How To Test 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry Nickel Free

Sterling silver contains 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper, so it is harder and stronger than pure silver (99.9 percent), making it excellent for jewelry. It is most popular as an alternative for people who carve the popular white-metal look. And it is more affordable than gold yet it is classified as a precious metal.

The standards of purity levels of precious metals are different around the world. For example, the United Kingdom has a very strict health policy against wearing nickel jewellery that commonly cause skin allergy. Example 2: In order to bear the name "silver" in the US, silver alloys must contain at least 92.5 percent pure silver.

Manufacturers most frequently use nickel to plate cheap sterling silver jewelry to give it a longer lasting high shine. Other quality jewelry manufacturers commonly use palladium or rhodium (platinum group metal) for plating instead. Sterling silver, in it's original state without any metal plating, is a luminous silver white in color. Palladium or rhodium plating would give sterling silver a higher polish shine and look.

The description or term "nickel silver", actually contains no silver at all: It's a combination of base metals - copper, nickel, and zinc - that merely resembles silver metal in color.
Nickel is a type of metal alloy, used to produce coins, pennies, and nickels. You'll notice that coins in your hand for some extended time feels dirty or it gives out a 'lead' scent. For the same health reason, generally, people get a sensitive or allergic reaction to wearing nickel; copper or bronze alloy metal jewelry.

A simple test can quickly tell if your jewelry contains nickel or has nickel plating. Using a piece of fridge magnet, touch the magnet onto the jewelry. Nickel alloy jewelry will stick to the magnet.