Wednesday, January 29, 2014

How To Test If The Sterling Silver Jewelry You Have Is Real

How To Test If The Sterling Silver Jewelry You Have Is Real



By Eliza Mendoza





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.



In the market, you will find many ornaments made of 925 Ag. However, the ornament may be made of an overlaying layer of Ag. Such ornaments are considered to have been plated. This process does not qualify the ornaments to be genuine 925 Ag. This is because plated ornaments usually wear out thereby exposing the underlying metal which is of low quality. Due to the many Ag jewels available in the market, it is recommended that you should know different ways of identifying the real ones. Below here are some tips that can be used in identifying genuine items.



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 marking that you can identify on genuine 925 Ag products which are found on the underside or on the clasp. The markings to look out for include the following S925, 925 and . 925. These markings are a must find on genuine products since they are engraved when the metal is being crafted. A fake product will 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.



Another method that can be used is melting. One thing that you should look out for when melting 925 AG is smell. A genuine Ag metal will not develop any smell. If you notice either a brass or copper order, then this is a good indicator that the metal is not genuine. Another guiding factor is the cost. A real Ag ornament comes at a cost. You should think twice especially if your seller offers the ornament at a quite attractive price.



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.



You now have a reason to smile especially if you want to take the easy way out when searching for genuine sterling silver jewelry. This is because there are reputable sellers available both online and locally. The main advantage about dealing with reputable sellers is that they offer quality products. Thus, you are assured of real products. Going for these sellers will help in eliminating all the doubts as well as getting what your heart desires.









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How To Test If The Sterling Silver Jewelry You Have Is Real How To Test If The Sterling Silver Jewelry You Have Is Real



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How To Test If The Sterling Silver Jewelry You Have Is Real



Article Source: http://ift.tt/1b4stev

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