Sterling Silver From China: Too Cheap To Be True?

[samsmoot]

OK, so I have bought a few 'Sterling 925' silver items of jewellery from China Thought it might be worth putting some precious metal away for a rainy day.

Thing is, it seems too cheap to be true. Looking at scrap silver prices, it's about 30p a gram for 925 silver, yet the items I have had cost less, much less, than this. My better half knows about silver, and is 100% sure that it is the real thing. I, however, am sceptical, in that I probably won't be satisfied until someone has paid me cold hard cash for some of what I have bought.

There are no hallmarks on the items, just a '925' mark. Is it the case that no scrap silver dealer would be interested due to there being no hallmark? I guess I'd find out if I sent some off for scrap value, or maybe took it to Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, which is probably what I'll have to do.

When something sounds too good to be true it's best to proceed with caution, but if there is a genuine opportunity there for a cheap investment, I'd like to take it. Difficult to lose out, in a way, as the jewellery is certainly worth the money as jewellery, saleable as scrap or not.

Any advice welcome, please.

[Hose_dk]

why should anyone manufacture and sell item - under scrap walue ?

[samsmoot]

why should anyone manufacture and sell item - under scrap walue ?

That's the question, Hose. Any clue?

[Hose_dk]

yep - not silver

[ValkyrieVixen]

I've seen dozens of posts on eBay about buyers getting items from China marked 925 that were only plated, at best. Some will even admit it's not silver when you ask them about it.

[larkfield]

I have a policy - I do not buy from online auctions as I cannot pickup the article and examine. "In room" auctions , particularly small auctioneers I will buy from but if marked only with 925 or 9K etc then I am not interested unless I can have a Jeweler verify. Asian I do not look at.
Why - . I have seen Valuation Certificate with no company name and illegible signature saying 18ct for an Asian item which reputable jeweler said less than 9 ct. Another valuation said 14ct crossed out and 18ct inserted - probably same as previous example. Another example (not from Asia) stamped 9ct - may have been silver was from a country where any one could buy a stamp.
I find cheap odd pieces European silver is available if time taken at "in room" auctions,i.e London marked 1858 sterling desert spoons etc in good condition but not in sets around 25% market , Czech 800 marked Table spoons etc. in excellent condition around 50% sterling purchase.
These are my thoughts on buying, whether this applies in other countries I do not know.

[aura]

Does anyone now about the 525 marking on silver, i guess it's indian or chinese silver?

[Granmaa]

On a tour through the London Assay Office last year, we were shown trays and trays of jewellery marked 925 and sterling. They said it was all silver plated, and thinly plated at that.

Miles