Shop Smart for Designer Silver Jewelry

This article is published in partnership with Mediabuzzer.

One of the best things about shopping online is when a website provides shoppers with many angled photographs of items. When it comes to jewelry, or how they say in the UK “jewellery”, it should be notably impressive. When you’re able to enlarge jewelry at the aforementioned angles, you will truly get a complete image of an item – and one that may be more detailed than one you get when you shop in person – even with your spectacles!

 

There are a number of Internet websites “out there” touting the quality of their jewelry, but they don’t have the cache or reputation of some of the finest designers. A little research will go a long way and we can help expedite the process, because you can definitely find stylish designer silver jewellery at Silver by Mail.

 

Top Tips for Spotting Quality Jewelry

1. Start by looking for the hallmarks or quality stamps or marks on jewelry in which you have an interest. For sterling silver, it will be marked with “9.25” or “925” or “sterling” or “sterling silver” or “ster” or “.925”
2. Sterling silver jewelry will have a lustre and shine.
3.  Sterling silver is the industry standard and is manufactured with more than 90% silver.
4. The nose knows! It may sound weird, but smell your silver – it shouldn’t smell! If it does, there’s too much copper in it.
5. Magnetic draw! Real sterling silver (as well as gold or platinum) will not have any reaction or be drawn to a magnet. If the item you’re interested in is attracted to the magnet, then it’s not real sterling silver.
6. If the silver jewelry piece you are considering doesn’t have the aforementioned stamp, then be wary. Be very wary.
7. In addition to the high-quality ‘”sterling silver,” you may find items labelled as “silver plated,” or “coated with silver.”
8. Jewelry items labelled “vermeil” have a sterling silver base and are plated with at least 100 millionths of an inch of karat gold. Items with this quality can be referred to as “vermeil.”
9. Quality jewelry is made well with quality items.
10. This means, find one for quality construction.
11. Make note of fasteners and clasps.
12. Catches and clasps should open easily, but when opened are very secure.
13. If you are buying brooches or pins or earrings, those items will have earring posts and pinbacks, and you shouldn’t be able to see any marks.
14. Chains shouldn’t have any links with kinks or bends.
15. Details and designs of the item are important and add value. This means if you have a heavy piece of silver with intricate etchings or cuttings, it will be very high-quality.
16. If you’re buying “in person,” don’t be afraid to bring a loop to examine jewelry closely for scratches, as it magnifies flaws.
17. Factors that complete a quality silver item include how long it took to create and craft the piece, the skill of the maker and complicated the design.
18. Remember that some unscrupulous sellers (because to call them designers or craftsman would be inaccurate) may try to sell you other metals masquerading as sterling silver.
19. Real sterling silver should be stored in individual bags.
20. Your jeweler should suggest ways to keep and clean your silver so it will last a lifetime.
21. If you have enough pieces to merit it, store your quality silver in a drawer with tarnish resistant strips.
22. Real sterling silver which has become tarnished can be restored to its original lustre with the application of pastes, polishes or treated cloths designed for silver.

 

Follow these tips and you’re on your way to getting quality silver jewelry. With these tips, you’ll surely get something that’s worth every cent of your money.

Xo