|
If you are in the market to buy sterling silver jewelry it is probably best that you know exactly what to look for so that you won’t get ripped off. Silver has made a huge comeback in the past few years. It is practically the staple of everyone’s jewelry box. With so many styles to choose from, it can be worn to nearly every occasion from a typical day at work to an elegant dinner party. Many people wear sterling silver earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and pins and with the increased interest in sterling silver there has also been an increase in the number of online and brick and mortar sellers. When first looking for sterling silver jewelry decide what you are interested in buying. Is it a simple silver chain or delicate silver earrings? Knowing what you are looking for will help narrow your choices. There are also a variety of ways it is used. Native American or Mexican sterling silver are a few of the styles that may fit your personality or interests. Next, it is important to go to a store you know you can trust with a proven track record for selling quality sterling silver jewelry . There are many reputable online sterling silver sellers who offer quality jewelry and a return policy if you are not completely satisfied. If going to a brick and mortar store, make sure it is one with a solid reputation for selling quality silver and not plated silver that could tarnish easily. Once you know what kind of jewelry you are interested in buying and where you plan to shop for your item, make sure you are familiar with finding quality pieces. Silver can be judged by the number of parts pure silver compared to other metals. Fine silver is considered to be pure silver and is almost never used for jewelry because it is too soft and will not hold its shape. More than likely the silver you buy will contain other metals such as copper with most sterling silver being 925 parts silver to 75 copper. Check inside your sterling silver item for stamps. According to the law sterling silver must be stamped ‘sterling’ or it may be engraved with the parts silver such as 925. If the item you are interested in does not have one of these two stamps it is probably not real or has not been authenticated. Taking a careful look to make sure your sterling silver jewelry is real will save you from making a poor investment. The price of sterling silver can also be estimated based on its size, if there are also nicks, scratches, or denting, and finally how quickly the item tarnishes. A great deal of quality silver tarnishes because of the added metals, but purer forms of sterling silver will not tarnish as easily. Finding your perfect piece of sterling silver jewelry does not have to be difficult. With so many choices on the market it is now possible to find the perfect style you are looking for and by taking simple precautions before making your purchase, you should be able to find the sterling silver you are looking for. |
