Knowing Quality Silver Jewelry

When you are shopping for silver jewelry, how do you know you’re buying the finest quality silver? It’s easy to find a good-looking piece of jewelry, but is it quality that comes with the price tag? There are many sellers of silver jewelry, so it can be tough to assess if you are purchasing authentic products. A premium quality piece of silver jewelry is more than just jewelry but made of the finest grade sterling silver. Here are some of the indicators of good quality silver jewelry, so you will be a confident savvy shopper.

Sterling silver is a valuable precious metal, and it is going to reflect in the price of the product.Start by checking out the current market prices for sterling silver and comparison shop for prices. Silver grade and pricing can be a good indicator if the silver is authentic or high quality.

 Look for the silver grade specifications or hallmarks.  Discretely marked on the jewelry will be a small stamp that has a number.  This defines the percentage of silver inside of the jewelry. Fine .999 Silver is the closest metal to the pure element silver. Pure silver is very malleable, meaning it is very soft and easy to bend and is not often used in jewelry. Sterling .925 Silver is the jewelry quality standard in the United States and most world markets. High-quality silver jewelry will have a small percentage of alloy, 7.5% in Sterling Silver .925 for greater durability.  The best jewelry still has a small element of other metals such as copper to strengthen the jewelry.

Simple tests can be performed to find out the authenticity of silver, as well. Using a magnet, not just a refrigerator magnet which is weakly magnetized will help determine this. Real silver is not a magnetic metal and will not react such as nickel or other commonly used metals. In addition, you can rub your silver piece with a clean cloth. If black marks appear, then you have real silver. When exposed to air, real silver oxidizes and creates black marks.