According to wikipedia, sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver, the rest other metals. So there can't be 10% sterling; there can be 10% silver, but it's not sterling.

Yes, I didn't think you could say sterling if it was so low in silver content. I am surprised that a place like Kohl's would do that. I mean, Kohl's isn't exactly high class, but still, I've always trusted them.

I'd definitely file a complaint with your state atty general's office - consumer protection.

Unless it was a typo?

Perhaps the tag was in error and was supposed to say 100% sterling? I would ask management the question first. If they replied that the jewelry was 10% sterling, then I would suggest to them that there is no such thing.

But there is nothing sterling that is anything other than 100% sterling. Sterling is sterling, period. There is not 90% sterling. 90% silver, maybe but not 90% sterling. There would be no reason to put 100% sterling. Genuine sterling, real sterling? Maybe. Most often just labeled Sterling or Sterling Silver to differentiate it from silver plate or another alloy that has less silver in it.

It's mislabeling whether a typo or not.

Types of silver used in jewelry:

https://blog.halsteadbead.com/2013/10/08/10-types-of-silver-used-in-jewelry/

Well, it has Sterling Silver. Think of a trail mix pack called "Nut Pack" and only half is nuts and the other half has dried fruits and other stuff. No need to call the state to report, just don't buy it.

Sterling is supposed to be stamped 925. I wonder if they mean that it's 925/10 silver filled? Silver fill is sterling silver that is bonded to a base metal like copper or brass. It's not plated and is a stronger bond than plated that can take many years to wear through to the base metal.

Silver fill is something that made it's appearance when the price of silver went sky high a few years ago. For years, sterling silver had been an less expensive alternative to gold, but when the price went so high, it was priced out of the reach of many jewelers and designers. Silver fill was a cheaper alternative to sterling, yet better quality than plated.

This explanation of how something meets the standard of silver fill is taken from the Artbeads blog:

In order for a product to be considered silver-filled, it must have at
least 1/20 of its weight in silver. This equals out to 5% silver. So,
when you read that a material is .925/20 or 925/20, this means the
material meets the minimum standards for being silver-filled by
containing 5% silver.

925/10 would mean that the product contains 10% sterling.

If what you saw at Kohls is silver filled rather than 925 sterling silver, that is some really misleading advertising as most people aren't familiar with gold or silver fill unless they work in the jewelry industry in some capacity. Whether or not it violates your state's regulations for advertising precious metals, I don't know.

If it's not silver filled jewelry, then I don't know what the heck they are talking about when they say it's 10% sterling.

I don't believe it was a typo. It was on a couple of different places. I asked the clerk what the other 90% was and she said mixed metals. I wish I had taken a picture of the display and the cards that held the jewelry. It just seems wrong.

The clerk's explanation sounds like silver fill and I agree with you that it's wrong to market it that way.

Sorry Stolenidentity, you're wrong there. Sterling silver is one of those things like pregnancy, it either is or it isn't, there are no degrees of "sterling-ness".

I'm fairly sure that I'd have been talking to the manager - talking to staff would be more or less like shouting into the wind, I think.

And while in discussion with the manager, if things were not proceeding in a way that I found satisfactory, I might have spoken of possibly talking to the advertising standards department of our province.

When you as a seller tell me something about your product, price, etc. ... I want it to be true (not akin to the stuff that appears frequently from a male bovine's fartherend - i.e. a double four-letter-word, not mentionable here).

Complaining to low-end staff rarely produces anything akin to results - complain to a location where it may produce some worthwhile results.

ole joyful

ha ha "sterling-ness" ?!? Telling me I'm wrong for having an opinion is rude colleenoz. Being one who knows her onions regarding SS, I was simply suggesting that calling the state attorney is not necessary. And not buying the misadvertized silver is the best option.