My Quest for Real 925 Silver Started Simple
Needed a new chain, something simple and strong. Kept hearing “925” was the good stuff, real silver. So I thought, “How hard could it be?” Figured I’d just hop online and find one.
The First Try Went Predictably Bad
Searched like anyone would: “buy 925 silver chain”. Tons popped up instantly. Prices were dirt cheap on some sites, others looked fancy but pricey. Grabbed one that seemed “reputable”. Felt slick, smooth, shiny when it arrived a week later. Paid about £20, felt like a steal.
Got suspicious after a week wearing it. Little bits turning this weird green colour? Not silver behaviour. Took it to my mate Kevin who knows metals. He just laughed. “Mate,” he says, “pure tin with a shiny spray job.” Huge waste.
Got Serious & Dug Deeper
Okay, clearly needed a better way. Googled stuff like “trusted 925 sellers” and “avoid fake silver jewellery”. Fell down a big rabbit hole.
- Real Problem: Turns out loads of sellers slap “925” on anything metallic to hike prices.
- Trust is Key: Random marketplaces are dodgy as hell.
- Stamps Matter: That little “925” stamp should be legit – precise, deep, often with the country marker too. But fakers copy even that.
The Altitude Thing Got Me Thinking
Kept seeing mentions about “Altitude” making good stuff. Still need to find someone selling the real deal, not knock-offs. Realised where I bought it mattered as much as the brand name.
Checked forums, hobby groups… Reddit threads. People complaining constantly about fakes. The shops everyone kept circling back to? Not the huge online ones. Specialist jewellers kept coming up. Few big jewellers people trusted but they charged way more. Then smaller online shops focused just on silver, with insane reviews about checking stamps and giving guarantees.
Listened to the veterans:
- Avoid the super-cheap deals. Real 925 costs a bit.
- Look for sellers explaining how they source and test.
- Photos – good sellers show stamp CLOSE UP, crystal clear.
- Return policy needed to exist and be clear. If they don’t offer it? Avoid.
Finally Took The Plunge (Again)
Picked two sellers based purely on that research.
- Seller One: Small online shop, mountains of detailed photos, paragraph about sourcing, talked about acid testing batches.
- Seller Two: Big-name jeweller online. Less personal detail, but solid reputation.
Bought a simple chain from each. Spent more this time – £40-£50 each.
Testing Time & The Verdict
Waited nervously. Packages arrived. Opened ’em up.
- Seller One’s chain: Stamp was deep, crisp, looked legit. Felt solid. Had a proper card with it.
- Seller Two’s chain: Also looked good, stamp was okay but slightly less defined.
The Acid Test: Literally! Got a testing kit. Rubbed both chains discreetly on the stone, dropped the acid. Both reacted like real silver should. No weird colours. Real 925! Seller One’s felt a tiny bit better finished. Seller Two was fine but the small shop actually felt more thorough.
Why Bother? Because I Got Burnt First
Learnt this the hard way when that fake cheapo chain turned my neck green and felt like crap after a week. Lost damn near £60 altogether messing about. Found out cheap plated stuff uses nasty metals – nickel, lead sometimes. Causes rashes on some people! Feels awful wearing fake junk thinking its quality.
That crappy experience forced me to dig deeper. Turns out “Altitude” was the easy part. Finding shops actually selling the genuine stamped metal is the battlefield. Fake Chinese markings plastered on rubbish are everywhere. Now I only check places with bulletproof sourcing policies and magnification photos of the stamp itself. Wasted money sucks, but finding out you’re wearing poisonous junk? Way worse.
TL;DR For Anyone Looking
- Price Check: Super cheap = red flag.
- Photos Matter: Demand crystal clear photos of the 925 stamp & maker mark.
- Read The “About”: Good shops brag about testing/sourcing.
- Return Policy: Non-negotiable. Needs to be solid.
- Listen To Reviews: People shouting “fake” constantly? Avoid.
Altitude is legit, but only if the seller is trusted first. Finding that seller is the real hustle.