Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
June 13, 2010
When I went to the jewelry store from which I had bought the ring, the jeweler explained that it was merely some of the rhodium plating which was wearing off. Is that a plausible explanation? And even so, what can I do about it? My silver ring looks dull and lusterless, and I want it back to how it looked when I first bought it.
June 19, 2010
Unlike the previous responder, I wouldn't be too hasty and jump into conclusion that the 925 stamp on your silver jewelry is a fake one. Being liable for stamping a fake 925 mark is actually considered a federal offence and could be dealt with quite gravely. Because you say you have already been to the jewelry store and asked your jeweler about your strangely discolored silver jewelry, I find it hard to believe that the jeweler would be so indifferent about this whole ordeal. If he had indeed sold you a fake silver ring, he would have been well aware of the fact that he could be prosecuted and his whole business put in jeopardy. Therefore, I would give your jeweler the benefit of the doubt. Most chances are that your ring has become dull in color due to common tarnish. If this is the case, which I sincerely believe it is, you have nothing to worry about. There is no problem for you to thoroughly clean your silver jewelry item and reestablish its luster. There are several household methods as well as professional kits that are aimed for doing exactly that – they remove tarnish from silver jewelry or silverware in general. Therefore, I would try that first before suspecting that the 925 stamp is a fraud.
June 15, 2010
The stamp must be fake since real sterling silver is not supposed to discolor. Are you sure the silver is coming off? Perhaps you are confusing the discoloration with tarnish? Tarnish appears as a black layer over the surface of the jewelry. If you're sure that what you are seeing is the discoloration of your ring, then there is no way that the ring is genuine sterling silver. The ring may be coated with rhodium, but rhodium is the same color as silver (silvery-white), thus if it were the rhodium wearing off, the ring would still stay silver.
