Only jewelers know that pure silver is a precious metal that is not only beautiful, but also impractical. The highest standard of silver means not only quality, but softness, difficulty of processing and rapid loss of gloss. If you intensively use openwork jewelry made of pure silver, and even more so if you clean it with abrasive materials, then it will become smooth and lose its relief. This threatens the decoration with loss of expressiveness and artistic value. What are the hallmarks of silver, and what does this mean in terms of the use of the metal in jewelry and other activities?
As a result, master jewelers from all over the world began to use in their work not pure silver, but alloys with alloyed metal. But each master has his own percentage of ligature additions. Some consider it acceptable to add no more than 5%, while others “dilute” the source material by half with additives. Each alloy has its own characteristics, and the choice of jewelers depends on the purpose of the product.
Types of sample
What are the hallmarks of this precious metal? On the finished silver product there is a numerical value indicating the ratio of metal and alloy. Jewelry, dishes and decorative items are made from samples of the following basic values:
- 720— a metal that is susceptible to oxidation and changes over time. Mainly used for making small parts of clothing: buttons, clasps and zippers.
- 800 and 825 are metals suitable for the production of tableware and interior elements. A high percentage of silver content (80 - 83%) is suitable for the active use of objects made from such metal in everyday life. Periodically, an oxidizing film forms on products, which must be removed.
- 875 and 916 are high-quality metals that are actively used for the production of gift sets, wine glasses, glasses, ashtrays and glasses. To add sophistication to silver items of this standard, jewelers often complement their finishing with gilding.
- 925— a classic and proven combination of ligature additives and pure metal. Is this a good test or not? Products of this sample retain their beautiful appearance and are resistant to air and water.
- 960— in appearance and physical properties it is equivalent to pure silver. However, such metal is short-lived, so it is almost never used for making dishes or jewelry.
- 999— pure silver, highest standard. Most often stored in bullion, it is sometimes used to produce fine jewelry or decorative items.
Often silver (for example, 825) is added to 525 gold to increase the durability of the product and reduce its price.
How to measure a sample?
There are two systems used to measure precious metal samples: metric and carat . In Russia, metric measurement of the quality of metals has been adopted since 1927. However, when buying jewelry abroad, you need to first familiarize yourself with the ratio of measurement scales for one and another method:
- 20 carats = 830 standard;
- 21 carats = 875th standard;
- 22 carats = 925th standard;
- 23 carats = 960th standard;
- 24 carats = 999th purity.
Elements of silver markings on jewelry. Testing control. Brand
According to Russian legislation, products containing 80% Ag or more are subject to testing. Due to the softness of application, the only possible option is laser engraving. Having figured out what types of silver there are, you need to understand what the mark looks like in order to distinguish it from a fake. Main marking elements:
- a sign symbolizing a state ID;
- directly a sample that determines the amount of precious metal;
- the code of the inspectorate under whose supervision the assay was carried out contains a letter (each of the 18 such organizations has its own symbol, thanks to which it became possible to recognize the assay district).
Which sample is better?
The best samples are characterized by resistance to external influences and retain their unique shade. But jewelry and utensils made of silver, the share of which is 96 - 99%, have too high ductility and are unsuitable for daily use.
So what is better - which sample? It depends on the purpose of the product. When choosing interior items, dishes or jewelry, you need to pay attention to products of 875 and 925 samples. It is this metal that gives jewelers the opportunity to realize the most unusual ideas. However, if the alloy contains more copper, then its popularity decreases due to the yellowish tint of the products, but the strength will be increased.
Important! The optimal investment is considered to be items made of pure 999 silver, or simply silver bars.
The alloy of silver with cadmium is also highly valued, because such a metal acquires a noble white tint and increased mechanical resistance.
Where is the marking located?
As for where the hallmark is located on jewelry, the options may vary. To search, it is better to arm yourself with a magnifying glass, since the marks are too small to be distinguished by the human eye. They are applied in different ways:
- on rings they can be placed on the outside or inside of the tire;
- on earrings they are usually placed on a hook or a pin;
- on pendants they can be found on hanging rings;
- on bracelets they are on the links that connect the lock and the main part.
Markings are applied so that they do not affect the external part of the accessory. They can be embossed or sparkled. The former, due to the complexity of execution, cannot always be applied to particularly thin and elegant accessories.
Varieties of silver
What to give preference to : light or dark metal?
Buyers are accustomed to seeing white silver on store shelves and do not think that there are several varieties of the precious metal. Silver differs in color and composition:
- Blackened - the production of such metal is preceded by a complex technological process. Blackened objects are popular among connoisseurs of exclusivity and lovers of amulets (such metal is believed to have mystical properties).
- Sterling is 925 silver with a beautiful shine and exquisite white color. This type of metal received its name thanks to the English coins that were minted from it.
- Matte - the popularity of silver jewelry is growing, but buyers want something new and unusual. That's why jewelers invented matte silver - by treating the surface of the product with special corrosive substances or a sandblasting machine. Jewelry is first made and then processed at the final stage, giving the pieces a unique look.
- Filigree - filigree manufacturing technology involves soldering many thin silver wires together. The high cost of filigree products is due to the high demands on the skill of the jeweler and the complexity of their manufacture.
Filigree silver jewelry
Most items and jewelry presented on Russian shelves are made of sterling silver.
