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Practical tests to confirm your silver is the real deal
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- Authentication Stamp |
- Magnet Test |
- Ice Cube Test |
- Sound Test |
- Acid Test |
- Bleach Test |
- Video |
- Q&A |
- Tips |
- Warnings
If you need to test a piece of silver for authenticity, you've come to the right place! Silver has distinctive properties and there are a number of easy tests you can perform at home to confirm whether your piece is real or fake. We'll also explain how to know if your piece is pure silver or silver plated. For a simple walk-through of each silver test, scroll on down!
Things You Should Know
- Use a magnifying glass to inspect the surface of the silver for stamps. If you see a 920 stamp, the piece is 92.5% silver, 900 means 90% silver, and 800 is 80% silver.
- Hold a magnet against the silver to see if it sticks. If it does, it's not real silver.
- Place an ice cube on the silver. If it melts immediately, it's not real silver.
- Apply a drop of bleach to the silver and watch for a reaction. If it tarnishes or blackens right away, it's real silver.
Steps
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Look for a stamp, engraving, or marking on the surface. Items advertised as silver and sold internationally have stamps that state the silver content. If there's no stamp on your silver piece, be leery. [1] X Research source
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Interpret stamps like 925, 900, or 800 as the percentage of silver. Look at the silver piece with a magnifying glass. International sellers of silver will stamp silver as 925, 900, or 800. Read these numbers to figure out the percentage of fine silver in the piece. [2] X Research source
- 925 means that the piece is 92.5 percent silver (also known as sterling silver). [3] X Research source
- A stamp of 900 or 800 means the piece is 90 percent or 80 percent silver, which is often called "coin" silver.
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3Check for letters like "STER" and "IS" on the silver. "STER" stands for sterling, which means the silver content is 92.5%. "IS" stands for "international silver," which means the piece is made with real silver. "IS" without a number stamp could mean the silver percentage is low, or that you have a silver-plated object. [4] X Research source
- To see if the item is silver-plated or pure, try the acid test and the magnet test.
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Place a magnet close to the silver to see if it sticks. Use a strong magnet, such as the rare-earth magnet made out of neodymium. Silver is paramagnetic and exhibits only weak magnetic effects. If your magnet sticks strongly to the piece, it has a ferromagnetic core made with a cheaper metal and isn't pure silver. [5] X Research source
- There are a few metals that don't stick to a magnet that can look like silver. Do the magnetic test in conjunction with another test to make sure the core is not another metal.
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Tilt a silver bar to a 45-degree angle to see if the magnet slides down slowly. Turn one of your silver bars at a 45-degree angle and slide the magnet down it. If it's real silver, the magnet should slide slowly down the face of the bar. If the silver is fake, the magnet won't move. [6] X Research source
- The magnet slides down slowly because silver is paramagnetic and the rare earth magnet induces electric eddy currents which act as an electromagnet. This creates a braking effect that slows the descent of the magnet. [7] X Research source
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Grab some fresh ice for this test. Keep the ice in the freezer until you need it for the test. While it might not seem like ice and silver go together, silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any common metal or alloy (though copper is right behind). [8] X Research source
- This test works well with coins and bars, but it's tough to do on silver jewelry.
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Place a piece of ice on the silver and see if it melts quickly. If the silver is real, the ice will begin to melt immediately, as if it's sitting on something hot, rather than something that's just room temperature. This is because silver has very high heat conductivity. [9] X Research source
- It can help to place another ice cube on a different room-temperature surface so you can see the different in melting times.
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Perform a sound test on a silver coin. Silver makes a really lovely bell-like ringing sound when you tap on it, especially if you tap on it with another form of metal. If you want to try this out before tapping on your questionable silver, find a United States quarter made before 1965. These were made of 90% silver (US quarters made after 1965 are made of a copper-nickel alloy). The older quarter will emit a high-pitched, clear, ringing tone, while a newer quarter will just make a dull thump of a sound. [10] X Research source
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Drop the coin on a tabletop and listen for a high-pitched ringing sound. Hold the coin 6 in (15 cm) above a flat surface and drop it. If the coin makes a sound like a ringing bell, you have a real silver coin in your hand. If it sounds dull, the silver is most likely mixed with other metals. [11] X Research source
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Perform a chemical test analysis on the item. Use chemical analysis if there's no stamp signifying it is silver on your piece. Put on a pair of gloves first since you'll be using a corrosive acid to test the piece for purity. These sorts of acids burn skin.
- Note that this method has the potential to slightly damage your silver item. If you suspect you have a high-value item, you might be better off trying to determine the silver content using one of the other methods.
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Buy a silver acid test kit . You can purchase these tests online or at jewelry stores. Silver acid tests are great for pure silver, but if you think your piece is silver-plated, use a small jeweler's file to make a mark and reveal what's under the plating. [12] X Research source
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Find an inconspicuous place on the silver and make a small scratch. This scratch is necessary so the acid can get to the underlying metal on silver-plated items. Scratch the piece using a metal file and use a fair amount of pressure so that you can get beyond any silver plating layer. [13] X Research source
- If you don’t want to scratch your piece, use a black stone plate . These usually come with the silver testing kit, or you can buy one. Rub your silver on the surface of the black stone so it leaves a thick and relatively large deposit on the stone. Aim for a line that is 1 ⁄ 2 to 1 in (1.3 to 2.5 cm) thick.
