The law requires metal to be characterized by the manufacturer and the quality of the metal. For the pound sterling, the mark will be the number 925 (which means 92.5% silver, which is the pound sterling) or a "pound" label with the words. Close the loop must have the mark, which would be the end of the chain, in any case. Sometimes the brand is in a small flat looking ring at the end of the chain, so check around.
tarnishing of silver and some people who tarnishes quickly due the chemistry of the body, but others can never tarnish. To keep tarnish from happening, sterling is very often plated with another metal to protect the pound sterling and keep the tarnish from happening. The plate is a metal called "rhodium" which is very light or another metal recently used on the money that is more like the color of money. However, the chain can be sterling and still have the plate on the outside to avoid stains.
Otherwise, the only real way to tell if something Sterling Silver is is to test. For example, in a test performed by a jeweler. In general, a test will cost some money, not much, but maybe not worth it, depending of what you paid for the chain. In a large heavy chain, the test could be useful, but it's all yours.
I suggest thinking about where you got chain and if you have not had an established business. An established business would serve little purpose in selling anything fake Sterling price. Always look for both a brand and a sterling stamp or the symbol for the manufacture as I said before. These two marks should be there.
Here is some information on how to know if gold is really on his wrist gold. The chlorine in bleach is dangerous to Jewelry of gold, it is preferable not to test gold in bleach, or lose your jewelry. points of tension, as if the metal was hammered leaned on the stones in the teeth, formed by a chain-making machines and others are more affected by chlorine. welded areas are sometimes affected by chlorine. White gold is more easily damaged, but apparently this happens with yellow gold also points of tension in the metal.
Chlorine causes blackout of gold, but yellow gold, it almost seems a very pale gray color. White gold reacts the same way, but sometimes goes darker. The chlorine reacts with carat gold metals. All metal jewelry 18k, 14k and 10k has other metals in the recipe when the metal is made. Pure gold is mixed with silver and most of copper (with nickel or palladium with white gold) to get enough solid metal for jewelry.
The karat mark shows how much gold is in the mix. For example, Pure gold is called 24k. 10k now have 10 parts pure gold and 14 shares of other metals, all of which party to 24. 18-karat gold is 18 parts gold and 6 parts of other metals, in addition to 24 pieces. How are things with which carats.
Yellow gold is not so dangerously affected by chlorine and a good polishing to do what you can, that is, if it is really gold. The best way to see if ct is real is to be tested. This means that a test or a test with one of the newer testers electronic gold jewelers use. This is what I recommend.
Victor Epand is the owner of http://www.JewerlyGift.biz, a huge online jewelry superstore featuring the greatest selection of jewelry including personalizable items. Clearance Sale items are here: http://www.jewelrygift.biz/collection/clearance-sales.html
Jewelry Making : Making Sterling Silver Jewelry
