6 Must-Know Tips for Buying the Very Best Silver Jewelry

Must-Know Tips for Buying the Very Best Silver Jewelry

With so many options available, it can be tough to know if you're buying the best silver jewelry. Discover the top tips for ensuring you find the best quality.

Keyword(s): best silver jewelry

Looking for a way to purchase your silver jewelry with confidence?

Silver jewelry is exquisite, but it can be difficult finding the highest quality pieces. There are hundreds of local and online sellers of silver jewelry, so it can be tough to assess whether or not you are purchasing authentic products.

Luckily, it is definitely possible to make sure you are choosing the best silver jewelry crafted by real artisans and designed to last you a lifetime.

Read on to learn about our top tips for ensuring you are getting the real deal when it comes to your silver purchase.

1. Inspect the Price of the Best Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is a valuable precious metal, and this is going to be reflected in the price of the product. One of the ways that you can make sure you're getting the best silver jewelry out there is to do a simple comparison of prices.

Start by checking out the current market price for sterling silver. This will at the very least give you a baseline to work from when assessing the prices of the jewelry you want to buy.

If this doesn't help too much, take a look at the asking price for the piece(s) you have in mind. Shockingly cheap prices may be a good indication that the silver is not high quality, or even fake.

Be wary of massive discounts as well, or blowout sales that sell bulk sterling silver pieces.

If you are purchasing products from a local store, ask about the pricing methods the store uses to sell their pieces. Also, ask about refund or exchange options, and never make a purchase without the option of a full refund or return.

2. Talk to the Seller

It depends on where you are purchasing your silver jewelry, but if you can talk to a seller or representative, definitely do so.

Talking to a real person on the phone or at a store will enable you to ask certain questions about pricing, hallmarks, and silver sourcing. You'll be able to get the answers you need, especially if you come prepared.

Also, if the store you have found has a physical location in the U.S., this is a good sign. Physical locations mean less likelihood of a scam and a higher likelihood of getting the best silver jewelry.

3. Look for Silver-Grade Specifications or Hallmarks

Real silver jewelry will have certain markings that distinguish it as the real deal.

These hallmarks will be located in a discrete place on your jewelry and will be incredibly tiny. You'll likely need a magnifying glass and strong lighting in order to check for them.

If you've already purchased your silver, this is a great way to physically inspect the product and tell if you've got true silver on your hands. Sterling silver will say STERLING or .925. 

Both of these markings will indicate good quality silver jewelry.

If you see EPNS, however, you may have a subpar jewelry piece on your hands. EPNS stands for "electro plated nickel silver." This is not real silver but rather a nickel substitute made to look like silver.

Keep in mind that pure silver is very malleable, meaning that it is soft and easy to bend. High-quality silver jewelry has to have an alloy mixed in for greater durability. The best silver jewelry will be mostly silver with a tiny element of something stronger built in, such as copper.

Don't settle for anything less than fine or sterling silver.

4. Perform Physical Tests to Ensure Authenticity

One of the best ways to ensure that you've got the best silver jewelry available is to perform several minor physical tests.

These tests won't harm your silver, so don't worry.

The first test is simple. Simply locate a magnet and see if the silver piece is magnetic. Silver is not a magnetic metal, so anything that does latch onto the magnet is likely to be nickel or another metal.

Make sure you do find a strong magnet to test this out, however. Common household magnets may not be powerful enough to test the magnetism of your jewelry.

In addition to the magnet test, you can rub your silver piece with a clean white cloth. If black marks appear, then you can rest assured that you've made a good purchase. When exposed to air, real silver oxidizes and creates these black marks.

You can also perform a sound test. Tap your jewelry piece with a metal tool or object. If you hear a high-pitched ring and vibration that lasts a few seconds, you've got real silver on your hands. Duller or deeper rings may indicate copper or steel alloys.

5. Get an Appraisal

If you just aren't sure about your jewelry, you can always get an appraisal. Take your jewelry piece to an appraiser for an expert consultation.

You may have to pay for an appraisal, so this is a good tip to follow if you are serious about the piece of jewelry you've purchased and want to ensure it is the best quality available.

6. Be Cautious When Purchasing Online

There are tons of online marketplaces out there for purchasing precious metals. If you do decide that an online shop is the best for you, make sure you exercise caution.

The most reputable online shops selling authentic silver jewelry will have at least one physical business location, clearly specified on their website.

They will have a solid refund or exchange policy in order, customer representatives to assist with your purchase, and detailed specifications about jewelry quality under each product listing.

Also, browse customer reviews and testimonials to get a sense of the store's reputation.

At costumeiscounters, for example, we have all of the above and more. Check out our customer reviews today.

Finding the Best Silver Jewelry

It is definitely possible to find the best silver jewelry, whether you are browsing online or stopping by stores on your next vacation. When buying silver jewelry, make sure you scrutinize the pieces for hallmarks indicating fine silver and stay away from deceivingly inexpensive prices.

If you've purchased a piece of jewelry and want to check its authenticity, perform some simple physical tests. You can also consult an appraiser. In general, be cautious about purchasing jewelry online.

At costumeiscounters, we specialize in only the finest and most authentic silver pieces. You can feel confident purchasing silver jewelry from our extensive collections and can enjoy free shipping on every purchase.

Check out our story here, or reach out to us today for more information!