Featured Hecho en Mexico Silver - Field Tests

When I was looking at this bangle marked with Hecho En Mexico, the reseller who comes in about the same time as I do, said he doesn't buy these as so many are fake - even when the say 925. When I went home and cleaned it, I found the 925. I tested it with my trusty magnet and it is not magnetic. I know this is not conclusive, but for my purposes of a simple bangle for casual wear it will do. I thought it might be real, because someone took the time to stamp tiny little birds with some detail on it. That made it seem like something a silversmith would do. What clues do you use to decide whether or not to buy Mexican silver? I know it if stamped Taxco, it is probably real, but anything else? It weighs 1.5 ounces and is 3 inches in diameter.

 

A lot of jewelry from Mexico stamped 925 or silver is fake, the only way to know is to have it tested for silver. Been there, done that

The magnet thing is an elimination test, there are plenty of metals that won't attract a magnet, it's not a positive test for silver.

 

I would have probably bought that, but it does depend on the price also (a couple of bucks?). I like the bird stampings. Might think it is worth the risk just because I like it.

 

Yeah. I know that the magnet is not definitive. So you agree with the reseller just avoid it as I can’t take out a silver test kit in the store

 

$9. More than a couple but they don’t have anything for under $5.

 

I thought it was hand stamped because the spacing is irregular.

 

In my experience, things marked like that are rarely faked.

 

Thank you for this insight. I thought a fake would be more standard in the depth and spacing of the birds.

 

I smell it.

 

That is intriguing. Should I sniff some known silver to get an idea. Do you rub it to heat it up. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

Most likely it would be the same people making the "fakes" and real pieces unless there were maker's marks on them.

 

So a little cottage industry at night after work at the silversmiths. Making fakes.

 

You’re of the camp don’t buy unless maker marked?

 

I get it now. Fakes can smell?

 

I've sold hundreds of silver pieces without the metal content marked.Mexican "maker's" marks are tax registration numbers and I don't know their marking requirements. In the USA there are thousands of unmarked pieces of jewelry with no maker's or content mark. If I wanted a piece of jewelry I would buy it what it looked like and not a maker's mark.

 

Excellent advice. Thank you

 

Silver has a smell the way brass has a smell. If you've been handling something silver for a little bit you can smell it on your hands.

 

Okay. I’ll go fondle up something silver.

 

not going there.............4 now !!

 

In my experience, Mexican things marked like that are 50/50

I bought a bangle because I saw a mark that I thought was 925. When I got home and used a loupe the 9 was upside down and the silver test was a no.

I am not saying don't take a chance if you think it may be silver, I am saying be careful, so much Mexican jewelry marked 925 or silver is faked! Just be aware.