Silver jewellery epitomises the timeless elegance, whether you buy it for yourself or for your loved ones. This is something that stays with you for a lifetime. Even if you want to exchange or sell the jewellery piece ahead of time, you must ensure that you bought the real silver piece. That’s why confirming the authenticity of your silver jewellery is so important. If you have recently purchased a piece or are planning to buy one, we have covered various methods to identify the real 925 sterling silver jewellery.
Silver has many distinct properties, because of which you can perform various tests to identify its genuineness. Scroll down to know different test methods, but before you do so, understand what 925 sterling silver jewellery actually is and why you must test it.
What is 925 Sterling Silver Jewellery?
925 Sterling silver jewellery is silver jewellery in which some portion could be another metal, such as nickel, copper, etc. It is done to provide strength to silver jewellery because pure silver is very soft. Adding a little of another metal makes the jewellery stronger and easier to wear, while still keeping it mostly silver; 92.5% of it is real silver.
Why Do You Need to Identify Pure Silver Jewellery?
1. Authenticity
Real sterling silver jewellery is long-lasting because they don't tarnish easily. The fake one may start oxidizing in a few months, but the real one is of good quality.
2. Prevent Allergic Reactions
Sterling silver jewellery is hypoallergenic in nature. You can wear them daily, as they usually do not cause allergic reactions.
3. Identify Real Values
It is important to identify real silver jewellery because the market is flooded with imitations. To avoid being deceived by fake sellers, you need to be extra cautious.
How to Identify Pure 925 Sterling Silver jewellery
Check for Hallmarks
Hallmark is the indication of purity, quality, and authenticity. It simply acts as an official stamp of real sterling silver jewellery. If you buy hallmarked jewellery, it is also easy to exchange or resell it because it is a mark of trust in the market.
'925' in silver sterling jewellery means it is real silver sterling jewellery. It means there is 92.5% silver present in the jewellery, and the rest could be other metals that are added to provide strength.
How to Check the Purity of Sterling Silver jewellery
1. Careful Visual Inspection
Sometimes, a careful inspection reveals numerous flaws in a piece. In particular, you can check for hallmarks, scratches, tarnishing, or black spots. Silver metals do tarnish over time, but the stain can be removed easily by washing or simply wiping.
2. Magnet Test
Bring the magnet close to your sterling silver jewellery, and check whether it sticks. If it does, your jewellery is fake.
3. Chemical test
Go for a chemical test when you want to be finally sure that the jewellery piece is fake, otherwise your jewellery may get ruined. Genuine silver reacts with nitric acid, and the color changes as per the silver's purity. The detailed information about the color change depends on the chemical testing kit. You can also try dropping bleach on silver; it will tarnish or blacken right away.
4. Icecube test
Silver has the highest thermal conductivity, which is why this test can also work well. Simply place ice cubes on sterling silver; if the silver is real, the ice will begin to melt immediately. This test works well on coins and bars; however, it is difficult with silver jewellery.
5. Sound Test
Real silver produces a melodious bell-ringing sound. This works great for silver coins, rings, or round pendants; however, for jewellery, it could be difficult to identify the right sound. Simply drop the coin, ring, or pendant on the table and observe the sound. If it sounds like a ringing bell, silver is pure; else it is not.
Key Takeaway
When you're investing in sterling silver jewellery, make sure you're getting the right deal. There are plenty of imitations out there, so to avoid falling for fake pieces, try one or a combination of simple tests to check if the jewellery is genuine. Being able to spot real silver not only saves your money but also ensures you're getting something that's long-lasting, safe for your skin, and actually worth it. Once you understand what 925 sterling silver really means and how hallmarks work, you'll find it much easier to tell if a piece is real, sometimes just by looking at it closely.
If you’re looking for authentic, BIS-hallmarked 925 sterling silver jewellery, House of Diana is one of the most trusted online destinations. Every piece is crafted with precision, purity, and elegance—combining timeless designs with certified quality. With transparent pricing and guaranteed authenticity, House of Diana ensures you always shop silver jewellery you can truly trust.
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