Know the material. Care for the piece.
Understand silver, hallmarks, plating and jewellery care, with clear distinctions between a metal, its surface finish and the materials attached to it.
Read a material description in layers. What is the main metal? Is there a coating? What are the stones or decorative inserts? Which parts need different care?
Begin with three questions
What is underneath? “Silver colour” describes appearance. “Sterling silver” describes a metal alloy. “Silver plated” describes a surface over another material. A listing should not leave you guessing which of these it means.
What is on top? Plating and deliberately darkened or textured details are finishes, and the wrong cleaning method can change them. Care advice for bare metal may be unsuitable for its coating.
What else is attached? A metal charm may also contain enamel, glue, pearls, stones or a silicone insert. Check the whole piece before choosing a cleaning product.
Read the right guide
- Silver and hallmarks explains fineness numbers, the role of assay marks and useful questions for a seller.
- Plated jewellery explains what a plating description can and cannot tell you.
- Jewellery care offers a cautious routine and a material-by-material decision table.
- Buying jewellery online turns those details into a comparison checklist.
For a particular finish, explore gold-plated jewellery and rose-gold-plated jewellery. These focus on choosing the look and checking the construction behind it.
Keep claims in proportion
A photograph cannot confirm metal purity. A colour does not identify a gemstone. A hallmark does not prove that a charm fits a particular bracelet. Each claim needs the right evidence.
These guides explain how to assess descriptions and choose sensible next steps. They do not authenticate or value an individual item.