I was curious myself ,being a buyer and a re seller...I got hold of one of the dealers in China. The answer they gave me was that if you are buying from China, it's silver PLATED...NOT 80% silver. The term comes from the 80% solution of a chemical they use to plate it...not from actual silver content. If you buy from Mexico it is 80% silver or what is called "dirty" silver... It has to say 80 or 80.0 on it...NOT S80......Sorry guys..It was a let down to me as well. BUT 925 is still sterling..if it's any insulation.
Some (most) of sellers from (or buying from) China are selling S80 jewelry items as .925 Sterling Silver and it's not at all. They might not even show S80 anywhere in the description. S80 (like heavy plated or layered) might even acid test as silver, but the most accurate way of testing is to melt it down and test the specific gravity of the bead that remains (what doesn't burn up). What's worse is, unwarry buyers who purchase these might resell them as .925 Sterling and never know the differance, so the S80 spreads through the nation and lowers the value of .925/Sterling Silver. Take the poll and maybe eBay will do something about this problem.
Rule of thumb- block everything coming from that country, as for the most part it is just cheap jewelry with very little value. And some of the mystery metals may even be dangerous to your health.
became a fan and watching and bidding on my birth day is this month and it would be a great gift to myself. Yes i know that sound selfish, but its not. I have 3 kids and they come before anything else in this world. The only thing that comes before my kids is God himself.
Im so sorry i can not confirm with my own eyes what is stamped on the ring. when i bought all that i have listed or going to list in this style they were advertised s80. wish i could be more help.