How To Test If The Sterling Silver Jewelry You Have Is Real

By Eliza Mendoza


The metal used in making of different ornaments is known as 925 Ag. The metals strength and durability is improved by mixing with metals such as nickel and copper. The other metals also aid in improving its appearance. In order to know whether sterling silver jewelry is real, it should have 7.5% non silver metals and 92.5% pure silver metals. The metals percentage proportion is a good indicator to know if the jewel is real.

In the market, you will find many ornaments made of 925 Ag. However, the ornament may be made of an overlaying layer of Ag. Such ornaments are considered to have been plated. This process does not qualify the ornaments to be genuine 925 Ag. This is because plated ornaments usually wear out thereby exposing the underlying metal which is of low quality. Due to the many Ag jewels available in the market, it is recommended that you should know different ways of identifying the real ones. Below here are some tips that can be used in identifying genuine items.

A magnet is a sure method to use when identifying the authenticity of 925 Ag ornaments. Basic rules state that Ag is not attracted by magnet. For instance, you will know that an ornament is not genuine if it is attracted by a magnet. It is possible that the ornament is made using stainless steel which is easily attracted by magnet.

Generally a 925 Ag ornament will be marked with . 925, S925 or just 925 on the clasp or even on the underside of the ornament. This is an identification mark engraved during the crafting process of the metal. If your ornament does not bear any of these marks then it is not genuine Ag.

It is recommended that you should use a soft cloth for rubbing the ornament in order to look for the black markings. If you find the markings, then the ornament is original. When 925 Ag is exposed to the air it oxidizes thus, changing the color. The test will not apply for those ornaments that have being plated using platinum.

Melting your ornament is another tactic that can be used in the identification process. When melting, you should pay attention to the smell. Here, the smell is used in identifying genuine products. This is because only fake products will produce a certain smell especially those made from brass or copper. Cost is another factor that will be useful. This is because genuine products are quite expensive while compared to fake ones. When purchasing ornaments that come at a cheap price, you should be extra careful since the cost could be a good indicator that they are not real.

When testing the ornament, nitric acid can come in hardy. An ornament that has been made using poor Ag quality or is plated will turn green. This is an indicator that there is high content of copper in the ornament. When nitric acid is applied on a genuine item, it will turn creamy. You should handle the chemical with utmost care since it is highly toxic.

You now have a reason to smile especially if you want to take the easy way out when searching for genuine sterling silver jewelry. This is because there are reputable sellers available both online and locally. The main advantage about dealing with reputable sellers is that they offer quality products. Thus, you are assured of real products. Going for these sellers will help in eliminating all the doubts as well as getting what your heart desires.




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