5 Tips for Choosing Sterling Silver Jewelry

04 Apr 5 Tips for Choosing Sterling Silver Jewelry

Timeless, sophisticated, elegant. Sterling silver is a favorite choice by many across the globe! With a stylish look and durable quality, it’s no surprise that sterling silver is one of the most popular types of jewelry on the market.

Before you purchase sterling silver jewelry, it is essential to know what to look for to choose the best piece possible. With so much to consider, the process can start to feel overwhelming. That’s why we want to give you some tips for choosing the best piece of jewelry for your collection.

Here are our top five tips for choosing your sterling silver jewelry.

The ‘925’ Stamp

When purchasing sterling silver jewelry, authenticity should be crucial to your decision. Real silver has specific indications that distinguish it from fake items.

Authentic sterling silver will have a ‘925’ indication on it. Always look for this mark while shopping for your jewelry piece.

You can find this engraving indicated in various ways on the selected piece. Here are some examples:

• 925
• .925
• 92.5
• 92.5%
• 925/1000
• Sterling

The ‘925’ means that the sterling silver is 92.5% pure or contains at least 92.5% silver. This only applies to American jewelry, as other countries use different markings to indicate the item’s purity.

When sampling jewelry, you should also look for the term ‘plated.’ This term indicates that the jewelry is fake and its coating will eventually fade in time.

Verify that the sterling silver is identified with one of the engravings mentioned above to ensure you purchase the best piece of jewelry!

Does it pass the tests?

Aside from verifying the engraving on a piece of sterling silver jewelry, you can also do multiple tests to verify the quality and authenticity of the piece.

The tests we suggest you conduct on your jewelry are:

• Magnet Test
• Clean Cloth Test
• Color Test

Each test has its own technique to help you identify if your sterling silver jewelry piece is authentic.

The magnet test is the most straightforward test to perform. All you need is a magnet to see if the piece of jewelry is magnetic or not. If your jewelry is attracted to the magnet, then you know it is not real silver because silver is a non-magnetic metal. For best results with this test, use a high-quality magnet.

The clean cloth test is another great way to identify the quality of your sterling silver. Take a clean white cloth and rub the silver piece of jewelry with it. If you find any black marks on the cloth, then you know the silver is the quality you are looking for because real silver oxidizes and tarnishes when exposed to air.

With the color test, you simply check for any color differences in your jewelry. If you can see a color difference, the jewelry is most likely not silver.

Performing any of these tests is an excellent way to verify your sterling silver jewelry is actual silver.

Research Prices

Did you know that silver is considered a precious metal, and the price can vary from day to day?

Due to this factor, the price of sterling silver may vary based on the jewelry seller. Just like any purchase, it is best to shop around and compare prices from various outlets.

Knowing the average cost range and the current value of silver will help you identify if the price point is relative. If you see a shockingly low price, that does not always mean you are getting a great deal! It could be that the silver is not authentic, or it is very low quality.

Talk to the Experts

Talking to an expert jeweler is a great way to learn which piece of jewelry best fits your needs.

Some questions to consider asking are:

• What is the silver grade specification of the piece?
• What pricing methods does your store use?
• Are there any discounts available?

An expert jeweler should be able to answer all of your questions to help you make the best decision.

Be Cautious when Shopping Online

Many people have shopped online, and some even prefer this method. Even the jewelry industry is seeing an increase in the popularity of online purchasing.

Though this method of shopping may be more convenient, we suggest taking caution when attempting to purchase sterling silver jewelry online. We highly recommend making your jewelry purchases in a physical store. If you choose to buy online, verify the jewelry outlet by reading online reviews and ensuring they have a physical location as well.

As an authorized retailer of AnnaBella Jewelry, Medart Gallery is proud to offer an elegant jewelry collection that is sure to amaze you. Our jewelry is designed with quality craftsmanship and whimsical sophistication by a jeweler and local Maryland artist.

Contact us today to set up a time to find your favorite jewelry in person!