Tips on Purchasing Silver Jewelry

October 15th, 2009 | Author : Louise Kingston | Posted in Fashion & Beauty

Silver is probably one of the most liked materials for jewelry. This could be due to the fact that it’s the so-called middle ground between cheap and classy. It is not so flamboyant as gold, and yet it’s not so shabby as bronze. There’s something nice about silver that makes it a great choice of material for jewelry that people can wear everyday. However, when buying silver jewelry, you must have a bit of know-how about its qualities. This is so you do not get tricked about the quality of the jewelry you will buy.

Stamp of Authenticity

According to the law, silver will have to be marked with either 925 or “sterling”. Basically, this says that the piece of jewelry you are buying is comprised of 92.5% silver, the other name for which is “sterling silver”. If you’re purchasing a necklace, then you must examine the clasp for this stamp. The same rule holds for pieces of jewelry with silver chains. If you’re purchasing a ring or a bracelet, search for the stamp on the interior of the piece of jewelry.

The Nitric Test

Since there are so many cheap fakes that have flooded the market, then you must be careful that you don’t get duped. A vigilant move would be to require a nitric test before you purchase the piece of silver jewelry.

You can simply do this yourself. But to be safe, let your local jeweler do the test for you. Basically, certain parts of the piece are scrubbed vigorously. Then a few droplets of nitric acid are dropped on the area. To be safe, pick an area that is inconspicuous. If the liquid turns green, then it is fake and is only silver plated. If the acid turns gray, then it is authentic.

Purchase only from a Reputable Seller

To be completely safe, however, just purchase your silver jewelry from a trustworthy source. Forget about sales. Jewelry, true and valuable, are bound to be expensive. Don’t fall for the shady deals where people who come to you randomly have what they say is an exceptionally valuable piece that is on sale and affordable only for a short period of time. Just buy from a reputable source and save yourself the effort of finding out if you are getting your cash’s worth.

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