If you have plans to buy any jewelry made in Israel, it is imperative that you confirm whether they have been designed from real sterling silver 92.5. You will surely want to understand the exact difference between sterling silver 92.5 and pure silver. In essence, sterling silver has been used popularly as the metal that helps construct decorative items, jewelry, or similar accessories.
What is the difference between Sterling Silver 92.5 and Pure Silver?
If we get into the intricacies of the creation of pure silver, it isn’t exactly made from complete silver metal. In order to add other features, pure silver is created from 99.9 percent silver with small content that is composed of minerals like copper. Now, sterling silver is comprised of 92.5 percent silver with the remainder consisting of mainly copper. This is the reason why it is commonly termed as Sterling Silver 925 or 925 Silver.
There is a reason silver is mixed with these metals like copper. Silver, all on its own, can be challenging to place in the intricate designs. This is because silver is very malleable and soft. With jewelry made in Israel, it is essential that the silver metal should be mixed in with an alloy that provides hardness to it. Sterling Solver 92.5 allows the designers to create intricate designs without breaking the metal.
Top tests to help you determine the authenticity of Sterling Silver Jewelry
1- “Hallmark” Test:
Whenever you buy any jewelry made in Israel which is constructed with sterling silver 925, you need to check for the hallmark that ascertains that your jewelry carries authentic metal-make. If your jewelry is a small finger ring or earring, you might need to use the magnifying lens to notice this hallmark. You can see the number “925” imprinted within the jewelry, which indicates that it is 92.5 percent pure silver. Other hallmark variants that you can see include names such as “Sterling,” “Ster,” or “Sterling Silver.” These markings are generally found on the lower side of the larger sections of your jewelry.
2- “Magnet” Test:
When testing the jewelry made in Israel for its authenticity, you need to opt for the magnet test. If you happen to place any regular magnet near or above the jewelry piece, you can easily distinguish whether it is real sterling silver or not. The jewelry crafted from genuine sterling silver will in no way be drawn to the magnet. However, if the case is opposite, you can confirm that this piece was made from an entirely different composition.
3- “Weight” Test:
Another fantastic and easy test to ascertain whether your jewelry made in Israel is real or not is the weight test. Take jewelry that is made up of pure silver. Now place it in one hand along with the sterling silver make in another. If you notice that the weights of the two pieces are same, you can confirm that the sterling silver is real.
4- “Scientific” Test:
Before you do this test, you need to make sure that you can spare your sterling silver jewelry. If you do not want it to get ruined, you should refrain from conducting this test. If you have decided to opt for this test, you need to have protective gloves and goggles to ensure the chemical being used for the analysis doesn’t harm you in any way. In this test, you need to add in a small drop of the pure nitric acid on the jewelry’s sterling silver section. If the reaction turns it green, you can confirm that it isn’t constructed from genuine silver. Nitric acid consists of high content of copper which can discolor the items that do not have silver in them.
5- “Rub” Test:
This is probably the easiest and most opted test by anyone looking to identify the genuineness of the sterling silver. In order to do this test, you need to rub the silver jewelry very lightly using a light, soft-colored cloth. If you notice a black mark appearing over the fabric, you can confirm that it is genuine sterling silver. Original silver tends to oxidize when exposed to air.
6- “Distinctive Smell” Test:
You might look a bit weird doing this, but it is impressive to know how this test helps you calibrate a full proof result. Take your jewelry made in Israel in the palm of your hands and bring it close to your nose. Now, sniff the jewelry and look for any smell that seems unnatural or something like sulfur. If it comes with a specific scent, it definitely isn’t sterling silver. The metal silver on its own doesn’t have any smell.
Conclusion
True quality, in the real sense, can never be replicated. If you have doubts about your jewelry made in Israel to be fake in its make, you need to cross-check the same with all these tests stated above. So, own the best quality piece of sterling silver with these easy-to-do tests for authenticity confirmation.
Looking for authentic sterling silver jewelry made in Israel? Look in through our collection at ZVU Artisan Jewelry. Get access to affordably-priced jewelry crafted by talented artisans. Wear our designs with pride and order your favorite piece today itself. Get in touch with us for shipping information by writing to us through our contact page.
