Not all silver jewelry are of the same caliber; one has to know the composition, such as with fashionable 925 sterling silver necklaces. The quality of the silver used in a particular piece is often detailed in the stamp. If you see the numbers "999" on a piece, this denotes that it is pure silver. It is rare to find jewelry made of pure silver. This is because pure silver is often too soft to be used for this purpose. This is why silver jewelry is often marked with the number 925 SS or Sterling.
The 925 means that the silver comprise 92.5% of the metal, alloyed with copper, argentium, zinc, geranium, or platinum. The adulteration with other metals make the silver more ductile, making it easier to make jewelry that will last.
The SS or Sterling simply means the silver is no longer pure up to 92.5%. Items with less than 92.5% silver such as cutlery and coins are not sterling silver.
This distinction is important when quantifying the value of the 925 sterling silver fine jewelry online. The absence of the stamp is a good indication that the jewelry may not have the requisite finesse required for good quality silver jewelry. Wise investors in silver jewelry would seek this mark before paying the going price for silver.
The price of silver is currently at $19.59 per troy ounce (about 31 grams). Intrinsically, this will determine the raw cost of the silver, although the beauty and quality of the workmanship will also come into play. Well-worked silver can only enhance the value that is already there; without the necessary fineness present, it is not enough to carry the day.
When silver jewelry contains more than 7.5% of copper, there is a tendency for skin irritation and the item tarnishes faster. If you see a mark saying Alpaca or German Silver, run for the hills; it is not silver but a nickel alloy. It is well known that nickel can cause irritation to the skin, which makes it unsuitable for use in jewelry making.
Do not buy silver jewelry if you have no idea what you should be looking for; ask experts at www.qtifashion.com. If you have no idea what the markings mean, in terms of intrinsic value you could be paying too much for low-quality silver or even items that have been merely silver plated, which have little or no market value be it ever so exquisitely crafted.
