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

By Eliza Mendoza


The 925 Ag is a metal used to make various types of ornaments. Due to its soft nature, it is mixed with other metals like copper and nickel to make it strong and durable as well as improve its look. Therefore, for sterling silver jewelry to qualify to be real it should contain 92.5 percent pure Ag and only 7.5 percent non-Ag metals.

You can find ornaments that come with genuine layer of Ag overlying another metal. This is known as Ag plating, however, this cannot be measured as 925 Ag. This is because the plated metal is prone to wear and tear which with time reveals the underlying metal. The market provides lot of silver ornaments. The important thing is to know how to identify the genuine ones. Provided here are some useful tips in finding the real items.

The first tactic that can be used is using a magnet on the 925 Ag products. A magnet will be quite using in identifying what to go for. This is because real silver products cannot be attracted by a magnet. Products made of stainless steel are easily attracted by the magnet. Therefore, you should think twice if the product is attracted by a magnet.

There are some unique markings on 925 Ag jewels that will help in identifying the real ones. The marking that you should look for include 925, . 925 and S925. The markings are usually engraved when the metal is being crafted. You will know that your ornament is not genuine if it does not have the markings.

One can use a white soft clothing to rub the ornament. If you notice some black marks on the cloth then the ornament is real 925 Ag. This is because real 925 Ag has a characteristic of oxidizing when exposed to air. So it tarnishes with time and develops the black marks when being polished. If your ornament is platinum plated then this test may not apply.

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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