What Is Real 925 Sterling Silver?

Silver is a noble metal because it is resistant to corrosion and oxidation in ways that other elements are not. Hence it is a popular metal for making jewelry, decorative home décor items, utensils amongst many other things since the dawn of the ancient civilizations. But pure silver is soft and malleable. Therefore it is difficult to make anything out of pure silver, alone. Pure silver is 99% silver and 1% other components. Genuine sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, and the rest of the metal percentage is mostly copper. The mixing of copper makes the silver durable and easy to mould it into any design imaginable. And, if you take proper care of your sterling silver jewelry pieces, it can last you a lifetime. So if you have your eyes set on a magnificent piece of sterling silver jewelry, splurge on it, and be assured that it will be the same even after decades.

Detecting a fake one from a genuine 925 Sterling Silver

Firstly, look for an imprint of 925, .925 or 92.5 on the clasp or behind the jewelry piece. Any jewelry without any marking may indicate otherwise.

Secondly, take a white cloth and rub it against the piece of jewelry. If you see black marks, then you have the real deal. And, if you see that the cloth is clean, the chances are that it is not genuine 925 Sterling Silver.

Thirdly, try the magnets test. Magnets do not affect real sterling silver. If you see that the magnet is greatly attracted to the piece of sterling silver jewelry you intend to buy, it is safe to walk away. Because again the chance is that that is a fake piece. You can perform this same test when purchasing gold jewelry also.