If the listing says "German Silver", "Tibetan Silver", "Alpaca Silver" or "Nickel Silver", you may be surprised when you read this Shopping Guide.

If you are shopping online for Quality Silver Jewelry, you are probably looking for the best price and the largest selection. But are you getting the quality that you think you are getting or a base metal with a fancy name? I have put the following Silver Guide together to make you more familiar with various products that are precious metal Silver and those that attempt to imply that they are Silver.

This is not an attempt to call any particular seller a fraud or to say that they are ripping you off (but they are out there). This is simply a guide to help you get the most for your online purchase.

I was scanning through listings on a smaller auction site and came upon a listing that I could not believe. Under the catagory of "Diamond Bracelets", a seller had listed a "Diamond Tennis Bracelet" at a starting bid of $24.99 and a BUY NOW PRICE of $169.99. The picture was of a very substantial looking Yellow Gold and Diamond Bracelet. In the  title line was the initials of a TV shopping channel. I kept asking myself, "What is the catch"?

As I carefully looked over the entire listing, there it was near the bottom in smaller print. it read something like this:
1] Created Diamonds (there is only one way to create REAL DIAMONDS and that is called nature). I don't believe that is what the seller was trying to disclose. It is either a diamond, another type of gemstone or it is simulated.
2] 14K gold plated. There is a huge value difference between 10K, 14K, 18K, Vermeil Gold, Gold filled and Gold plated.

The bottom line of the example above is that the bracelet might have been worth the starting bid but if the bidder was thinking that they were getting a bargain, it is very probable that they were not. When you are bidding and buying, read everything included in the listing and if you are unsure of something, don't be afraid to ask a question. Check out the seller's feedback.

Remember, I'm not trying to overload you with information here. This is a reference guide. If you want easy access to this guide, the easiest way may be to go to my ebay "ME" PAGE and select me as a favorite seller. Then any time you need to reference information in this ebay guide, you'll be able to find it easily. Okay, so here we go with Silver 101.

HILL TRIBE SILVER:

For centuries, Northern Thailand Silversmiths   have built their lives around silver crafts. Known as "Hill Tribe Artisans", they are various tribes that occupy the "Gold Triangle" area of Thailand. It is common practice for these tribesmen to use silver in place of money.

The Hill Tribe silversmiths create each detailed jewelry component painstakingly by hand from fine (96% minimum) silver. They form silver sheets and wire from silver ingots, and then hammer, solder, mold, and engrave each piece to completion. It is generally accepted that HILL TRIBE SILVER is at minimum 96% pure silver.

STERLING SILVER:

Sterling Silver is a precious metal consisting of 92.5% Silver and 7.5% copper or base metal, used to increases the Silver's hardness. Sterling grade Silver is considered the bench mark for fine Silver Jewelry and may or may not be stamped with ".925".

RHODIUM PLATED STERLING SILVER:

One white metal of the platinum family of precious metals. Rhodium is very expensive, and is often used to electroplate Sterling Silver giving it a hard, platinum-like sheen. The advantage with this process is it curtails the oxidation of Sterling Silver.

SILVER 800:

Silver 800 is a Silver alloy which contains 80% silver and 20% copper, It is often used in place of Sterling Silver for casting because of it is no as soft as Sterling Silver.

SILVER PLATING:

The process by which one Silver is coated over base metal using electricity. Also known by the terms electroplating and Galvanotechnics - the latter named after the inventor of the process. To produce less costly jewelry components, inexpensive or base metals are coated with a thin layer of Silver.

PRECIOUS METAL CLAY:

PMC®: The registered abbreviation for Precious Metal Clay®. PMC® is just what its name implies, precious metal in the form of clay. It is available in pure silver mixed with water and an organic binder (80% fine silver powder, 20% water and organic binder). It can be rolled, cut, shaped and even extruded from a pastry tube, in other words, just like sculpting clay. Once the shape is made, it is fired in a kiln or special oven at temperatures from 1,650ºF for silver to create jewelry pieces.

TIBETAN SILVER: 

There are at least 2 kinds of beads and jewelry sold as "Tibetan Silver." Reproduction beads and jewelry in Tibetan styles are produced in mass quanities in India and Nepal, often by Tibetan refugees. These are more times than not, actually fabricated goods in base metal (no actual Silver content), often with an antique silver finish. This "Tibetan Silver" are set with  imitation amber, imitation turquoise and glass stones. These items rarely contain any real silver.  These base metal items often are cast from a lead based alloy and may be a health hazardous in  particular to small children.

Genuine Tibetan silver is often made from Sterling silver, which typically consists of 92.5 percent silver. Unlike Sterling silver, which is used in jewelry because of its combination of beauty and durability, a great deal  of what is marketed as “Tibetan Silver” doesn’t match the quality of Sterling.  The actual silver content of “Tibetan Silver” can be as low as 1 or 2 percent. WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK THE SELLER POINT BLANK IF IT IS ACTUALLY SILVER OR IMITATION.

GERMAN SILVER:

German Silver is actually Silver Electroplated over Solid Copper. The good news is that  German Silver is inexpensive compared to Sterling Silver and prices of wire or findings of this material should reflect it.  Since the Silver is plated over Copper, it is a very flexible material. Sometimes designers and jewelry crafters will shy away from German Silver wire because the Copper will show at the ends.

ALPACA SILVER:

Alpaca Silver is only silver in name only. there is no actual silver in it. It is an alloy of approximately 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc with 5% tin substituted for either the nickel or zinc. Peruvian alpaca jewelry is made from alloy of zinc, iron, copper and nickel. It has similar  properties to stainless steel and will not tarnish or rust. Alpaca products claim to be hypoallergenic, however with anywhere from a 10% to 20% nickel content, I am not certain that it is possible.

NICKEL SILVER:

Once again, Nickel silver is not really silver at all, except in color. Nickel Silver is approximately 60% copper, with 20% of nickel and 20% zinc added. This alloy was first used in the mid-1800s by the Germans as a silver substitute.  Be aware that approximately 1 person in 20 has a metal allergy to nickel.

BASE METAL:

Any metal other than the precious metals, such as lead, bismuth, tin, antimony, copper, etc. Alloys of non-precious metals are also referred to as base metals. Findings made of base metal (silver or gold colored) are the cheapest to buy, and are great for practice for beginning beaders and children. For better pieces, use gold filled (a layer of gold stamped - not electroplated - over a base metal core) or sterling silver findings. Base metal findings are usually made of a nickel alloy material that can cause allergic reactions in some people, especially when used in body piercings. Those people who are sensitive to nickel alloys should use only 14 K (or higher) gold found in quality gold-filled findings. Surgical grade stainless steel findings are also available (usually referred to as Hypoallergenic). Most nickel-sensitive people can also tolerate sterling silver with no problems.