Alpaca sivler - Magnetic?

[KangaWoo]

Hi
I picked up this Taxco bracelet under the believe it was alpaca silver. I noticed it was marked sterling once I got it in hand, I thought maybe this was only the clasp/connection bit.

I have tested this with my neodymium magnet, and it appears to only be magnetic at the hinge areas, so I am hoping this may actually be a sterling bracelet. I need a test kit bad.

Am I right in thinking alpaca silver should be magnetic?



sorry about the bad spelling in the title

 

[ARC]

It is sterling... and worth some money.
Nice pick.

The reason it is magnetic in the hinge area(s) is due to the "hinge pins"... they would be made of a metal.

 

[ARC]

The reasons these pins are not made of sterling is due to quality...
Sterling pins would not hold up under wear over time.

 

[KangaWoo]

Thanks for your replies, I'm really stoked with this piece especially now, and the abalone looks so much better than what the photos show.
Any ideas on age, or do they still make these pieces?

 

[ARC]

If you do not mind... how much did you pay. ?

 

[ARC]

Would you like to know more ?

It is Abalone... which is a shell.

 

[ARC]

 

[KangaWoo]

If you do not mind... how much did you pay. ?

I paid $41.69 Aus dollar, plus about $1.50 postage.

It was advertised as alpaca, hence why I was surprised to see the sterling stamp. it weighs around 59 grams

 

[ARC]

You did great.
Taxco is highly collectable.
I collect a few pieces myself even.

 

[ARC]

Estate Sterling Bracelet, Vintage Mexican Taxco Abalone - poshjewelsworldwide

 

[ARC]

BTW... I normally (these days) don't spend much energy here on Tnet doing "what is its"...
And pick and choose what to respond to more and more due to several factors / reasons.

But your nickname makes me smile for some reason :P
And...
From your previous posts that I have seen.

 

[ARC]

By the way... just to save the "search"...
what does the AU convert to in U.S. $ ? ? ?

 

[KangaWoo]

Thanks AARC,
I have to say I have been doing well buying sterling items from an ebay store I found, from you guys in the US, and flipping them here in Aus

And been doing really well with the Taxco, Navajo, and SW jewellery. Aussies seem to love the stuff but don't want to wait the long shipping times from the US. I just need the AUD to close in on the USD and I will have a very profitable little business started.

 

[KangaWoo]

By the way... just to save the "search"...
what does the AU convert to in U.S. $ ? ? ?

AUD is 76c to USD

 

[ARC]

Thanks AARC,
I have to say I have been doing well buying sterling items from an ebay store I found, from you guys in the US, and flipping them here in Aus

And been doing really well with the Taxco, Navajo, and SW jewellery. Aussies seem to love the stuff but don't want to wait the long shipping times from the US. I just need the AUD to close in on the USD and I will have a very profitable little business started.

Good for you... wish the best.
Keep it up and any further help you may need let me know.

 

[tamrock]

FYI Alpaca Silver (Alpaca) refers to an alloy* that imitates sterling silver. This non-precious bright silvery-grey metal alloy is made up of copper, zinc and nickel and sometimes iron. Alpaca Silver does NOT contain any real silver; it is just another name for Nickel Silver. I never knew some of this silver look a like alloy had iron, so maybe yes in some cases a strong magnet would attract to it. I call Alpaca silver, Alcrapa silver.

 

[G.I.B.]

But your nickname makes me smile for some reason :P

Wall I be, I get it...KangaWoo.

Nice find by the way there mate.