How to Buy the Sterling Silver Heart Necklace & Pendants

When selecting a necklace with a sterling heart pendant, the choices may seem daunting. However, some basic guidelines will help with the process and ensure a perfect choice. The type of pendant will depend upon the length of the necklace.



Smaller pendants will be better for shorter chains, while heavier, larger sterling heart pendants will seem better proportioned on longer chains. In addition to choosing the appropriate necklace length, finding high quality sterling silver will round out the selection process.

Choosing the Perfect Necklace Length

• The ideal length for a sterling silver heart necklace will be one that sits just above the collarbone. Generally, this length can be determined by measuring around the neck, then adding 2 to 4 inches. This will give the necklace a comfortable, slightly looser fitting.
• A standard choker length is 16 inches. However, some wearers prefer a little more snugness. For this, use the exact measurement around the neck.
• If the sterling silver heart necklace is meant for a child, the standard lengths are 14 and 16 inches.
• The sterling silver gemstone heart necklace should match the attire or occasion. For high necklines such as turtlenecks, a longer necklace suffices. However, a shorter length complements formal wear such as a semi-formal dinner dress.
• While sterling silver heart pendants generally grace the necks of women, some men do wear neck jewelry. If this is the case, a longer, heavier chain would be appropriate, such as 18 to 20 inches in length.
• A chain wrapped around the neck several times with a sterling silver pendant dangling from the lowest wrap looks stunning on many different necklines. If used for this purpose, a chain should be approximately 3 times the standard length, so about 54 inches.
• The sterling silver heart pendant should be proportioned to the heaviness of the chain, or vice versa. Heavier, longer chains can hold a much larger pendant, while dainty, lighter chains look perfect with smaller pendants.

Choosing Quality Sterling Silver

Purchasing real sterling jewelry can be an investment that is handed down through the generations. However, knowing how to distinguish true sterling from silver plate can present some challenges to the shopper. Being able to identify true sterling will prevent a costly mistake.



Genuine 925 sterling silver contains 92.5 percent pure silver. The other 7.5 percent consists of a stabilizing alloy, generally copper. Silver plate consists mainly of another metal with a very thin layer of silver on top. Silver plate finish can be scratched off and tarnishes easily.

A quick test to determine if the pendant has an underlying metal other than sterling involves a simple magnet. Silver, and other valuable metals like gold and platinum, are non-ferrous, meaning it is not attracted to magnets. If the heart pendant is attracted to a magnet, most likely the main metal is stainless steel. Moreover, genuine 925 sterling silver heart pendants will have a purity mark to certify its metal content. The marks include ".925," "925," or "S925." This indicates that the metal is 92.5 percent sterling silver.



Another quick test includes rubbing the sterling silver heart pendant with a soft white cloth. If this produces black marks on the cloth, then the sterling silver pendant is genuine.

Although there are many steps to the purchasing decision, buying the perfect sterling silver necklace will be much easier by following the above guidelines. In addition, the guidelines will help ensure that the jewelry is genuine and of good quality.