Buying Silver Necklace: A Beginner’s Guide

Introduction

Sterling silver has been a prized metal for jewelry making due to its versatility and elegant appearance. It is used to make silver necklaces of different designs. The current article is intended to provide a beginner’s guide to customers wanting to buy silver necklace.

Why Silver Necklaces are Popular?

Sterling silver necklaces have always been popular. They allow you to make a style statement and make you stand out from others. They can also be mixed and matched with other precious metals and gems to enhance your look. The key reasons why silver necklaces are so popular are as follows:

Elegant and Durable

Sterling silver necklaces are not only elegant, they are extremely durable. If maintained properly, they can even last for a lifetime. These necklaces don’t come cheap and the premium pricing ensures that you are buying something of value and high quality. Sterling silver necklaces and jewelry have known to be passed on from one generation to the other as family heirlooms. It is important that you should only buy these jewelry items from reputed and credible dealers and companies. This will ensure that you are buying the best quality jewelry which will last for years.

Plenty of Options

Sterling silver is a soft metal which can be cast and molded into various shapes and sizes. This makes it a highly versatile metal which is widely used by jewelry designers to experiment new designs. Owing to its high versatility and classy looks, silver is one of the most sought-after metals which is popular among jewelry designers and customers. You can find different types of sterling silver necklaces in different designs- silver necklace chain, silver necklace for men, solid sterling silver necklaces for women, etc.

Latest Trends and Designs

Sterling silver necklaces are trendy and you can find them keeping pace with the latest design trends. Sterling silver jewelry is very popular and you will find them in various designs and form factors according to the latest designs. Most of the jewelry designers use sterling silver in their latest collections owning to its versatility and stylish appearance. Having a trendy silver necklace for women of the latest design can make them envied by others.

High Versatility

Another benefit of buying sterling silver necklaces is that they can be used for any occasion. You can find them in different finishes and embellishments which make them suitable for wearing to various occasions.  Silver necklaces are very elegant and classy on their own. They can also be mixed and matched with other precious metals and gems for providing a more refined look. You can match your new sterling silver necklace with white gold or platinum which will make you stand out from others in any occasion.

Hypoallergenic Jewelry

Inexpensive jewelry made from metals like nickel, brass, etc. can cause skin irritation. Sterling silver is hypoallergenic metal which does not cause any form of skin irritation. This is due to the fact that it does not have metal additions which can cause allergy triggering skin irritation. You can wear silver necklaces for long time periods without worrying about getting skin allergy or irritation.

 

Low Maintenance

While sterling silver necklaces have a host of features and benefits, they are surprisingly easy to maintain. If you wear them regularly, the oils on your skin will clean the silver necklace and prevent it from oxidizing and tarnishing. Even with small amounts of oxidation and tarnishing, there are ways to easily clean the silver necklace and keep it looking like new always. You don’t need to do any specialized maintenance of your precious sterling silver necklace to preserve them for long time periods. 

Things to Consider Before Buying Silver Necklaces

Sterling silver necklaces are in trend. You can get numerous designs while buying them. However, in order to buy pure silver and get the best deals, you should consider the below-mentioned tips:

Do Background Research

You should do your homework before buying a sterling silver necklace. It is recommended that you should research about the current price of sterling silver which will help you get a fair understanding of how much you need to spend for your necklace. If the selling price at the dealer is a lot more or less than the market rate, then you should be cautious before buying. You can also research the best dealers to buy sterling silver jewelry from before making the purchase. Also, don’t feel hesitant to ask your questions to the seller to gain better clarity before buying.

Choose the Perfect Design

As already discussed, sterling silver is a highly versatile metal. Silver necklaces come in different designs and sizes. You can find silver necklace chain, silver necklace for men, silver necklace for women, solid silver necklaces for women, etc. Each of these necklaces are suitable for different occasions and may appeal to you differently. The type of occasion where you will be wearing the necklace, whether you will be using a pendant with it, etc. are important considerations for you to choose the perfect design. You should choose from the one which best suits you and matches your needs.

Choose the Length of Silver Necklace

Silver necklaces are available in different lengths. You can choose between short length and long length necklaces depending upon your preference. Long length silver necklaces can be doubled or tripled to create a layered look which gives a more elegant and premium feel. If you want to use pendants on the necklace, then a short silver necklace can be ideal for you for keeping pendants close to your heart and your face’s frame.

Look for Quality Labels and Hallmarks

Sterling silver necklaces are expensive jewelry which requires you to be cautious while buying. Before buying them, you should look for quality labels and hallmarks to be sure of their purity and authenticity. Real silver contains quality labels or hallmarks which distinguishes it from fake jewelry. Sterling silver will be hallmarked STERLING or .925 which indicates its purity and quality. If you observe EPNS inscribed on the silver necklace, then it represents an inferior quality. EPNS stands for electroplated nickel silver, which is not pure silver but cheap nickel substitute. Being an informed customer and looking for these quality labels before buying will ensure that you buy the best quality silver necklaces and get the best deal.

Perform Tests for Authenticity

Performing physical tests is another great way of establishing the quality of silver. You can perform a magnetic test using a strong magnet. Silver is a non-magnetic metal and if the silver necklace you are planning to buy is attracted to the magnet, then it may be nickel or another magnetic metal. A strong magnet is needed to perform this test as household magnet will not be powerful enough to test the magnetism of the jewelry. You can also rub the silver necklace on a clean white cloth. If you spot black marks, then the silver necklace is pure as silver oxidizes when it is exposed to air, which causes these black marks.

How to Clean Sterling Silver Necklace

Sterling silver necklaces are easy to maintain. You can clean them in your home itself with simple home remedies. Some of the most common and effective ways to clean sterling silver jewelry are discussed below:

Soap and Water

Using soap and water is the most basic way of cleaning your sterling silver necklace. All you need to do is to use a mild and ammonia-free detergent in water and stir it well. Use a soft and clean microfiber cloth and dip it into the soap solution prepared. You should rub the silver necklace with the cloth back and forth to prevent scratches. It is recommended to clean along the grain of the necklace to avoid scratches and other forms of damages. Soap and water should be your first step for cleaning sterling silver necklaces and if it is unable to give you the desired results, should you try other cleaning methods.

Baking Soda and Water

If the soap and water combination does not clean your sterling silver necklace, then you can try cleaning it with baking soda and water. Add small quantity of water to baking soda to make a thick paste. Apply the paste over the necklace to clean it and use a soft cloth to polish. If the necklace is stamped or etched, then you should add more water to baking soda to make a thinner paste. After cleaning with baking soda, you should clean the necklace under warm running water and dry it clean with a soft cloth.

Lemon Juice and Olive Oil

Lemon juice is an effective natural cleaning agent. A mixture of lemon juice and olive oil can work best for cleaning your silver necklace. You should take a large bowl and mix half cup of lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prepare the cleaning solution. Dip a soft and clean microfiber cloth in this cleaning solution and start cleaning the silver necklace. Once the cleaning is done, you should clean again using warm running water and wipe it clean with a soft cloth. This will leave your sterling silver necklace looking like new.

Baking Soda and White Vinegar

If you were unable to clean your sterling silver necklace using baking soda and water, then you can use baking soda and white vinegar to clean it. In order to prepare the cleaning solution, you should mix 2 tablespoon of baking soda in half cup white vinegar. You should then soak your jewelry in this cleaning solution for 2-3 hours. This should be sufficient to remove most of the stains on the necklace.