Silver jewelry is the go-to choose for everyone buying jewelry. It comes at a good price and the shine is unmatched. But when something sounds too good to be true, a problem is usually associated with it. In this case, some sellers have brought in fake silver jewelry. While many come clean about it a few do not and try to scam their customers. To avoid getting scammed, you need to know if your sterling jewelry is fake or real.

Apart from the swindling, there are different types of silvers. Knowing which one to buy is crucial. In this blog, we will be looking into the different types of silver and how to identify if your sterling silver jewelry is real or not.

Types of Silver Jewelry, Which One is Authentic

When you enter the market to buy silver jewelry just know that it is never 100% silver. Although pure silver exists it is still 99.9% silver and 0.1% of some other metal. Pure silver cannot be utilized in making jewelry because of its softness. To make silver catch a shape jeweler mixed it with 7.5% of either copper or zinc. This type of silver is known as sterling silver and it is considered the best for making jewelry.

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Silver-Plated Jewelry

Some people might get confused with the name but let us clarify. Silver-plated jewelry is not made of silver at all. It is usually made up of a brass or copper base and showered with a coat of sterling silver. Since it is all painted the color tarnishes and flakes come off over time. This makes silver-plated jewelry a fake and unreliable option to opt for.

Tibetan Silver Jewelry

This one is another false alarm. Tibetan silver jewelry is not made of silver nor is it from Tibet. This is artificial jewelry usually made with low-quality metals like tin or nickel. Originated from Asia this type of jewelry features mythical creatures and spiritual symbols. Unlike sterling silver Tibetan silver has a brushed off matte look to it.

German Silver Jewelry

Mostly referred to as nickel silver jewelry, this type also does not contain silver. The pieces of German silver are made from a mixture of nickel, copper, and zinc. These are all low-quality metals not recommended to be worn. In case you are allergic to any one of these metals make sure to avoid this type of jewelry.

How To Test Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

Now that you are aware of all the silver counterparts how do you make sure your jewelry is not fake? This raises concerns about all the jewelry that you have at your place. To find out if your jewelry is bogus or not here are a few simple steps you can conduct at your place. While you are going all Sherlock Holmes on your silver jewelry we recommend that you use more than one method. As results are not 100% right at times extra precautions should be taken.

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Marks and Numbers

The easiest way to confirm if your silver jewelry is sterling or not is to look for marks or numbers. Usually labeled with a “925” under the clasp this means that it contains 92.5% silver making it authentic sterling jewelry. This is the easiest way but not to be depended on. As some individuals use fake marks make sure to run some other tests.

Magnet Test

The magnet test is an accurate way of finding out if your silver jewelry is sterling or not. A unique property of silver is that it is not magnetic. For this test get yourself a strong magnet from your local hardware store. Bring the magnet close to the piece of jewelry you want to test. If your jewelry is attracted to the magnet it is not sterling silver. Make sure to not bring the magnet near the clasp but the body of the jewelry.

Cloth Test

Real sterling silver tarnishes with time and that's a fact. To check your jewelry rub it with a cloth preferably white. If the cloth turns black it means that your jewelry is tarnishing and is the real deal.

Ice Cube Test

Believe it or not, this works. Silver is a great conductor of heat, one of the best perhaps. Place your silver jewelry on an ice cube and if it melts fairly quicker at room temperature then congrats your sterling silver is real.

Smell and Weight test

These are based more on your senses. Real sterling silver is odorless so if you smell that dingy metallic smell from your jewelry then it is a fake. For the weight test use your hands or a scale to compare two pieces. Make sure the piece you are comparing with is real sterling silver and of the same size.

In Conclusion

Individuals have paid real sterling silver prices for fake pieces and that is concerning. For that reason, these tricks should be known and practiced when buying or after buying jewelry. If you worry that these tests are giving you mixed signals you can always go to a jeweler and ask them. To avoid being tricked into buying fake sterling silver jewelry buy from authentic sources in the first place. On that note, test your silver jewelry and keep on shining in style.