Silver prices going up created a problem nobody's talking about: a flood of "silver-look" jewellery riding the hype without being real silver at all.
Silver-plated brass. Unmarked alloy pieces. Jewellery sold at "silver prices" that's mostly base metal with a thin coating. As demand goes up, so does the incentive to cut corners - and most buyers have no way to tell the difference just by looking.
Here's how to actually check.
What "925" is supposed to mean
Genuine sterling silver is stamped 925 - meaning 92.5% pure silver, mixed with 7.5% of another metal (usually copper) for strength. Pure silver on its own is too soft to hold shape in jewellery, so this mix is the real, legitimate standard. If a piece doesn't carry this hallmark, that's the first red flag.
Four checks you can do at home
1. Look for the stamp.
Check the clasp, the inside of a ring band, or the back of a pendant. Genuine 925 pieces are marked "925" or "S925." No stamp, no proof.
2. Try the magnet test.
Silver is not magnetic. If a piece is drawn to a magnet, it's not silver - it's likely a base metal with a silver coating.
3. Watch how it ages.
This one surprises people: real silver tarnishes over time, especially with air and skin contact. That slight darkening isn't a defect - it's a sign of authenticity. Plated fakes are more likely to flake, peel, or turn a strange yellowish colour instead.
4. Feel the weight.
Sterling silver has real heft compared to lightweight alloys. If a "silver" piece feels suspiciously light for its size, that's worth questioning.
Why this matters more right now
When any raw material's price goes up, low-quality copies flood in to capture the same demand without the same cost. Silver is going through exactly that right now.
The only real protection is buying from someone who puts the hallmark on it and stands behind it - not someone selling "silver" that conveniently avoids saying 925.
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Every piece from STYRLING CO. is hallmarked 925 silver - no guessing required.
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