How to Choose Genuine Sterling Silver Jewellery: What to Look For

When you're investing in a beautiful piece of silver jewellery, it's worth knowing exactly what you're buying. Sterling silver has a timeless appeal, elegant, versatile and made to be worn and enjoyed for years to come. But not all silver jewellery is created equal.

At By Design Gifts in Bridgend, we carefully curate our jewellery collection with quality, craftsmanship and distinctive design in mind. So, what should you look for when choosing genuine sterling silver?

Look for the .925 mark

One of the most important things to look for is the .925 sterling silver standard. This indicates that the piece is made from 92.5% pure silver, with the remaining 7.5% typically made up of other metals to give the silver greater strength and durability.

Pure silver is naturally quite soft, so sterling silver offers the perfect balance between the beauty of silver and the durability needed for jewellery designed to be worn.

A reputable piece should also have appropriate hallmarks where required, providing an additional indication of its precious metal content and quality.

Consider the craftsmanship

Quality isn't only about what a piece is made from, it's also about how it is made.

The weight, finish, detailing and construction of a piece can all tell you something about its craftsmanship. Well-made sterling silver jewellery should feel substantial and carefully finished, with attention paid to the details that make a design special.

This is particularly important when choosing distinctive, design-led jewellery that you intend to treasure rather than simply wear for a season.

Discover the heritage of Taxco silver

Some of our favourite sterling silver pieces come from Taxco, Mexico, a town renowned worldwide for its long association with silver craftsmanship and often called the silver capital of the world.

Our beautiful alternating large-and-small circular-link necklace is part of our carefully curated, fine-quality sterling silver collection. Hand-crafted in Taxco, it combines a striking contemporary design with the skill and heritage of master silversmiths.

Genuine Taxco silver is renowned for its high-purity .925 sterling standard, substantial construction and artisan craftsmanship, resulting in distinctive pieces with their own character.

Look for a guarantee of quality

When purchasing precious metal jewellery, it's reassuring to know that the quality has been independently verified.

At By Design, we ensure that every piece of our sterling silver jewellery that meets the required weight is hallmarked at the Birmingham Assay Office. For our customers, this provides an important guarantee of the silver standard and gives additional confidence when choosing a piece from our collection.

Choose something you'll love wearing

Ultimately, buying sterling silver jewellery should be about more than a stamp or hallmark. Look for quality materials, thoughtful design, excellent craftsmanship and a piece that you genuinely love.

Our Taxco necklace is a perfect example, elegant enough to make an occasion special, yet distinctive enough to become a favourite piece in your jewellery collection.

Discover the carefully curated sterling silver collection at By Design Gifts in Bridgend and find a beautiful piece to treasure for yourself or someone special. Shop Here