Tips For Recognizing Sterling Silver 925 And Other Precious Metal Jewelry

By Scott Fisher


A great way to dress up a simple outfit is with a piece of metallic jewelry. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a dramatic piece that everyone notices. You can find necklaces and bracelets at outlets and big box stores that will work but are not fine jewelry. When you decide to invest in quality jewelry, like sterling silver 925 however, you want to make sure you are getting something authentic.

Those who are new to investing in good jewelry may not be aware of the easiest way to identify an authentic piece. With sterling silver, you need to look for the hallmark 925, . 925, or 92.5. This designation is American. It means that the piece you are looking at is ninety-two and a half percent silver with seven and a half percent another metal, such as copper.

Another way to determine the quality of a piece is to look for the word plated. When you see this on the description or price tag, you should not expect to pay very much for it, if you choose to purchase it at all. Plated means that the piece has a covering of a precious metal instead of actually being made of it. It has been produced using something cheaper like nickel or copper.

You can check the overall quality of any piece in a variety of ways. You can examine the clasp to see how secure it is. The clasp should not be difficult to open. Chains need to be free of kinks and bends in the metal. When you are looking at new jewelry, it should be shiny, not tarnished. Used or vintage pieces are often tarnished. This is not a reason to avoid them or presume they are inferior pieces.

Most experts suggest buyers avoid departments sales, or at least be aware that they often substantially mark up their merchandise. This may be why they are able to offer frequent and deep discounts on the items they sell. Independent jewelers don't mark up their jewelry as much, but they also don't offer much in the way of sales.

You can often find great pieces in second hand stores, antique shops, and flea markets. You won't be looking a new jewelry in most cases, but the vintage pieces are often more interesting and intricate than modern jewelry. If you see someone wearing a piece you really admire, you shouldn't be shy about asking where the person found it.

You can find anything online, but you have to be smart about what you purchase, especially if you are looking at expensive metallic pieces. You have to depend on the photos and descriptions, which can be deceptive. The seller should be willing to discuss the pieces you are interested in and have a reasonable return policy.

There is nothing wrong with buying cheap, trendy jewelry. If you are going to purchase the real thing however, you need to know what to look for. It's easy to end up spending a lot of money on an imitation.




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