Must Know Shopping Tips For Sterling Silver Jewelry

By Sarita Haines

Jewelry shopping, whether for a special occasion such as a wedding, or a small gift for a friend, can be a dazzling and exciting process. But the options may seem overwhelming and it's easy to be swayed by beautiful colors and patterns, making it more difficult to select just the right piece. Keeping these tips in mind when looking at sterling silver jewelry will give you confidence that you're making a smart decision. When you know what to look for, you'll be sure to purchase a stunning, high-quality piece.
1. Know your source. When buying any jewelry, it's always best to stick with known, reputable sources who guarantee their products. Using reliable jewelry merchants also has other advantages. Their salespeople are typically more knowledgeable about craftsmanship, trends and styles and can help guide you through the many choices. They are also helpful in providing tips for jewelry cleaning and storage.
2. Know your materials. While pure silver is relatively soft and used in intricately designed pieces, sterling silver is its alloy that is best suited for jewelry. In sterling, a small amount of copper is added which affects the metal's hardness, but not its color or shine.
3. Know your marks. Look for a quality mark on jewelry that identifies the material. Most often, you'll see the very small words "sterling silver" or ".925" stamped on the inside of the piece. .925 refers to the percentage of silver in the sterling, in this case, 92.5%. These marks are carried by law and are the best indicators that your jewelry is authentic.
4. Look for tipoffs. Particularly when looking at vintage jewelry, it may be difficult to tell if a piece is truly sterling silver. One thing to look for is wear or flaking, indicating that some of the shiny surface of the piece has come off. This could reveal that you're looking at something "plated," which is far less desirable than a pure, solid piece.
Now that you know these principles, you can focus on the most exciting parts of jewelry shopping -- the shapes, sizes and styles of beautifully radiant sterling silver.
For more sterling silver jewelry shopping tips, visit CZ Sterling Silver Shopper.
Learn about wedding and engagement jewelry.
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