There’s no worse feeling than gifting someone with a piece of jewelry only to find out it’s fake. Don’t fall for the okey-doke.
The next time you buy sterling silver jewelry, make sure it’s real.
Silver is a durable form of jewelry, especially when it’s taken care of. If kept up and cleaned frequently, it never loses its shine nor quality. This precious metal maintains its value and looks of luxury.
The best part is that authentic silver is something almost everyone can wear. Real sterling silver is absolutely hypoallergenic, making it ideal for people with sensitive skin.
How can you tell if sterling silver jewelry is legit? Here are some of the top considerations to keep in mind so that you know you’re getting your money’s worth.
Looking for Real Sterling Silver Jewelry? Check for the Quality Stamp
Sterling silver has a composition of 92.5% sterling silver and 7.5% nickel, copper, or zinc. For this reason, metal experts determine the standard fineness of sterling silver at 925.
That’s how you know it’s real. Look for the stamp .925 or 925. That means the piece you are holding is 92.5% pure silver.
Anything less than 92.5% loses its quality and color. If you buy a piece of sterling silver jewelry that fades months into wearing it, it’s fake. Inspect for the stamp and save yourself time, money, and frustration.
The Price Tag
Don’t buy into the lie that anything that isn’t gold is worthless. That’s far from the truth when it comes to sterling silver.
Real sterling silver doesn’t come cheap. If it does, it’s probably fake.
Authentic sterling silver is a precious metal because of its pure silver makeup. In 2020, the average cost per ounce for sterling silver is $24.36. A huge jump from last year’s closing price.
That’s because true sterling silver appreciates over time. If it’s too cheap, it’s too good to be sterling silver. Check with https://www.dreamlandjewelry.com/pages/sterling-silver-chains about getting real sterling pieces.
Test It
When some precious metals have overexposure to air, they oxidate. This is true for real sterling silver. 7.5% of sterling silver is copper, zinc, or nickel.
The pure silver in sterling may not react to room temperature, but copper, zinc, and nickel do. These three react to the natural sulfur and salt in the air, which makes silver rust. Some jewelers refer to this as corrosion.
That’s what makes silver look black and worthless, but true sterling stands up to the test. Check the realness of your silver by wiping it down.
Take a clean white cloth and thoroughly wipe down a piece of sterling silver. If black streaks or marks remain on the cloth, the sterling is pure. You can also ask the jeweler to perform a nitric acid test in front of you.
If the sterling silver piece changes color after experiencing drops of nitric acid, it’s fake.
Get the Real Thing
Real sterling silver jewelry has real value that makes a financial difference in your wallet. Think over these considerations before you make your next big purchase.
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