11/12/2025
***Silver products*** I feel compelled to share this here as some competition are selling false 925 stamped goods for a fraction of the price with misleading information alongside my personally crafted solid 925 products. This pushes me out of the market and means customers end up purchasing items that aren’t going to last the test of time and ultimately long-term customers will not return, all associated vendors pay the price.
My silver products are 925 silver with nothing but 925 silver inside them, pendants are not stamped however claps are stamped. This is not common these days because silver is expensive and most people use a base of wax, plastic, or other cheap metals plated in a very thin layer of 925 silver (0.5 -2 MICRONS thin) to keep costs very low.
Note: The current spot price at the time of this post for silver is CA $71.99 per troy ounce. That works out to about CA $2.31 per gram.
If competitors resell “925 silver” stamped products from places like temu they are most likely falsely stamped.
So how you can check items you aren’t sure about is often in weight.
Steps you can take to check:
-Ask the supplier if they made the items themselves, if they didnt, ask them where it was purchased from
-Feel the weight
-Compare It to other products
-Do your research
-Question misleading information
-If Its overly shiny its a red flag
Misleading information and poor research can result in products being labeled with things such as silver on 7.5% copper - this is not correct. 925 silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper most often, or other metals because the silver would be too soft to use for jewellery if it was fully silver and the piece would not be solid enough to keep its form. It’s not a base of copper with the rest silver, the silver is mixed with copper so it can harden.
Here’s the breakdown:
🔹 What “925” means
• “925” is a purity mark meaning the metal is 92.5% pure silver, also known as sterling silver.
• The remaining 7.5% is usually copper or another alloy to strengthen the silver.
🔹 When it’s legally appropriate to use the “925” stamp
• The 925 stamp should only be used if the entire piece (excluding minor parts like stones or clasps) is solid sterling silver.
• It is not legal or ethical to mark an item 925 if it’s only plated with silver (for example, copper or brass base with a thin silver layer).
🔹 What plated pieces should be marked as
If a piece is made of a base metal and plated with sterling silver, it should instead be marked something like:
• “925 plated”
• “Sterling silver plated”
• “Silver over copper”
This makes it clear that the item isn’t solid silver, just coated.
🔹 Why the distinction matters
Mislabeling plated jewelry as “925” can be considered fraudulent or misleading, and in some countries (including Canada, the US, and UK) it can violate hallmarking or consumer protection laws.
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✅ In short:
A copper piece plated in 925 silver should not be stamped “925.”
It must be clearly marked as plated, not solid sterling.
💎 1. Solid Sterling Silver (Genuine 925)
✅ Correct Hallmarks:
• 925
• STERLING
• STERLING SILVER
• Sometimes includes a maker’s mark or country hallmark (e.g., lion passant for the UK)
🩶 Meaning:
• Metal is 92.5% pure silver throughout.
• The stamp guarantees the whole piece is sterling silver (not plated or filled).
⚙️ 2. Silver-Plated Jewelry (Copper, Brass, or Other Base)
⚠️ Cannot use “925” alone.
✅ Correct Hallmarks:
• 925 PLATED
• STERLING PLATED
• SILVER PLATED
• EP (Electroplated)
• EPNS (Electroplated Nickel Silver)
• SP (Silver Plate)
🩶 Meaning:
• Only the outer layer is silver (often 0.5–2 microns thick).
• The core metal (usually copper, brass, or nickel) gives structure.
⚖️ 3. Vermeil (Gold over Sterling Silver)
✅ Correct Hallmarks:
• 925 + VERMEIL
• 925 + GP (Gold Plated)
🩶 Meaning:
• The base metal is sterling silver (925), coated with gold.
• Legal to stamp 925 because the underlying metal is solid silver.
🚫 4. Misleading or Illegal Marking Examples
❌ 925 stamped on copper, brass, or stainless base
❌ 925 on silver-plated jewelry without additional marking (e.g., “plated”)
→ This is false advertising and can mislead buyers.
⚠️ Why overly shiny “925” silver can signal a fake
1. 🔹 Real sterling silver has a softer glow, not a chrome-like shine.
Genuine 925 silver has a warm, luminous sheen that develops a natural patina (slight dullness or tone variation) over time.
Fake or plated pieces often look too perfect, like polished stainless steel or chrome.
2. 🔹 It’s often just thin plating over base metal.
Makers of plated jewelry sometimes stamp “925” to trick buyers, but the surface shine comes from nickel or rhodium coating — not solid silver.
3. 🔹 Real silver tarnishes slightly.
Authentic sterling silver reacts with air and sulfur, forming a faint grey or black patina.
If it never tarnishes and always looks hyper-reflective, it’s likely rhodium-plated or stainless steel, not true 925.
4. 🔹 Weight and sound are giveaways.
Silver is dense — fakes often feel too light or “tinny.”
If it’s stamped “925” but feels off in weight or tone when tapped, it’s likely counterfeit or plated.
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✅ Quick test signs of real 925 silver:
• Attracts no magnet (silver isn’t magnetic).
• Tarnishes gradually over time.
• Has a deep, warm shine rather than a “mirror” chrome look.
• Often marked with both “925” and a maker’s mark (fakes usually have only the “925”).
🧭 1. The Magnet Test
What to do:
Hold a small magnet near your piece.
Real 925 silver:
• 🩶 Not magnetic — it won’t stick.
Fake/plated:
• 🧲 If it’s attracted to the magnet, it likely has a steel or nickel core (not sterling).
