While any piece of unique and beautifully crafted jewelry is a wonder to behold, there just seems to be something even more fascinating about sterling silver jewelry. With its ability to compliment almost any style or color it's no wonder that silver possesses a charm all its own which can be blended magnificently between casual and formal clothing. This ease between transitions is also easily made regardless of the event you choose to display these pieces of jewelry. With the popularity that silver has it's not a wonder that there are many vendors who offer pieces that claim to be sterling, yet are imitation. These tips can help you identify a true sterling silver piece from a clever imitation.
One way to identify a genuine sterling silver piece from a fake would be the stamp. Thanks to the National Gold and Silver Marking Act of 1981, the law mandates that gold and silver must be marked as follows: for silver the marking will be stamped either 'sterling or the number 925, this refers to the 92.5% silver that is considered to be sterling. This stamp varies according to the type of jewelry, chains are usually on the clasp while rings and bracelets are on the inside.
Another method used to test would be the acid test. The way this test works is that you vigorously rub a section on the piece of jewelry you're testing, try to pick a place not noticeable as scratching can occur, apply a few drops of nitric acid. Should the area turns green then it's only silver plated, if cloudy then it's the real thing.
