When you think of "silver", chances are you mean "Sterling Silver", which by definition has a silver content of 92.5%. The other 7.5% of this alloy is usually copper. True sterling silver has a distinctive color and luster and is often marked with the stamp - .925. Many styles and designs of beads and findings do not allow for this stamp, but this does not necessarily mean the items are not sterling silver.

Unfortunately, the high cost of silver has led some unscrupulous producers to dilute the content of the silver they use to make beads and findings. The substantial decrease in the value of the US dollar has made this situation worse. Bali style beads and findings are notorious targets for this practice, but chain, brushed components, daisy spacers and other common basics are vulnerable too.

Why does "Sterling" matter? Customers have grown to expect the quality and performance of sterling silver and would quickly be disillusioned if the clasp they bought turned their neck green, tarnished too quickly or caused an allergic reaction. Rule #1: Know your supplier and don't be a "price sucker." Is the company you are buying from well established? Do they stand for quality? Do they stand by the product they sell? Silver prices are set globally. If someone is offering you sterling silver at a price that is unbelievably good, then you are probably being offered "imitation" silver or silver plating.

Warning signs of low silver content or an inferior product are:

• Reddish discoloring due to a higher copper content
• Fire scale (gray shadows on the surface of the silver)
• Dull surfaces and splotchy backgrounds
• Beads that make a "tinny" sound, rather than a substanstial sound when jingled in the hand.
• Items that feel overly heavy - silver alloys containing nickle are gnerally heavier than the standard sterling silver alloy
• Prices that seem deceptively low - well below market rate. This is often the best indicator that the sterling silver beads being offered have a lower silver content. Silver is a commodity and market prices fluctuate daily.

At Beadworks we stand behind the products that we sell. We only work with well established vendors and we routinely test the silver we receive to ensure our quality standards. 

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