⚠️ Note: some clasps or pins can contain tiny steel parts, so check multiple spots.
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💧 2. The Ice Test
What to do:
Place an ice cube on the metal.
Real silver:
• Conducts heat extremely well — ice will melt noticeably faster than on most other metals.
Fake/plated:
• Ice melts slowly or unevenly.
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🌫️ 3. The Tarnish & Polish Check
What to do:
Rub the piece with a soft white cloth or polishing cloth.
Real silver:
• You’ll see grey or black marks on the cloth (oxidized silver).
Fake/plated:
• No dark marks — often just surface polish or coating.
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🪙 4. The Sound (Ring) Test
What to do:
Gently tap the item with a small metal object.
Real silver:
• Produces a clear, ringing “ping” sound.
Fake/plated:
• Duller, shorter, or “thudding” sound (denser base metal).
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⚗️ 5. The Acid Test (only if you can test discreetly)
If you have access to a silver testing kit, use it on an inconspicuous spot.
Real silver:
• Will show a creamy or light grey reaction.
Plated/fake:
• Reaction turns green or bright blue (indicates base metal beneath).
⚠️ This test can slightly mark the surface — best done on an edge or by a jeweller.
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🕵️ 6. Look for Hallmarks and Wear Patterns
Real silver:
• Stamp should read 925, STERLING, or include a maker’s mark.
• Tarnish forms evenly across the surface.
Fake/plated:
• “925” may look sloppy, too perfect, or off-center.
• Silver layer often wears off at edges, revealing copper or brass underneath.
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A piece marked “925” but actually plated with nickel is harmful for two main reasons:
👉 it’s misleading, and
👉 nickel can cause real health problems for many people.
Let’s break it down clearly:
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⚠️ 1. Nickel is a Common Allergen
• Nickel is one of the most common causes of metal allergies worldwide.
• When worn against the skin (especially in earrings, rings, or necklaces), it can cause:
• Redness, itching, rash, blisters, or dry skin
• Cracking or bleeding if exposure continues
• Chronic sensitivity, meaning even tiny traces cause reactions later
💡 Up to 20% of women and 5–10% of men have some level of nickel sensitivity.
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⚠️ 2. Nickel Leaching
• Nickel-plated jewelry can leach small amounts of metal ions into the skin through sweat or moisture.
• This triggers allergic contact dermatitis — and once your body becomes sensitized, the reaction tends to worsen over time.
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⚠️ 3. Deceptive Marking (“925”)
• When something is nickel-plated but stamped 925, it’s false advertising — meant to mimic sterling silver’s look but at far lower quality and safety.
• Consumers think they’re buying hypoallergenic silver, but they’re really wearing a reactive alloy.
• This is illegal under hallmarking laws in most countries (including Canada, the US, and EU).
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⚠️ 4. Nickel Can Interfere with Healing
• Piercings or broken skin exposed to nickel-plated jewelry can delay healing and cause infections because the metal irritates the tissue and immune system.
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✅ How to Protect Yourself
1. Avoid jewelry that says only “925” but looks too shiny or chrome-like.
2. Look for “nickel-free”, “hypoallergenic”, or “sterling silver” from reputable sellers.
3. Use a nickel test kit (available online or at pharmacies) — a small chemical swab can detect nickel in seconds.
4. For sensitive skin, stick with solid sterling silver, platinum, titanium, or 14k+ gold.
🙂 Here are the clearest and most practical ways to spot when “silver” jewelry actually has nickel plating, even before you test it chemically:
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🧩 1. The Shine Is “Too Perfect”
• Nickel-plated jewelry has a hard, mirror-bright, almost bluish shine — like chrome or stainless steel.
• Real sterling silver (925) has a softer, warmer glow and can slightly tarnish over time.
• If it looks cold and overly reflective, that’s a red flag for nickel or rhodium plating.
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⚙️ 2. The Weight Feels Off
• Nickel and base metals are often lighter or feel “tinny.”
• Real silver has a dense, solid weight — it feels substantial in your hand.
• If a ring feels oddly light for its size, it may be plated over nickel or brass.
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💧 3. It Never Tarnishes
• Real 925 silver oxidizes, forming a faint grey or black patina over time.
• Nickel-plated pieces stay shiny forever (until the plating wears off) because the surface doesn’t react with air.
• If you’ve had it for months and it’s still gleaming like new — that’s a sign it’s not genuine sterling.
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🪞 4. The Underside or Hidden Areas Look Different
• Check under clasps, ring bands, or the back of pendants.
• If you see yellowish or copper-colored metal showing through, the plating has worn off.
• Real sterling silver is the same color all the way through — no underlayer.
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🧲 5. The Magnet Test Tells You Everything
• Nickel and steel alloys are magnetic; silver isn’t.
• If a small magnet pulls toward your jewelry, it’s definitely not solid 925 silver.
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💍 6. Skin Reactions or Color Change
• If your skin turns red, itchy, or develops bumps, you’re reacting to nickel.
• Sometimes it can also cause a green or grey stain (especially in rings or necklaces).
• Sterling silver rarely causes irritation unless someone has an extreme metal sensitivity.
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🪪 7. The “925” Stamp Looks Suspicious
• Counterfeiters often stamp “925” on plated jewelry, but the hallmark looks:
• Off-center, uneven, or too shallow
• In the wrong font or too large
🤓🤓🤓 Research the products, place and people. You will know.
😍😍😍Authenticity is important to me.
🤙🤙🤙Keep it real peeps!
Warm regards,
Hayley Rose
