and full coverage of silver plating. Generally, measurable purity of silver jewelry is divided into following types: 99 represents pure silver, although theoretically 100% purity is considered as pure silver, it’s hardly to obtain 100% purity. 99 silver is white in color and soft in texture, and jewelry made of 99 silver is apt to transformation and is impossible for gem setting.
98 represents fine silver, consisting of 98% silver and 2% cupronickel, which is marked 980S on the jewelry.
925 silver consists of 92.5% silver and 7.5% cupronickel, which is marked 925 on the jewelry. Most of silver jewelry is made of 925 silver. 925 silver jewelry after polishing shows gorgeous metallic luster and has certain toughness for gem setting and making medium-to-high-grade jewelry.
1. There are no relevant certificates, certificates for silver jewelry. Only silver jewelry that has been tested by the testing agency can be bought with confidence.
2. The silver content of silver jewelry must be accurately marked. Consumers should check whether there is “925” on the jewelry. “925” is the symbol of sterling silver.
3. Pay special attention to whether the fasteners can be fastened and secure when purchasing.
4. When buying silver chain jewelry, flatten it to see if the chain is knotted or bent.
5. The price of silver jewelry is determined by the content of precious metals, structural design and craftsmanship, so the most important criterion for choosing silver jewelry is to see if you like it.
Buying sterling silver jewelry, whether it’s a sterling silver pendant or a sterling silver necklace, is quite an investment that becomes more and more valuable as time passes by. Being duped into purchasing fake sterling silver is not a mistake that you can afford. Being able to identify the difference between fake sterling silver jewelry and, say real sterling silver earrings or a sterling silver necklace can save you a lot of heartache in the future.
It is definitely possible to find the best silver jewelry, whether you are browsing online or stopping by stores on your next vacation. When buying silver jewelry, make sure you scrutinize the pieces for hallmarks indicating fine silver and stay away from deceivingly inexpensive prices.
If you’ve purchased a piece of jewelry and want to check its authenticity, perform some simple physical tests. You can also consult an appraiser. In general, be cautious about purchasing jewelry online.
If you just aren’t sure about your jewelry, you can always get an appraisal. Take your jewelry piece to an appraiser for an expert consultation.
You may have to pay for an appraisal, so this is a good tip to follow if you are serious about the piece of jewelry you’ve purchased and want to ensure it is the best quality available.
Make sure you do find a strong magnet to test this out, however. Common household magnets may not be powerful enough to test the magnetism of your jewelry.
In addition to the magnet test, you can rub your silver piece with a clean white cloth. If black marks appear, then you can rest assured that you’ve made a good purchase. When exposed to air, real silver oxidizes and creates these black marks.