The Magnet Test "If your magnet sticks strongly to the piece, it has a ferromagnetic core and is not silver." Fake silver or silver-plated items are generally made of other metals. This is an easy test that can give you a good idea on whether your item is real silver or not.
Look for the 925 marking.Genuine sterling silver jewelry will be marked with these three numbers or STERLING or STER. Hold a magnet to the silver. If the magnet sticks, your jewelry is not real sterling silver. Smell the sterling silver.If it smells strongly metallic, then your jewelry is not real sterling silver.
Most silver-plated items will stick to a magnet since they have a metal alloy base dipped in silver, but sterling silver will not.
Sterling silver jewellery differs from silver plated in what it is made of. Sterling silver is an alloy, made of 92.5% pure silver, and 7.5% other alloy. These other alloys tend to be copper or zinc. Due to the pure silver constitution, sterling silver is often known as 925 silver.
Silver is a very soft metal, which makes pure silver unsuitable for jewelry making as it will easily scratch, dent, and change shape. In order to make the silver harder and more durable, copper and other metals are added to the pure silver.
When silver is exposed to sulfur-containing gases in the air, it discolours and then darkens as it reacts with the gas to form a surface layer of tarnish. This process is called tarnishing, as explained below in The science of silver tarnish and its cause.
There are markings such as “S925”, “. 925”, and “925”. This gives assurance that the silver is indeed a 925 sterling silver. However, there are some sterling silver that don't have these marks so don't directly assume that the silver is fake if it doesn't have the mentioned markings.
Pure silver is not susceptible to tarnish in a pure oxygen environment. However, the copper that is contained in 925 sterling silver may react to the ozone and hydrogen sulfide in the air and cause sterling silver to tarnish.
The composition of 925 Sterling Silver lends itself to the occasional green discoloration because of the presence of copper. Green fingers are harmless and there are simple measures you can take to prevent discoloration. It's all a matter of preparation and maintenance!
Look for a Hallmark Stamp: Look for a stamp or mark on the piece that says "STER," "925," "800," OR "999." 925 or STER means it's 92.5% pure silver, which is traditional sterling, 999 means 99.9% pure which is fine silver, and 800 means it's 80% pure silver or a lower quality than sterling silver.
Silverplate Value
Generally, the value depends on the age and condition of the piece, as well as factors such as maker, design, and decoration. For example, a good quality example of silverplate made around 1840 can be worth between $5 and $300, depending on its condition and rarity.
Magnetic Tests
If you're dealing with a lazy counterfeiter, the magnetic test is a sure bet to identify a fake silver coin. No silver coin should stick to a magnet.
The Fineness Mark shows the precious metal and the level of purity. All sterling silver jewellery would have a '925' hallmark applied which is the numbers 925 in an oval surround.
Weight - sterling silver pieces tend to be lighter vs silver plated, as the base metal weighs plated pieces down. Durability - in the comparison of silver plated vs sterling silver, sterling silver is more durable as the coating of plated silver can wear off with improper care.
No, silver is not magnetic. Test your jewelry with a strong magnet. Slowly move the magnet closer. If your piece snaps to the magnet, then it is not true sterling silver.
Silver becomes black because of hydrogen sulfide (sulfur), a substance that occurs in the air. When silver comes into contact with it, a chemical reaction takes place and a black layer is formed. Silver oxidizes faster in places with a lot of light and high humidity.
Tarnish is the oxidization that occurs when air-borne sulfurs and chlorides are present, causing a yellowish cast on the sterling silver. If left without being cleaned, the tarnish becomes brown and eventually turns a dark and iridescent purple/black.
Silver is a very reactive metal. It loses its original shine because it chemically reacts to your physical composition and environment. Sweat, sickness or a boozy weekend can all change your body chemistry causing your silver to turn black.
Pure silver, like pure gold, does not rust or tarnish.
Ice Cube Test
All you have to do is place an ice cube on top of the piece of silver and see how fast it melts. The ice melts rapidly, even at room temperature, if the silver is real. Thermal conductivity easily passes heat through. However, if the silver is fake, the ice will melt slowly.
Well, it turns out “925 China” is a standard marking on jewelry to denote sterling silver jewelry. If you see “925” or “925 China” stamped on what you thought was your gold jewelry, then the jewelry has 92.5% sterling silver content and is merely gold-plated. The remaining 7.2% is composed of other metal elements.
High quality sterling silver can last for decades if well taken care of. It's important to clean it and store it properly when not being worn. Silver will also last longer if kept away from harsh chemicals such as lotions, perfumes, hand sanitizers, and many soaps.
However, silver is a natural metal and therefore reacts with certain things. The water can oxidise the silver, meaning it is likely to tarnish and will therefore start to darken. There's also the risk of dropping or losing your jewellery, so we would recommend taking off your sterling silver jewellery before showering.
Sterling silver jewellery is an excellent, high quality choice in most circumstances. The metal will not rust or perish, plus if you look after your jewellery it will look great well into the future.