I want to know, too! Audiophile that a I am, there is a Japanese company (Audio Note) that bills its incredibly expensive tube amps as having their transformers hand wound with Italian silver. Huh? I think that Sterling means a certain % silver, akin to “karat” for gold. But what is this Italian silver business? I mean, silver is pretty cheap, right? About $4.80 per oz. spot.
“Italian gold chain” is, these days, usually 14K gold. Just like the 14K gold chain made anywhere else.
Sterling silver is 92.5% silver. Doesn’t make a difference where it is made. Some manufacturers spend a little more care making their product. Just like in clothes or other things. But silver is silver. Countries don’t matter.
We buy quite a bit of “Mexican” silver items over our counter in the course of a month. Many items that are marked silver aren’t. Most of the silver items which were purchase 30-60 years ago from a legitimate store are indeed sterling. If you get offered bangles on the beach these days for $1-2, don’t buy them. Even if they are marked.
Yeah, you can visit a jewelry supply store & get a stamp tha t says ‘sterling’ & one that says ‘14k’ & stamp all your silverplate or AUplate & impress the neighbors.