Silver is considered one of the most popular materials for making various jewelry. The beauty and practicality of this metal have been appreciated for a very long time. One of the varieties of this metal is 925 sterling silver. In Europe, this type is considered the best and is quite expensive, but you can order 925 sterling silver from China.
Sterling silver
Versions of the origin of the name
- The main version of the etymology of sterling silver is the one that says that it came from a coin used in England in the 12th century - the sterling;
- There is another explanation - this name comes from a famous family from Germany - the Easterlings. Money was minted in honor of this family, and the British allegedly took a fancy to these coins and they entered into a trade agreement with the Germans.
If we adhere to the second version, then the ancestors of the silver sterling coin are the Germans, not the British. Later, this coin became widespread throughout the planet.
Price
It is used to make almost all jewelry. So “sterling items” are not just trinkets. Such silver cannot cost little. Therefore, when you see a low price for such products, you should think twice.
Many people believe that buying 925-grade metal products made in China, as shown in the photo, is a pretty good deal. But in this case, you need to clearly understand that such jewelry requires special care. They need to be stored correctly, because due to the presence of copper in its composition, such products may darken upon contact with air. If this happens, you can use several proven tips for cleaning such metal. For example, use toothpaste and a brush.
If you see silver jewelry at a price lower than the market price, you should be wary. There are times when not the entire product, but only part of it, is made of high quality metal. At the same time, the tag indicating this 925 standard is still present on it. Why is this possible? This is a very profitable move for the manufacturer. For example, a stud earring is made of a cheap alloy, which is coated with silver plating, and its plug is made of high-quality metal. This trick makes it possible to hang a tag on the entire decoration.
Peculiarities
Pure silver has a purity number of 999, but it is not used to create jewelry. This is explained by the fact that this metal in its pure form is not strong and durable enough. In order for the products to have high strength and the metal structure to be strong enough, you need to use an alloy in which from 7 to 10% will be stranded or aluminum. Also, many products are covered with a film on top, which is known as “rhodium”, as shown in the photo. This coating is necessary for the decoration to acquire a rich and beautiful white color. Not everyone welcomes such treatment, even in the case of external damage to the jewelry. According to most people, any jewelry made of precious metal should have a natural look.
Sterling silver is an alloy where the percentage of pure metal is about 92.5%. Since this metal is not as expensive as gold, even such a high standard can be afforded by most people. This type is very practical, valued for its beauty and is used exclusively for making various jewelry.
The main advantage of this metal is that such metal is ideal for making very thin jewelry, as can be seen in the photo.
Thus, 925 sterling silver is one of the best grades for making various types of jewelry.
But whether it’s worth following the lead of Chinese manufacturers – we’ll figure it out. Where do legs grow from?
Until recently, counterfeiting silver jewelry was not the most profitable activity - it is, of course, a precious metal, but not the most expensive. “Experiments” with gold brought more profit, and there was no point in wasting time and effort on disguising jewelry “as silver.”
But technology does not stand still, new alloys and methods for processing them appear, so today imitation of silver products in some countries has turned into a profitable business.
However, in Russia, the production of jewelry is under strict state supervision - both modest silver rings and luxurious gold items with precious stones undergo the strictest control. The hallmark that appears on each Solomon ring is not an empty sign: the cost and size of the jewelry do not play a role; the declared proportion of precious metals is confirmed at the highest level.
In Turkey, Egypt and China, the jewelry business is not treated so strictly, and this opens up the opportunity to interpret the concept of “product made of precious metals” in a way that is convenient. To whom? To the seller, of course!
China
The amount of 925 grade silver exported from China is growing every day. This is mainly due to the fact that it is in increasing demand and popularity. According to experts, the quality of the metal imported from China is in no way inferior to products exported from other countries. Therefore, buyers should not be alarmed by the fact that Chinese metal is slightly lower in cost than usual. The cost of a sterling silver product is primarily influenced by the fact that in China the cost of labor is somewhat lower than, for example, in European countries. If you read the reviews, you will notice that all opinions are mostly positive.
There is a known case when a buyer, having received jewelry from China in the mail, did not believe the reviews and went to an expert. The examination showed that the metal was indeed 925, but the stone that was attached to the ring turned out to be of artificial origin. Due to the production of artificial stones, most likely Chinese products (jewelry) are positioned as unoriginal or unnatural.
Savings in selection
Not silver, oh well! It’s beautiful and shiny, if you get tired of it, you can throw it away, don’t mind. Just know what you get, albeit for little money:
- Questionable quality. Chinese silver jewelry is quite fragile and requires careful handling. Long-lived products last 2 years; most break down or become unpresentable much earlier.
- Unknown composition. In Chinese jewelry, meticulous buyers discovered lead and nickel, which cause an allergic reaction, as well as dyes. Not the most suitable composition for “shooting” silver, right?
- No guarantees. The distant seller does not bear any responsibility to Russian buyers: the return rate is very small, and there are practically no people willing to deal with this procedure. It is not surprising that the orders of our compatriots are often treated inattentively - they send blatant defects and leftover sizes.
