Guest post by Chamsi Pirson
Silver is one of the most elite and exquisite metal. It is highly durable and can be made into various jewelry pieces and designs. Its shiny lustre attracts many buyers. It is an affordable piece of metal and needs a little bit of maintenance. But, it could get confusing to buy silver today. There are thousands of sellers with physical stores as well as online ones. How do you tell if silver earrings you like are genuine and that the seller is not cheating you? How do you determine the best quality-price for your silver rings? Also, if you are gifting silver jewelry to someone, how to buy the best piece? Let’s read through some useful tips to help you through your purchase.
Look for the Purity of Silver
Just like gold, even silver has its own hallmark. There are four essential signs that you should look for while buying silver jewellery. They are:
– Bureau of Indian Standard logo
– Hallmarking center’s identification mark/number
– Purity grade/fineness
– Jeweler’s identification mark/number
However, hallmarking is a volunteering process. The seller may or may not hallmark the silver piece. If you want your seller to add the hallmark, they will do so. But, if you want to order silver jewellery online, it comes with its marking.
To buy silver jewelry and other artifacts, any grade that is between the ranges of 990 to 925 is considered good. But, if you are planning to buy silver bars or utensils, sterling silver with a grade 999 is a good idea. It is a mixture of silver with a little bit of zinc and copper. These metals make the piece much more durable. However, when you consider silver jewelry, it should be closest to its purest form as it can be a little delicate.
Shop for Interchangeable Pieces
If you are on a budget, you could get interchangeable silver jewelry pieces. It may look like you haven’t bought much, but in the end, you would have shopped for a lot of variety. For example, you could get one silver necklace with several pendants. This means you will have more than one silver necklace and can be swapped on various occasions. Usually, women like to have a variety of jewelry options to match their dress and attire. It could be a good gift idea for your partner. This will save you money but also bring versatility when it comes to silver jewelry.
Consult an Expert
If you know someone who owns a jewelry business, you have hit the jackpot. Talk to them and ask them what you should look for before making a silver purchase. Ask them how do you tell if you are buying it at the best price? As a jewelry expert who deals with it every day, they would be able to help you with the details.
If you are planning to buy online, it’s a must that you look for the hallmarking and also talk to an expert before making the purchase.
Check for its Return Policy
If you buy from a local jeweler, the chances are that you can negotiate the silver jewelry return policies. But, if you plan to buy it online either for yourself of your partner, it’s only wise to check their exchange or return policies. Sometimes the color that you expected is not the same when you actually see the product in person. The screen colors often differ than its real-life look.
The online shopping trend is growing every day, and buying jewelry online is also getting very popular. As a customer, you get to choose between thousands of pieces which are not available at your local store. The online stores also have the latest designs that have not yet reached your local seller yet. Most online sellers are authentic with their hallmarking and can be trusted. All you have to look for are the right signs. Also, online stores have attractive deals and discounts that can’t be found with your local seller.
Are you looking for tips to keep your silver jewelry intact? Here you go!
- Keep your silver jewelry in a dry and airtight container. Make sure you do this step, especially if you live in a humid climate area.
- Use an anti-tarnish solution for extra protection
- Keep the silver away from water and steam
- If you are wearing your silver jewelry, make sure you clean it with a soft dry cloth before putting it back into the airtight container
- Use a Silver Polishing Cloth to restore the shine of your silver. Rub the cloth back and forth on the silver piece. Avoid cleaning it in circles as it could bring permanent scratches on your silver. Keep this cloth handy and use it often to clean your jewelry.
