Official Purity and Certification Guide: The Love it Portugal Guarantee

Sterling Silver (Silver 925) is the international benchmark of excellence in fine jewelry, composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy metals (such as copper) that ensure its extreme durability and strength. In Portugal, the purity of this precious metal is legally guaranteed through two mandatory hallmarks stamped into the piece: the Manufacturer's Responsibility Mark and the Mint's Assay Office Hallmarking (INCM).

We know that today's market is flooded with imitations, counterfeits, and low-quality costume jewelry that cause allergies and lose their shine in a matter of days. The frustration of purchasing a piece with no real value is a hurdle for anyone seeking an authentic legacy. At Love it Portugal, transparency is our primary commitment. We act as your trusted guides in traditional goldsmithing, ensuring that every single milligram of your jewelry reflects certified, tested, and nickel-free heritage.

What is Sterling Silver or Silver 925?

The terms "Sterling Silver" and "Silver 925" mean the exact same thing. In its pure form (999‰), silver is an extremely malleable and soft metal, making it impossible to use in creating durable jewelry. To solve this challenge, master goldsmiths melt 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% reinforcing metals.

The term "de lei" (Sterling) has deep historical roots in Portugal, dating back to the 13th century during the reign of King Afonso II, who instituted a strict law to punish goldsmiths who produced alloys below this rigorous standard. Today, Sterling Silver is highly stable, ductile, features an unmistakable metallic luster, and possesses hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties, making it completely safe for sensitive skin.

How to Know If Your Silver Jewelry Is Real?

The most accurate and legally binding way to confirm the authenticity of silver in Portugal is by reading the stamped hallmarks (punches) on the metal. All legally sold pieces bear two microscopic markings:

• Responsibility Mark: An engraving featuring a unique, exclusive design accompanied by a letter from the manufacturer's name or company, identifying who introduced the piece to the market.
• Assay Mark (INCM): The official hallmark from the Portuguese Assay Office, which prevents counterfeiting and certifies the metal's purity.

How to Read the Portuguese Assay Marks?

According to the current INCM Board of Hallmarks, precious metals are identified by specific animal symbols:

• Silver (925‰): Identified by a Rabbit's Head mark, accompanied by the number 925, guaranteeing its legal fineness.
• Gold: Identified by a Ram's Head mark, indicating different fineness levels (such as 800 for 19.2K gold or 999 for 24K gold).

(Expert Tip: Real silver is not magnetic; if your jewelry is attracted to a magnet, it is not genuine silver)

What is the Maximum Weight required to Qualify for an Assay Office Mark Exemption?

Portuguese law dictates that pieces with a very low weight of precious metal are exempt from the mandatory hallmarking by the Assay Office (though they must still maintain the required purity level). To qualify for exemption, the item must be weighed in its entirety (including non-precious metals) and stay within the following limits:

Type of Precious Metal	Exempt with total weight equal to or less than:
Gold	0,5 grams (0.0176 oz)
Platinium	0,5 grams (0.0176 oz)
Silver	2,0 grams (0.07 oz)
Mixed (Silver and Gold/Platinum)	0,5 gramas (0.0176 oz)

How Gold Plating is Done on our Jewelry?

The gold plating applied to Love it Portugal jewelry is not mere paint, but rather a high-precision, technologically advanced electrochemical process known as Electroplating (or electrolysis).

Our process of excellence takes place in 5 rigorous stages:

1. Ultrasonic Cleaning: The Sterling Silver piece is polished and submerged in an ultrasonic machine to eliminate invisible residue, ensuring perfect adhesion.
2. Electrolytic Degreasing: Submersion in an alkaline solution with an electric current, followed by a rinse with distilled water.
3. Barrier Layer: Application of a copper or palladium base to prevent the silver from migrating and oxidizing the gold in the future.
4. Electroplating (The Bath): The jewelry is submerged in a tank filled with a liquid gold solution (electrolyte). Powered by a direct electric current, 24-karat gold ions are magnetically attracted and bonded to the silver surface.
5. Drying and Sealing: After rinsing, the jewelry is oven-dried and can receive a nano-protective varnish to shield its luster and resist daily wear and tear.

Explore Our Certified Filigree Collection

Access Here: How to Care for and Clean Your Filigree Jewelry