How to recognize an antique silver jewelry

Of great importance to the collectible value and worth of an antique silver piece is the artistic taste and skill of the jeweler, the design, form and method of surface treatment of the metal.

Silver is back in fashion, and especially vintage and antique jewelry, which adds a mysterious charm to a woman’s image. If you want to give your soul mate a romantic and unusual gift, there is no better option than an antique silver ring, earrings or bracelet.

Many rings hold memories of their former owners, are associated with romantic love stories or famous personalities of bygone centuries. They can be bought in jewelry stores, antique websites and auctions related to antiques. These are filigree and cast silver rings, brooches, pendants, bracelets, pendants and earrings, cameos with shells, agate or mother-of-pearl and other jewelry made of noble metal of Russian, English, German, Israeli, Spanish, French or Italian manufacture.

Antique silver jewelry attracts the close attention of others versed in the finer points of jewelry art. Light damage, patina, or the patina of time only increase their value, and the possession of antique silver objects corresponds to a certain level of wealth in society.

Of great importance for the collectible value and cost of an antique silver piece is the artistic taste and skill of the jeweler, design, shape and method of processing the surface of the metal. When evaluating a piece of jewelry art antique dealers pay attention to the branding on the surface of the ornament, carrying information about the sample, the name of the master and the place of manufacture of the product. The best stamps stand on silver jewelry and cutlery of English production.

Only a professional can recognize real antique silver and the high quality of the alloy. One of its expressive characteristics is high thermal conductivity – in the hand silver ring will quickly take the temperature of the body, and when lowered into hot water immediately heats up. Silver is not magnetic – and this is one of the easiest ways to recognize it without branding. Also, to determine the authenticity of an antique silver piece, you can drop a small drop of iodine on its surface, and the metal will turn black. There are modern tests to determine silver - indispensable if you are going to buy expensive silver jewelry, instead of which are often offered silver-plated brass.

Antique silver jewelry is distinguished from the creative masterpieces of modern masters by its style, decoration, the condition of the surface of the piece and the branding, which must be located in a certain place, have certain proportions, the regularity of the arrangement of elements and its own secret protective signs, like coins or paper bills.