By the way, high-quality jewelry, which you can buy in any shopping center, costs the same, but will last much longer. And if you calculate the costs of products that turned out to be outright defective, do not match the photo or are not the right size, then the benefit is more than dubious.
Of course, a low price can cover a number of shortcomings and make you turn a blind eye to some flaws. But, before you count the money you will save on buying precious jewelry, think about the fact that the Chinese Solomon ring will have to be removed at night and constantly cleaned. This fate, which is suitable for inexpensive “disposable” jewelry, is unacceptable for a piece of jewelry with meaning - a faithful friend and helper. The ring of King Solomon simply must be comfortable and of high quality, so as not to cause any trouble to its owner and bring joy for many years.
Of course, not all Chinese stores are the same: high-quality silver products can be found everywhere, but their cost will not be lower than $6-10 per 1 gram, and not for the entire piece of jewelry. That is, no lower than in the jewelry store around the corner.
Care
In order for sterling silver to always retain its beautiful, original appearance, you need to know how to store it correctly and what kind of care is needed. Proper care is the key to ensuring that jewelry never loses its original appearance:
- Jewelry should be stored in a dark place and where there is no high humidity. If silver is frequently exposed to sunlight, the metal will become darker;
- The most effective cleaning method is to rinse the jewelry in warm water. You need to add dishwashing detergent to the water, and then rinse the product again and wipe it with a cloth.
Sample and alloy
The development of its deposits was most actively carried out in the 18th century. At this time, the largest volumes of this metal were mined. First of all, everyone notices the fabulously low prices for such jewelry. However, you shouldn't rejoice so soon. You can hear completely different reviews about such products. Therefore, first it’s worth understanding everything properly. Thus, a number of manufacturers position their products as “sterling silver”. But what is it really? The composition of this alloy is as follows: 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. This alloy is called 925 standard. The photo shows a product made of such metal.
Cheap silver rings on Aliexpress
Silver, in itself, is a budget material. It is not expensive, which is why silver jewelry costs little in comparison with other expensive metals. You can buy a silver ring inexpensively on Aliexpress, but this is only if it is not decorated with some expensive stone. Cheap silver rings on Aliexpress are usually encrusted with some kind of artificial stones, which, in principle, look very good. If you want to buy a cheap ring made of silver, for example, with zirconium, you will have to pay about $30, while jewelry with an artificial stone can be bought for $6-12, depending on the standard and complexity of the product. An important advantage of Aliexpress is that on the site you can find very beautiful silver rings at an incredibly low price. If you are looking for such a product, we recommend that you pay attention to the jewelry:
- 925 sterling crown ring with artificial stone from BAMOER.
- Elegant sterling silver ring with a large artificial stone and a dozen stones in the front from Roxi.
- Gorgeous ring with multiple artificial stones and 925 zirconia from GS.
- Ring in the shape of a flower with black petals in the inner part and zirconium in the center 925 from LZESHINE.
- Figured ring with artificial stones and pearls in the center 925 from Yinfeng.
You will find more great deals on silver products on the website. Aliexpress constantly has sales and even expensive rings with natural stones can be purchased at a great discount. On the site you will find great deals on jewelry and can purchase a beautiful ring with a discount of up to 50%. If you want to purchase a silver product in a certain price segment, then enter the minimum and maximum numbers in the “Price” column on the search page and all offers at the specified price will open to you.
925 sterling silver
Sterling metal is popular because it consists of 92.5% pure silver, and only 7.5% of it is copper. The alloy in question is very difficult to melt, since it requires a certain temperature and special exposure. But the metal ultimately becomes very durable, high quality, and has a long service life. In the Middle Ages, these coins were used for trade.
Some customers ask about what 925 sterling silver is. This is silver coinage that has been melted down so that it does not lose quality. The alloys are just as strong and reliable. Therefore, 925 metal is considered the most popular at present. This substance is used to make not only precious jewelry, but also cutlery, statues, and candlesticks.
Reviews
- If you try, you can find a lot of negative reviews from buyers of similar products. For example, there are situations when manufacturers use 925-grade metal, but instead of the declared semi-precious and precious stones, they use artificial stones. After all, an inexperienced buyer will not be able to identify a fake “by eye.” And thanks to this practice, Chinese manufacturers save significantly on the production of such jewelry;
- However, you can often hear positive statements. So many people, when purchasing Chinese-made jewelry, are satisfied. They wear it for more than two years, and absolutely nothing happens to the products: they do not darken, do not fade, or become deformed.
Sterling silver from China
Jewelry made from sterling silver originating from China is especially popular and in demand. In appearance, the products do not differ in any way. Its competitiveness is ensured by the fact that the difference between cost formation and labor costs falls on the cost of the product. The products delight with their sophistication and beauty, sometimes real masterpieces are found.
Still, you should refuse to purchase if the price stated is too low. Very often there are fakes that, over time, fade, turn red, and lose their quality. The lion's share of copper and other impurities are added to the alloy, which contribute to the oxidation of the product and change in appearance.
Most often, counterfeits are found when selling sterling silver from China.
