In jewelry manufacturing, silver is an often choice of jewelers. Silver with its excellent shiny grey luster is neutral and so can go along with any outfit. Silver is less costly than gold and also more available. For these reasons and more, many jewel manufacturers go for silver. Although, plain silver in jewelry making is not tough enough to be worked on.
So, it has to be alloyed with metals such as copper, zinc, and even gold. Alloys of silver, among others, are Britannia silver and Sterling Silver which are widely used in jewelry manufacturing. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
What Is Real 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry And How To Identify It
What Is Sterling Silver?
This article is about sterling silver A.K.A 925, as in it, is an alloy of pure silver at 92.5% and with the remaining 7.5% going to copper. Everyone wants sterling silver jewelry because they are tougher than durable than most silver alloys to wear and tear. Much of the silver accessories in the market are made from sterling silver.
If you are a manufacturer, a wholesaler, retailer, or a customer who wants to know more about 925, how to tell it apart from fakes that you are likely to spot in the market, read on. This article is definitely for you. Sit tight, and let us give you tips on how to identify genuine 925 sterling silver from dubious look alike.
It Is Not Pure Silver Just Because It Looks like sterling silver.
In the market, one of the reasons sterling silvers is not so easily recognized is because of the presence of other “silver” materials with a strong resemblance to them. In the jewelry market, some pieces could be sufficient silver to indicate that they look like silver. But then, they aren’t. To the inexperienced eye, there may be no difference. Alloys like nickel silver, German silver, alpaca, and panting can be mistaken for sterling silver and are often used as alternatives to sterling silver. Make sure you confirm the name of the silver piece you are buying. Make sure it is sterling silver 925. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
Is It stamped 925?
Sterling Silver is a controlled material as such; most of it in the market comes hallmarked with 925, a reference to the percentage of silver content (92.5%) 925 is the standard percent of sterling silver in the United States America and in many countries. Just because a piece is called sterling doesn’t make it so.
Pieces bearing lower purity quality may be addressed as so. A stamp of 800(As in 80%) or 900(As in 90%) means it contains less silver than 925 sterling silver. These could be European silver or coin silver. All sterling silver pieces should bear the 925 stamps. If you don’t see the stamp on it, ask the jeweler for the certificate authenticating it to be sterling silver. That way, you don’t buy other related silver alloys or plain silver. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
Rub A Soft Cloth Over It: The Streak Test
Another way to check if what you have is legit Sterling Silver is to rub a soft white cloth over it. Check the cloth after this is done. Are there black streaks across it? If yes, then it is sterling silver. True sterling silver oxidizes in contact with oxygen releasing black flecks. As sterling silver is prone to tarnishing, this would show that it is legitimate. In fact, you should be worried if you don’t see any signs of tarnishing.
This will show if the piece has any content of pure silver at all. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
What Sound Does It Make?
To ensure what you are holding is indeed sterling silver, you can listen to the sound it makes when tapped. Mind you tap it gently; that way, you don’t damage the piece. If it is genuine Sterling silver, the sound you hear should be high-pitched, ringing like a bell. You can’t miss such a clue. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
THE TEST OF PRICE: THE PRICE SAYS IT ALL
The one giveaway of the authenticity of a piece of jewelry is price. If you are looking for sterling silver, be careful about unrealistically low prices. You may think you’re getting a good deal, but you might be getting a fake. Sterling silver is not so cheaply bought, at least the real ones. You are better off buying from a jeweler that you trust. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
The Magnetic Test
Another sure way to know if a piece is legitimately sterling silver is to use magnets. Sterling Silver is an alloy of silver and copper, and none is a magnetic metal. If what you are about to buy sticks to the magnet (You should carry one of those around when you want to buy jewelry), it is not 925 sterling silver. This test works for gold and marcasite too. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
The ScenT Test: What Does It Smell Like?
This might be weird. But it is a legit way to find out if a piece is authentic Sterling Silver. Original sterling silver accessories don’t smell at all. Put your nose to it and find out. If it smells like wires or keys, it could be an indication of the strong presence of some other alloy, probably copper. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
The Test of Nitric Acid
If you don’t see a stamp on a piece, there is a slight chance that it might still be genuine. So to clear your doubts, you can use the nitric test! A jeweler may use a drop of nitric acid to determine the authenticity of a piece. If the piece is really sterling silver jewelry, then it should have no impact on it. However, if it is a piece of silver-plated jewelry, now that is another story. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
One drop of the acid causes fakes and silver-plated metals to take on a green coloration and to bubble. If ever in doubt, propose a nitric acid test to the jeweler. If he or she is honest about the quality of their product, they should agree readily enough. Especially if they are established, dealers. If you are carrying out this test yourself and at home, wear goggles and gloves to keep safe. 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry
