Yes, like i was saying, if you can not trace the hallmarks back to a manufacturer, city, date then always assume the worse.

Is it true that a magnet will not 'stick' to sterling silver?

Yes, like i was saying, if you can not trace the hallmarks back to a manufacturer, city, date then always assume the worse.

Yes, you are very fond of saying that, but it is not really correct, as several of us have pointed out to you.

Yes it's true Kimm, but that will not give you any guide at all because a magnet will not stick to copper, brass, alloy etc. either.

A magnet will not stick to gold either btw.

There's only the one sure way to tell if an item is silver or not, and that's by conducting an acid test or scan.

Some of the finest silver works in the world carry no hallmarks what-so-ever, but they're created using 99.5% pure silver.

By the same token, some of the world's junk doesn't contain even 0.001% silver, but it still bears what you call a hallmark Bsal, so that blows your theory out of the water for you.

Yes it's true Kimm, but that will not give you any guide at all because a magnet will not stick to copper, brass, alloy etc. either. A magnet will not stick to gold either btw. There's only the one sure way to tell if an item is silver or not, and that's by conducting an acid test or scan.

Of course, with most of the '925' stamped, and '925Italy' stamped 'Sterling Silver' on eBay, all you have to do is scratch it - it's YELLOW underneath a very thin plate of 'silver'.

Ok, prove me wrong, show me one of these greatest and finest silver pieces that has no hallmarks.

The compulsory dating of silver with hallmarks goes back to the 1600's.

Inveriably jewellery that has no silver hallmark (ones that you can verify through a little research) has such a low quantity on silver in it that it does not warrant a hallmark. Taxes paid and all that stuff. You would need so much of that jewellery just to make a single silver teaspoon that it would be uneconomical to do so.

All I am really saying is if you cant verify it through any stamped hallmarks then BUYER BEWARE you may just get conned.

Ok, prove me wrong, show me one of these greatest and finest silver pieces that has no hallmarks. The compulsory dating of silver with hallmarks goes back to the 1600's. Inveriably jewellery that has no silver hallmark (ones that you can verify through a little research) has such a low quantity on silver in it that it does not warrant a hallmark. Taxes paid and all that stuff. You would need so much of that jewellery just to make a single silver teaspoon that it would be uneconomical to do so.

putting it as gently as I can .....

CODSWALLOP!

Walk into any reputable jewellery shop and ask to see some sterling silver (925) jewellery, have a look for the maker's hallmark, and then, when you don't find one, ask to see the Jeweller and tell him it's fake. He'll either sue you or throw you out bodily. 

Genuine 925 Sterling Silver contains exactly what it says: 925 parts silver to 75 parts hardener like copper.  There are at least 6 factories in Australia - maybe more - that buy pure silver and from it produce sterling silver. It can also be purchased from a number of reputable factories all over the world - notably Italy, UK, Germany and Yes, even China. It comes in plate, wire, pipe and all sorts of configurations for Jewellery manufacturers to use in their making. Some of these factories will also manufacture any of the other standards like 950 etc on special order.

All I am really saying is if you cant verify it through any stamped hallmarks then BUYER BEWARE you may just get conned.

This is a fair thing to say, and I don't think anyone here would really disagree - at least, it's wise to test an item if it can't be unequivocally proven via other means that it's genuine silver.

Inveriably jewellery that has no silver hallmark (ones that you can verify through a little research) has such a low quantity on silver in it that it does not warrant a hallmark"

This is not a fair thing to say, and I dare say it's the contradiction that's causing issue to be taken. i.e. Invariably means no exceptions, so in order for your post to not contradict itself, the statement that followed would have to have been "...if you cant verify it through any stamped hallmarks then BUYER BEWARE you will get conned."

None of the sterling silver stuff I've made carries a hallmark, nor is it even stamped with 925 - but I guarantee that's what it is. 😉

I'd buy from you, d*g, with or without hallmarks.