I can't count how many times I have bought jewelry that I was told was sterling silver only to find it was an alloy. If I can be fooled by a stamp and a visual, then anyone can.
There are several ways to identify sterling silver jewelry. The most important sign you have a piece of real silver jewelry is by the mark. But that too can be decieving. Too many cheap alloy knockoffs from China and other countries outside the USA are stamped 925. Many jewelry creators use a maker mark to identify their real sterling silver jewelry from the fakes. In many counties anyone can pick up a 925 stamp, but a makers mark is very rare to come by. Sometimes it seems impossible to find real sterling silver, so it is very important to find a reputable seller. Just like finding a good dentist or car mechanic many times word of mouth is the best reccomendation.
The second best way to identify is by smell. Silver usually has no smell, so when you can smell a tang of metal, you most likely have a silver colored alloy, which you can identify by its acidic sulfery smell.
You can also identify silver by its luster and shine, fake knockoffs have a dull, coarse look to them. Silver will tarnish if left out in the air or exposed to chemicals or oils. Rhodium plating protects the silver from tarnish.
You can identify real silver jewelry by the weight of the item. Silver jewelry can weigh from 1 gram to 150 grams. I have found that quality silver rings weigh about 3 grams, anything under 3 grams and you probably have a cheap knockoff.
You can identify silver with a needle. Find a hidden area on the piece of jewelry, scratch the surface of the jewelry, If there is no mark on the surface of the jewelry, this is copper. If there is a mark but light, it is silver jewelry.
You can also identify silver by the sound it makes if you drop it on the floor. Silver will sound beautiful and long, but copper has a short, sharp sound, and lead or tin sound muffled and short.
Or if you are like me and highly allergic to anything but real silver, you too can be your own silver tester. When I first started buying and selling jewelry I was suckered into buying real tibetian silver. The first time I touched the jewelry I could taste the acidic from the jewelry in my mouth, my lips went numb and swelled up, my hands started to itch, and my eyes swelled up. A couple of days later, a box of antihistimines, and my oatmeal lotion, I was just fine.
There are several ways to identify sterling silver jewelry. The most important sign you have a piece of real silver jewelry is by the mark. But that too can be decieving. Too many cheap alloy knockoffs from China and other countries outside the USA are stamped 925. Many jewelry creators use a maker mark to identify their real sterling silver jewelry from the fakes. In many counties anyone can pick up a 925 stamp, but a makers mark is very rare to come by. Sometimes it seems impossible to find real sterling silver, so it is very important to find a reputable seller. Just like finding a good dentist or car mechanic many times word of mouth is the best reccomendation.
The second best way to identify is by smell. Silver usually has no smell, so when you can smell a tang of metal, you most likely have a silver colored alloy, which you can identify by its acidic sulfery smell.
You can also identify silver by its luster and shine, fake knockoffs have a dull, coarse look to them. Silver will tarnish if left out in the air or exposed to chemicals or oils. Rhodium plating protects the silver from tarnish.
You can identify real silver jewelry by the weight of the item. Silver jewelry can weigh from 1 gram to 150 grams. I have found that quality silver rings weigh about 3 grams, anything under 3 grams and you probably have a cheap knockoff.
You can identify silver with a needle. Find a hidden area on the piece of jewelry, scratch the surface of the jewelry, If there is no mark on the surface of the jewelry, this is copper. If there is a mark but light, it is silver jewelry.
You can also identify silver by the sound it makes if you drop it on the floor. Silver will sound beautiful and long, but copper has a short, sharp sound, and lead or tin sound muffled and short.
Or if you are like me and highly allergic to anything but real silver, you too can be your own silver tester. When I first started buying and selling jewelry I was suckered into buying real tibetian silver. The first time I touched the jewelry I could taste the acidic from the jewelry in my mouth, my lips went numb and swelled up, my hands started to itch, and my eyes swelled up. A couple of days later, a box of antihistimines, and my oatmeal lotion, I was just fine.
