Rhodium Jewelry

Thursday, January 5th, 2012 at 4:36 pm

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The law requires metal to be marked by the maker and the metal quality. For sterling, the mark will be either the numbers 925 (meaning 92.5 % silver, which is sterling) or a “sterling” stamp with the words. Look near the clasp for the mark, at the end of the chain. Sometimes the mark is on a little flat looking ring at the end of the chain.

Sterling silver will tarnish and on a good deal of persons it tarnishes quickly due to body chemistry, and on others it never tarnishes. To keep tarnish from happening, sterling is very many times plated with another metal to protect the sterling and keep the tarnish from happening. The plating will be a metal called “rhodium” which is very bright or another metal lately employed on silver that look more the color of silver. The chain may be sterling and still have the plate on the outside to prevent tarnish.

Acid test may be done by a jeweler. Generally a test will cost numerous money, not a lot, but perchance not worth depending on what you salaried for the chain. On a big heavy chain, the test might be worth it.

There is rather a bit of 800 silver and even 750, there may be an 825 blend also. Scams are always possible so it is best to have it checked if you are in doubt. There is a British mark 625 which is for gold and on occasion mistaken for 825 when an item is worn. But there are ordinarily other British hallmarks included.

In the 1800′s and thereabouts much tableware including flatware (knives, forks, spoons) was made with a silver alloy or 75% silver. This is surely less than sterling which legally means 92.5% and also less than coin silver. I suspect European manufacturer. The only real way to determine the value or origin of the item is through those who do this sort of work with ageold silver and tableware items.

If any marks including the 750 are hard to read, try this trick: With a candle soot the area of the mark. Then gently take a good deal of scotch or clear tape and place it down on the sooty area, rubbing gently. Then remove the tape and place it on a piece of white paper. The marks ought to show up just fine. This is like lifting fingerprints! It does work reasonably well.

Tips on testing silver. Firstly it is essential to realize that you do not use a touchstone for Silver. You must test the article itself.

Lightly scratch or scuff a little spot which is not seen (like under a silver teapot or inside a ring band etc) and implement Nitric Acid to the spot.

If it turns a cloudy grey color it is Sterling Silver. If it turns black it is Coin Silver. What you don’t want is for it to turn green which suggests it is plated.

You will have to assure you make the scratch deep sufficient to go underneath any plating though, else it won’t react as it has to reach any base metal underneath. This may be a little unsightly so make sure it is in an unobtrusive area.