First, weighing the jewelry in grams. You can then do a water density test. If you fill a clear container with water, measure exactly how high the water is (you can try a plastic cup and sharpie). Add your jewelry to the container and measure the displacement in millimeters.
Weight. Silver prices are typically quoted by the troy ounce which is 31.1034 grams. Most pawn shops pay for silver by the gram (to the tenth of a gram).
The acid test (also known as the touchstone test) is the standard for almost all pawnshops and jewelers in the US, it is second to XRF testing (X-Ray Fluorescence testing) which is far more specialist and expensive. XRF machines can cost $20,000 or more, so you can understand why it's not all too common.
Is 925 silver pawnable? Yes, 925 silver is pawnable. Pawn shops will often accept 925 silver jewelry, coins, and other items as collateral for a loan. The value of the 925 silver items will be determined by the item's weight and the market price of silver.
Place your jewelry on a table or hold it in your hand, pour some white vinegar on the metal directly (a dropper can also be used) if the metal of the jewelry changes its color, it is not pure gold and if it keeps shining then you have real gold in your hand.
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.
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.
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.
Real silver, which has a higher purity than sterling silver, is generally more expensive. However, silver 925 is a popular alternative due to its relative affordability. Despite being less pure than real silver, silver 925 retains its beauty and lustrous appearance.
Is sterling silver better than 925? When 92.5% of pure silver is mixed with 7.5% of other metals (often copper, nickel or zinc), the resulting alloy is called sterling silver. So, to wrap up, there is no difference between the terms sterling silver and 925 silver.
Since pawnbrokers are experts in evaluating jewelry, it is often their job to authenticate an item before purchasing it. They measure for quality and craftsmanship, look at signatures or hallmarks, examine metal purity and color, and test for hidden flaws.
Compared to traditional retailers, pawnshops offer jewelry for a great price. Because of the volume of jewelry we buy and sell each month, we are able to sell jewelry, for a much better price than you'll find at a retailer. Indeed, jewelry from a pawn shop is frequently half the price that you would pay at a retailer!
For pricing and appraisals, selling to jewelry stores is better than pawn shops. Pawn shops have high overhead costs and typically resell items at a lower price. Jewelry stores have in-house master jewelers who can provide accurate appraisals and higher prices for your jewelry.
So your sterling silver pieces consist of 92.5% of silver and 7.5% copper. Currently we pay $0.64 for one gram of . 925 silver, $644.59 for one kilogram of . 925 silver, and $1.00 for one dwt.
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.
Since sterling silver has a lower percentage of silver than pure silver, sterling silver is less expensive. Of the three types of metals, it's typically the least expensive choice. You'll also find more jewelry options in sterling silver since it's a more accessible material to mold into different shapes.
The Lighter Test
Choose a rather inconspicuous area of your jewelry piece for this test. Heat that area moderately with a lighter and watch the reaction. A dark black stain means the metal is authentic silver.
Silver is not magnetic, not even with the strongest magnet. However, silver is diamagnetic. If you hold a silver coin at 45 degrees a suitable magnet will slide down it slowly.
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.
Real silver turns black gradually and relatively slowly, but vinegar can step it up a notch and speed up the process. So, if you put silver bars in vinegar and leave them for 48 hours, a black residue will form on the surface of each piece.
The test which is frequently used by ourselves and other jewellers is to apply a swab of "Schwerter's" solution, which contains nitric acid and potassium dichromate, either directly to the silver or to a fine sample extracted from the piece by filing or drilling.
If you do not see the sterling marking, the item is probably silver plated. Check the colouring of the item carefully; genuine silver is generally less shiny and colder in tone than silverplate. If you see places where the silver appears to be flaking off or turning green, the item is silver plated.