I used to believe these myths. I thought buying a nice necklace, like the DOTEFFIL Double Heart Pendant, was simple. I was wrong. These five lies cost me money, wasted time, and led to some seriously disappointing gifts.
We are going to cut through the noise. Here is the truth about buying quality jewelry. If you follow these simple rules, you will stop buying junk that fades in two weeks. Even if you are an expert on how to choose the right wool beanie hat for hiking and camping, you might be clueless when it comes to quality silver.
The Lie: Many sellers promise '925 Sterling Silver' and stop there. They make you think it will stay bright forever.
Here’s what they don't tell you: Sterling silver tarnishes. It reacts to air, moisture, and skin chemicals. If it is not plated correctly, it turns dull fast. Super cheap necklaces usually have thin or no rhodium plating. Rhodium plating is what keeps it shiny and protected.
Low Rating Feedback Shows Why This is Wrong: Poor-quality items often break down quickly. Buyers complain that the necklace looked cheap within a month.
The Truth: Quality DOES matter. A good piece, like the DOTEFFIL pendant, requires care. If it is quality silver, you need to clean it. If it is not marked 925, assume it is low-grade metal that will quickly fade to copper or brass underneath.

Action Step: Check the care instructions. If the seller does not mention rhodium plating or suggests simple care, assume it will need constant polishing.
The Lie: Ads use huge zoom lenses. A pendant that looks big and substantial in the photo might be tiny in real life. If you buy the 18-inch chain, you might get a heart pendant that is the size of your pinky nail.
Here’s what they don't tell you: Jewelry size is measured in millimeters (mm). This detail is often hidden in the fine print. When you see a small, delicate chain, it might look like thread in person.
Truth: Don't trust ads. You must look at the exact dimensions. If they do not list the pendant width and height in mm, walk away. A pendant that is less than 15mm wide often looks cheap and disappears on the neck.
Action Step: Get a ruler. Visualize the mm measurements before you click buy.
The Lie: Buyers focus only on the length—18 inch, 20 inch, etc. They forget about the chain's strength.