If you are going to take the time to choose a special gift like a sterling silver picture frame, you want to make sure that it looks great and is authentic. There is no worse feeling for you than when you invest a lot of money in an expensive picture frame only to find out later that it is silver plated and not real silver at all. To make sure that you make the right decision, it is important to know just what to look for in a picture frame so you can tell if it is the real deal. Here at Sterling Silver Frame, we recommend looking for some simple markings to identify frames made out of real silver.
Check for a Stamp
Real silver frames will be clearly marked in some way so that you know they are made from actual silver. The mark used most often is a simple mark placed on the frame, usually somewhere on the back of the frame or the bottom. Many companies stamp the item “Sterling Silver” so that you know that it is authentic. You may also see markings that indicate .925 (or a number that is higher) to let you know what the percentage of pure silver is in the content. Some items may even make use of a lion hallmark as an indicator of silver. If you do not see any of these markings or any markings at all, the likelihood is that the item is silver plated.
Testing Your Items
There are tests that you can perform to determine if your purchase is frames made out of real silver or not. An appraiser can check the item for you, but this typically requires scraping a small portion of the metal and placing nitric acid on the spot. This process can cause damage to your item. There is also an x-ray fluorescence test, but this test is very expensive to conduct. Other home tests have been tried in the past, such as trying to place a magnet on the item, but these tests are not definitive and may not give you a conclusive answer.
The Best Guarantee
The best way to make sure you get frames made out of real silver is to buy your frames from a trusted source like us at Sterling Silver Frame. All of our items are made from real silver, and we offer a wide selection of frame designs and sizes for you to choose from. You can see our current offerings of frames when you visit our website so you can find the authentic and beautiful items you want.