So…you know your silver is real, but how do you know if it’s good quality?
Sterling Silver is actually really easy to test. When our Buyers are evaluating silver here’s how we do it. And don’t let our name GlitterBug Gold Parties fool ya. We also buy silver as well.
So first we file a small groove in an inconspicuous place on the piece. Then we drop nitric acid on the metal and watch the reaction. If your silver is good quality, the drop will turn a creamy milky white color. If it’s silver-plated brass, nickel silver or low-quality silver alloys, it will either turn green or start bubbling and smoking. Depending on the alloy, the reaction can be quite dramatic.
The National Gold and Silver Marketing Act doesn’t require precious metals to be marked with quality in the U.S. However, if a quality mark is used, that mark must include the manufacturer’s name or registered trademark. Should there ever be a question about the content of a piece, authorities can trace back to the manufacturer using the information stamped inside it.
While marks are standard on most jewelry pieces, not all silver jewelry is marked. One reason is that registering a trademark costs over $1,000. For small manufacturers and Native American artists, this cost is prohibitive, which is why this type of jewelry is rarely trademarked. Sometimes the sizes or designs of pieces don’t allow enough room for quality markings.
