If you adore the look and feel of silver jewelry then you probably already realize there's vast selection of jewelry to choose from on the market today. This can make it difficult to know where to shop and what to buy. Whether you're shopping for jewelry online or in a jewelry or department store, there are several things to look for to ensure you're getting a great piece of jewelry.

First, consider the source. Look for jewelry stores online or off-line that offer quality jewelry pieces at an affordable rate. Be sure the store is reputable and offers informative descriptions and accurate photos of the silver jewelry that's being offered. Store clerks or online sales representatives should provide prompt answers to your questions and be willing to help you find that special silver jewelry chain, earrings, pendants or other items for your needs. If shopping online, be sure the company offers secure ordering methods before entering your credit card information.

Know the difference between custom or handmade silver jewelry and manufactured jewelry. Handmade jewelry offers added benefits such as the ability to order your silver chains "by the inch" and the ability to choose the type of clasp you want for necklaces, bracelets or anklets. If you want specialty jewelry, use keywords in the search field online to search for specific types of jewelry, such as "handcrafted Bali jewelry" or "handmade silver herringbone chains."

Sterling Silver Markings

Be sure you're getting a true silver product by looking for the markings of sterling silver. Sterling silver contains 92.5 percent silver, or 925 parts per thousand. Fine silver is 99.9 percent silver, but is also softer and may easily be scratched or damaged. Sterling silver is durable for everyday wear and more affordable. If buying sterling silver with gemstones, make sure the stones are of high quality as well as the silver jewelry itself.

Take Accurate Measurements

If ordering handmade jewelry, be sure to measure properly to ensure you'll get the right size. Handmade jewelry may or may not be refundable because it has been made to your specifications. If you need a silver chain, be sure to measure your neckline properly and allow an extra inch or two for breathing room. There's nothing worse than receiving a beautiful necklace that's too tight! Also take appropriate measurements for silver rings, bracelets, cufflinks and anklets.

Accessorize Before You Buy

Learn to imagine what the jewelry will look like when wearing it with certain outfits or colors. Try to find silver jewelry that will go well with several outfits so you can get more wear out of your jewelry items. You can buy a silver chain and wear several different silver pendants with the same chain depending on your mood for the day or the type of outfit you're wearing.

Buy silver rings, earrings and even hair barrettes to match your chains to complete your ensemble. Look for silver jewelry that expresses your personality, whether bold, shy or colorful! Do you go for the daring look or a more traditional style? Silver jewelry comes in so many styles that it's easy to find exactly what you need.

Silver jewelry also makes a wonderful gift for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries or any gift occasion. Beautiful handmade silver jewelry is something you might want to consider as a gift or collectible jewelry that you can pass on as a family heirloom. Whether buying for yourself or that special someone, use these tips to find high quality silver jewelry today.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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Silver has come back into style these days, which makes economic sense, as it is much cheaper than gold, and can look just as beautiful. You can of course buy jewelry from reputable jewellers, and this would be the safest option. However, for sheer volume of choice, you cannot beat the internet. Here the whole world becomes the marketplace, and you can find the best deals without leaving your armchair. However, you will be parting with good money, and giving it to someone you do not know, so there is much more risk than if you buy from a physical shop: you can always go back there and complain, whereas with internet purchases you will probably only have an internet address.

The trade off for this risk is of course the fact that you will get your jewelry much cheaper than from a jeweller's shop. They have got physical premises to maintain, staff to pay and expensive inventory to keep. The internet wholesaler probably has his own jewelry maker, and will only get pieces made when he gets the order. This "just in time" inventory system allows him to have virtually no overhead costs to maintain. Dell computers have built a huge computer business using the same principle.

If you do decide that the lower price is worth the risk, make sure that the silver you buy is sterling silver. You can tell this from the markings on the silver: sterling silver will nearly always have the mark of '925', signifying that this silver is of the highest quality. There is only one grade of sterling silver: it is either sterling silver or it is not.

The main cost of sterling silver jewelry will be in the making of the piece, especially if it is hand made. Here again, the internet wholesaler has an advantage over the local jewelry store. Just as you have a wide choice of sellers, so they have a wide range of manufacturers, who may be in a different country. There are lots of highly skilled silversmiths working in third world countries for much lower wages than a local craftsman would command, and this helps to drive the retail cost down even further.

If you are satisfied that you have bought sterling silver, the only thing which should now concern you is the quality of the setting. Unfortunately you cannot check this before you receive the piece, so minimise your risk by doing some normal diligence on the person from whom you are buying. Has he been in business long? This doesn't mean in the internet business, this means in the jewelry business. Does he have a list of satisfied customers? Type his name into a search engine and see what comes up.

One big drawback with sterling silver is that it tarnishes easily. If you watch historical dramas on TV you will remember that one of the parlourmaid's jobs was to clean the silver cutlery. This was an almost daily chore, and while it may not be a daily job for you, it is still a job which needs to be done on a regular basis. Use a retail silver polish: there are many available on the market, or your local jeweller will certainly have one.

To summarise, buying your sterling silver from the internet will be a risk, just like buying anything from the internet. It is more so with jewelry, as jewelry is more expensive than most other things. It is up to you to keep this risk to a minimum by doing your homework on the seller before you get seduced by the low prices.

About the author

Peter Phillips is an accountant and writer living in Canberra, Australia For better bargains on sterling silver jewelry, go to: http://www.money-makingopportunities.com/jewelry For free site building software go to: http://peteract.notlong.com