I am often asked what the difference is between a “regular” silver ring and sterling silver rings. In most cases, there is no difference and the majority of silver jewelry is actually sterling silver jewelry, whether the seller knows it or not. There are, however, several differences in the quality of some silver jewelry that are important to keep in mind, and some rings and other “silver” jewelry actually don't contain any real silver. Here are some tips to consider when purchasing silver rings and jewelry to insure you're really getting what you pay for.
First, be wary of “silver” jewelry that is dark in color or doesn't look like other silver jewelry you've seen. There are shady characters out there who will sell you “silver” rings when they don't contain any silver at all. More often than not, the sellers get away with this underhanded practice because the color of the ring is technically silver – but they won't tell you that's the only thing silver about the ring. Unless the ring is stamped or has the brilliant white shine of a nice piece of silver jewelry, insist that the seller verify whether or not the ring contains any real silver.
US $15.78
Next, be wary of “silver alloy” jewelry. This is not the same as normal silver rings and definitely won't be sterling silver (otherwise they would advertise it as such). Most of the time, silver alloys used in rings and other jewelry will contain very little silver at all. The most common reason for this is to take advantage of unknowing buyers who are fooled into thinking the silver ring is more valuable than it really is.
Another thing to know is that “silver plated” jewelry is not the same as sterling silver jewelry. “Silver Plated” means just that – that the ring or necklace contains an outer plating of silver – and who knows what's underneath. With advances in technology and an electroplating process, the silver plating on some jewelry is so thin that it can be scratched off to reveal the metal underneath. Since silver is a very affordable precious metal for jewelry, most “silver alloys” and “silver plated” jewelry should be avoided in favor of sterling silver.
Also understand that sterling silver is not pure silver – which is a good thing in this case. Sterling silver actually contains 92.5% silver, with more durable (but less valuable) metals mixed in. The reason for this is that pure silver is too soft to make lasting and durable jewelry, so the extra metals actually help in creating a more functional ring or necklace that's both timeless and beautiful.
So there you have it, while most silver rings and jewelry are in fact sterling silver, that's not always the case. The good news is that once you've seen a beautiful piece of sterling silver first hand, the unique appearance of this brilliantly white metal is such that it'll make identifying other pieces of silver jewelry (and spotting fakes) that much easier.
