{"id":627,"date":"2023-02-07T19:15:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T19:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nj-silver.com\/?p=627"},"modified":"2023-02-04T19:35:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T19:35:47","slug":"make-sure-your-have-authentic-sterling-silver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nj-silver.com\/blog\/make-sure-your-have-authentic-sterling-silver\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Sure Your Have Authentic Sterling Silver"},"content":{"rendered":"
Buying jewelry can be an intimidating experience \u2014 especially for men and women who do not know how to spot quality. When it comes to sterling silver jewelry, there are a few key ways to tell if it is authentic sterling silver jewelry or not. Let\u2019s break down the tell-tale signs you should look out for when shopping for sterling silver jewelry.<\/span><\/p>\n
Hallmark or Stamped Markings<\/b><\/h2>\n
The hallmark of authentic sterling silver jewelry is that it will either have a hallmark stamp or a stamped marking on it. This hallmark marking will indicate whether or not the item is authentic silver and can usually be found in discreet places, such as on the inside of a ring or on the backside of a necklace pendant. The most common hallmarks include \u201c925\u201d (indicating 92.5 percent pure silver), \u201cSS\u201d (indicating sterling silver), and \u201csterling\u201d (also indicating sterling silver). If you cannot find any markings, this should raise some red flags to you about the authenticity of the piece.<\/span><\/p>\n
Magnet Test<\/b><\/h2>\n
Silver is not magnetic, so if your item sticks to a magnet when tested, then it is not made from authentic sterling silver. However, some pieces may contain small amounts of ferrous metals which will make them slightly magnetic, so if your item does stick slightly\u2014but only just\u2014it could still be made from real sterling silver that contains trace amounts of ferrous metals. In this case, you can use other tests outlined below to determine further authenticity. <\/span><\/p>\n
Color <\/b><\/h3>\n
Authentic sterling silver has a bright white sheen with hints of gray or yellowish tones depending on its finish and age. Fake pieces tend to have an overly bright white color with no gray or yellow tones due to their lower purity levels and lack of oxidation over time. To check this, take your piece out into natural light and see if you notice any subtle color variations; if they appear overly bright white, then they may not be authentic sterling silver pieces.<\/span><\/p>\n
Weight <\/b><\/h3>\n
Authentic sterling silver items are quite heavy due to their high purity levels; fake items tend to be much lighter in weight due to their lower purity levels. To test this out for yourself, try comparing similar items side by side; for instance, compare two rings that are both size 8s but one made from authentic Sterling Silver and one made from fake material; feel the difference in weight between them and make sure that yours weighs more than the fake one (which should also be noticeably lighter).<\/span><\/p>\n\n