Technical metal and imitation
Technical silver is distinguished by its lack of fineness and precious metal content of less than 80%. This metal has its advantages - it is durable and lightweight, has good electrical conductivity and conducts light well. Therefore, technical silver has found its application in electronics and apparatus parts , as well as in industrial production.
have long been known , which formed the basis for the manufacture of silver ionizers for water and the popularity of silver tableware and jewelry. Due to the high cost of the metal, there is always a risk of it being counterfeited by fraudsters. Imitation of silver also occurs in the decoration of monuments and the manufacture of decorative items. Precious metal substitutes are also used in production equipment. Usually, instead of silver, they use:
- Nickel silver - this metal for the production of cutlery is necessarily coated with a small layer of pure silver. But when this layer wears off, a metallic taste will be felt when using nickel silver cookware.
- Cupronickel — the alloy that received this name combines 84 sterling silver, copper, manganese and nickel. Utensils are made from it however, it cannot be called useful.
Cupronickel spoons - Silver leaf - imitates white gold leaf. Intended for finishing furniture, walls and decorative items.
The minimum value of jewelry standard accepted in Russia is 800. Everything else must be designated as costume jewelry.
Select payment option
Try Pay 750 sample 42.4 ₽ 800 sample 45.2 ₽ 875/84 sample 49.4 ₽ 900 sample 50.9 ₽ 925 sample 52.3 ₽ 999 sample 57.6 ₽ Try Pay 750 sample 40.7 ₽ 800 sample 43.4 ₽ 875/84 sample 47.4 ₽ 900 sample 48.8 ₽ 925 sample 50.1 ₽ 999 sample 54.7 ₽ Try Pay 750 sample 37.4 ₽ 800 sample 39.9 ₽ 875/84 sample 43.7 ₽ 900 sample 44.9 ₽ 925 sample 46.2 ₽ 999 sample 51.4 ₽
But today, precious metals, which, of course, include silver, have become not only a store of value, but also a means of increasing capital. Usually we are talking about speculative operations on exchanges that specialize in trading banking metals. But to enter such exchanges, you must either be a large international company or have a multimillion-dollar fortune. And for an ordinary person, a bank deposit in our conditions is often not a guarantee of increasing your savings.
Investments in precious metals, as well as direct transactions with them (purchase, sale) are a worthy option for financial transactions, including for individuals. In these circumstances, investing in silver can be regarded as a tool for preserving and increasing your savings.
Looking at the long-term price chart for silver, you can see that they are quite stable. The fact is that silver is not only a banking metal, but also an industrial metal. The stable rate of silver is supported by constant demand from industrial enterprises that use this metal in their technological chains.
Yes, international markets often experience wild swings in silver prices, but the long-term dynamics are closely tied to the long-term growth or decline of the global economy. If the global economy grows, then the long-term price movement of silver rises accordingly. If the world economy is depressed, then silver prices decline.
Source
Rules for choosing silver products
Please note that when buying dishes or jewelry at local markets in foreign countries, you can get cupronickel or technical silver instead of the promised silver. It is almost impossible to distinguish them externally, but even short-term use will reveal all the shortcomings of counterfeit silver.
It is safest to buy jewelry and tableware in trusted jewelry stores or directly from the manufacturer through an online store .
Important! The best standard for high-quality and truly valuable jewelry is considered to be 875 or 925. Silver with this level of ligature has a beautiful white tint and high strength. It is for products made from such silver that quality certificates are issued, and such jewelry items are sold in good specialized stores.
Not sure which sample to choose? Choose based on the purpose of the product. For example, household silver with 87.5% pure metal in its composition is suitable for tableware, and for jewelry it is better to pay attention to silver with 925 purity.
The price of 1 gram of silver is 84, 875, 916, 925 and 999 in 2019.
- Weight of the finished product. The greater the weight of the jewelry, the lower the cost of one gram of it. For example, in spoons and glass holders it is much lower than in rings and earrings.
- Try.
- Reputation of the manufacturer's brand.
- The size of the trade organization's markup.
- The cost of this noble metal on world exchanges.
See the average prices for purchasing silver at pawn shops and other organizations that accept scrap jewelry. The information in the table is current as of April 2022. The final assessment depends on the quality and volume of the metal supplied.
| Try | Cost, rubles per gram |
| 750 | 19 — 21 |
| 800 | 21 — 23 |
| 875 | 23 — 25 |
| 916 | 25 — 26 |
| 925 | 25 — 27 |
| 999 | 29 -31 |
| 84 | 23 — 25 |
The price of an ounce of silver on the stock exchange for the last month and year.
Watch an interesting video on how to clean silver at home:
Source
Is it possible to determine the quality of silver yourself?
How to choose and buy the highest quality silver so as not to be deceived?
You can definitely find out the quality of the product by contacting a jeweler who will carry out an assessment. If the product is of poor quality, you can return it to the store within 14 days after purchase. You can also use express tests that are quite suitable for doing at home:
- Testing with a magnet - a high-quality silver product will not be attracted to a magnet, however, some alloy metals do not react to magnetic influence.
- Silver heats up well in the hand and cools quickly in a cold environment, for example, in the cold.
- Pure metal will darken from sulfur ointment or iodine. To test the quality of the alloy, it is enough to leave a tiny spot on the product and check whether a trace remains. But if the silver is real, then it will not be easy to wipe it off.
- You can check the authenticity of jewelry or dishes using chalk — real silver will darken upon contact with the rock.
925 sterling silver ring
Jeweler's comment
Molokanov N.M.
Jeweler, 26 years of experience in jewelry production.
To determine the standard of gold, I would advise you to immediately go to a jewelry master, since this requires experience and knowledge. At home, people see the color that has changed during application, but do not know that it is also affected by the internal component of the alloy. In this case, even a small fraction of the component plays a role. If you mistakenly determine the composition of the metal, nothing bad will happen. But the person who was going to sell it may be disappointed when it turns out that what was disguised as silver was not a precious alloy, but a fake.
