The metal used in making of different ornaments is known as 925 Ag. The metals strength and durability is improved by mixing with metals such as nickel and copper. The other metals also aid in improving its appearance. In order to know whether sterling silver jewelry is real, it should have 7.5% non silver metals and 92.5% pure silver metals. The metals percentage proportion is a good indicator to know if the jewel is real.
There are times when you will find an ornament which has an overlay of genuine Ag on top of another metal. This is usually referred to as Ag plating and is not considered as 925 Ag because the plated type is prone to wearing out after using it for some time which reveals the underneath metal of a less quality. There are a lot of Ag ornaments available in the market today but it is good to know how to identify the real ones. Below are tips on how to go about it.
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.
To avoid all the hassle of trying to identify the sterling silver jewelry you have, you can instead buy from a seller who has a good reputation. Reputable sellers will offer you good quality products with the same cost or sometimes lower than other sellers. This way you will not worry if the ornament you have is the real 925 Ag without even testing it.
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