Silver jewelry is not only always a welcome gift; it is also an excellent investment. While silver metal costs less than half the price of gold, the beauty, workmanship and versatility of silver chains, silver pendants and silver bracelets keep handmade silver jewelry and antique silver jewelry high on the list at auctions and other venues. If you’re buying a piece of silver jewelry for yourself or as a gift, these tips will help you select a high quality piece of jewelry that your recipient will enjoy. They’re especially important if you’re buying jewelry online.

Trust the Seller

Look for a reputable seller when buying silver jewelry. There are many little details that affect the quality of the jewelry you buy. A reputable seller often has strict quality control standards to ensure that you always get what you pay for – and the motivation to ensure that all of his or her customers are happy with their purchase. Don’t rule out small crafters and makers of handmade silver jewelry, though. You’ll often find the highest quality and most beautiful silver necklaces, silver earrings and silver chains made by independent crafters selling their jewelry online.

Know Your Silver

Jewelry marked .925 is made of sterling silver jewelry. It means that the silver used in the piece is 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% other metal alloys, which are necessary to help harden the silver and make it less prone to tarnish. Often, the most sought after silver jewelry is marked .999, nearly pure silver. Because few people have skin reactions to silver, the finer silver is less likely to cause an allergic reaction and is less likely to tarnish.

Watch for Weasel Words in Ads

You’ll often see very low prices for silver jewelry on the Internet, usually advertised as “Genuine silver plated” – very often in small letters somewhere. Silver plated jewelry is made of another metal and plated with a very thin layer of silver. That layer rubs away as you wear it, and your “silver” jewelry becomes discolored.

Look for Quality Craftsmanship

If you’re buying silver jewelry online, buy from a site that provides generously sized, detailed photos of each product. Look for sharp details in any engraving or carving work, and check to see the kind of setting used to secure stones in place, as well as the type of clasps used to close silver necklaces and bracelets, and the findings on other pieces such as silver barrettes and brooches.

Choose Classic Pieces

Trendy jewelry may be fun to buy, but the classics last forever. Quality silver pieces are often passed down from mother to daughter and father to son, becoming family heirlooms. Choose silver jewelry that will stand the test of time and be just as beautiful in fifty years as it is on the day it arrives.