What You Need To Know In Order To Identify Real Sterling Silver Jewelry

By Eliza Mendoza


925 Ag has proven to be quite a useful metal as it is used in developing various ornaments. The metal is quite soft thus, it requires some reinforcement. Metals such as copper and nickel are used for reinforcement which aids in making it durable as well as strong. This means that for sterling silver jewelry to be genuine, it should be comprised of a percentage of 92.5 silver and 7.5 % non silver metals.

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.

The one easy test to help in identifying the real 925 Ag ornament is by use of a magnet. Ag is not attracted to magnet. If you put the ornament close to the magnet and the magnet attracts it, then you should know that the ornament you have is fake. It could most likely be made from stainless steel.

There are some marking that you can identify on genuine 925 Ag products which are found on the underside or on the clasp. The markings to look out for include the following S925, 925 and . 925. These markings are a must find on genuine products since they are engraved when the metal is being crafted. A fake product will not have the markings.

It is important to know that genuine 925 Ag ornaments have black marks. In order to identify the black marks, rub the ornament using a soft piece of cloth. A good feature about 925 Ag products is that they are easily oxidized. This means that with time, the metal usually tarnishes. During the polishing process, the ornaments usually develop black marks. The test is not applicable to those ornaments that are platinum plated.

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.

Chemical test using nitric acid can be used in the identification process. Poor quality Ag alloys or those which are Ag plated will turn green upon nitric application. Turning green indicates high presence of copper. However, for those which are genuine they will turn cream. When handling this chemical, you should be careful since it is corrosive.

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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