Sterling silver and silver plated gifts - Buying tips

Presenting a Sterling silver or plated silver gift to a friend or loved one, is always guaranteed to please. Choosing the gift you will be proud to present, and a gift that will last for many years to come, requires only a little care. Sterling silver - Hallmarked British made sterling silver is invariably made to a very high standard. The same is true of Plated Silver, either made by top British manufacturers, or made to their specification, and manufactiured abroad.

We are all aware of brand names in our supermarkets, and fashion shops, these brand names reassure us of the quality of the goods we purchase. The same guide should apply when choosing silver or silver plated products, a recognized name will be an assurance of quality. A good quailty silver or silver plated product - with proper care - can last for generations, indeed, hundreds of years - just look at antique silver online. Therefore a couple of simple questions to sellers, ie. who is the manufacturer or supplier, and where are they based, should ensure the purchase of a good quality product.

Engraving silver or silver plated gifts adds that personal touch, and shows your friend or loved one you really care. One should always be careful not to go " over the top" with the engraved message - less is without doubt more when it comes to engraving. Please do take great care with your engraving message and spelling, once engraved an item cannot be returned. Engraving is a skilled and lenghty process and, can be very costly. There are many excellent sellers online offering engraving , this represents a very good deal for any buyer. Engraved silver and silver plated gifts tend to have a greater perceived value to the recipient.

Silver and silver plate do tarnish, and in some home and work environments, quite quickly. The answer to this age old problem is to use, whenever possible, non tarnish silver cleaner . There are many non-tarnish methods applied to silver and silver plate, unfortunately, most do not work. One should avoid lacquers and other coatings, these tend to spoil the look of silver and, in extreme cases can, over time, damage silver.