As per the provisions of federal law, the sterling silver jewelry needs to be made from an alloy consisting of least 92.5% pure silver. The remaining 7.2 % of the alloy can compose any type of metal. Normally, the jewelry manufacturers made these jewelries by combining platinum or copper with the pure silver. The high percentage of pure silver is also responsible for providing sterling silver jewelry with the impressive and attractive shine. Also, these jewelries are priced high because of the alloy composing of 92.5% pure silver. However, many people love to appraise the jewelries to buy the best quality items on their predetermined budget.
1. Clean the Jewelry: When you decide to appraise the sterling silver jewelry, you have to start by cleaning the piece thoroughly. Use a soft cloth and clean the jewelry by buffing out the tarnish. You also have to ensure that fingerprints and similar temporary markings are completely wiped off during the cleaning process. If the tarnish is heavy, you have to consider using some specially designed chemicals available in the market as tarnish dip. Many people use silver polish to clean the sterling silver jewelry, but the polish is not strong and effective enough to properly clean the grooves and crevices developed in the jewelry piece.