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Apply a drop of acid to the scratched surface only. If the acid touches any area of the piece that isn't scratched, it will affect the polished look of the piece. If you're using a black stone, add a drop of the acid on the line you made with the stone.
- Alternatively, use a drop of vinegar (which is highly acidic) on the scratched piece. If it's real silver, the surface won't get tarnished. If the silver is fake, it will tarnish. [14] X Research source
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Analyze the scratched surface with the acid on it. Analyze the color that appears as the acid sinks into the piece. Be sure to follow the instructions and color scale of your specific silver testing kit. In general, the color scale is as follows: [15] X Research source
- Bright Red: Fine Silver
- Darker Red: 925 Silver
- Brown: 800 Silver
- Green: 500 Silver
- Yellow: Lead or Tin
- Dark brown: Brass
- Blue: Nickel
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Put a drop of bleach on your silver item. Silver tarnishes extremely quickly when exposed to a powerful oxidizing agent such as common bleach. [16] X Research source
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Watch to see if the silver tarnishes or has no reaction. If it rapidly tarnishes and turns black, then the item is real silver. Note that silver-plated items will pass this test.
- You can easily clean your tarnished silver with toothpaste, baking soda, or silver polish.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionI've got a bracelet and chain that have 925 on the clasps does this mean it's silver?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYes, "925" means the bracelet and chain are 92.5% silver, which is also known as sterling silver.
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QuestionI have several dinner ware that might be silver. How do I sell them even I don't have a way to test them?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou probably can't sell them until you know what they're made of (since buyers will want to know that before spending their money). Try one of the simple tests in our article to check your silver!
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QuestionI have 2 oblong plates with Chinese carvings on, they are non magnetic and ice melts fast on them how can I find out what they are?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIf they're non-magnetic and ice melts immediately on them, it sounds like they're silver (since those are two of the tests you can do it home). If you want to know for absolute certain, have the plates appraised by a professional.
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Tips
- If you're worried the item is silver-plated and you have a pure silver item on hand for comparison, hold them up next to each other. Pure silver is a lot brighter and shinier than silver-plated items. [17] X Research sourceThanks
- Buy your silver from credible sources such as quality jewelers.Thanks
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Warnings
- If your skin comes into direct contact with the nitric acid, rinse the area with water for 20 minutes. Then, cover the area loosely with a bandage. [18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.dawsonsauctions.co.uk/news-item/how-to-tell-if-antique-silver-is-real/
- ↑ https://www.dawsonsauctions.co.uk/news-item/how-to-tell-if-antique-silver-is-real/
- ↑ https://sites.dartmouth.edu/toxmetal/more-metals/silver-metal-of-many-faces/the-facts-on-silver/
- ↑ https://www.dawsonsauctions.co.uk/news-item/how-to-tell-if-antique-silver-is-real/
- ↑ https://terpconnect.umd.edu/~wbreslyn/magnets/is-silver-magnetic.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgSXg-WOEVY&t=78s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Es3JXLZL2g&t=150s
- ↑ https://www.dawsonsauctions.co.uk/news-item/how-to-tell-if-antique-silver-is-real/
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/how-to-check-silver-authenticity/
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/how-to-check-silver-authenticity/
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/how-to-check-silver-authenticity/
- ↑ https://www.sbcgold.com/blog/test-gold-5-simple-ways-spot-fake-gold/
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/how-to-check-silver-authenticity/
- ↑ https://vintagesilver.com/how-to-test-silver-with-vinegar/
- ↑ https://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/how-to-check-silver-authenticity/
- ↑ http://www.silvercoins.com/fake-silver-coins-14-ways-to-spot-counterfeits/
- ↑ https://www.dawsonsauctions.co.uk/news-item/how-to-tell-if-antique-silver-is-real/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-chemical-burns/basics/art-20056667
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To test silver, look for a stamp with the numbers 925, 900, or 800. If you don't see a stamp, this is a red flag that the silver is fake! Next, touch a strong magnet, like a rare-earth magnet made out of neodymium, to the silver. Silver exhibits weak magnetic effects, so if the magnet sticks strongly to the piece, it's not real silver. You can also put a piece of ice on the metal. If the ice melts immediately, it's probably real silver. Buy a silver acid test if you want to confirm the material is silver. If you want to learn how to use bleach to test for silver, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Thank you. Your procedures for testing silver were extremely helpful. The magnetic test is quick and simple, as is the bleach test. I will be getting a home testing kit now as I feel this would be the most conclusive. I have bought some items online stamped sterling silver from a reputable company, and several of the items are magnetic. So beware, especially from China. Mini in the Box and Light in the Box are the company names, so beware." ..." more
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"Thank you. Your procedures for testing silver were extremely helpful. The magnetic test is quick and simple, as is the bleach test. I will be getting a home testing kit now as I feel this would be the most conclusive. I have bought some items online stamped sterling silver from a reputable company, and several of the items are magnetic. So beware, especially from China. Mini in the Box and Light in the Box are the company names, so beware."
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"I inherited my mom's tea set, server, coffee pot, butter dish, candelabra and so on. I had no idea how to tell if they were real silver. wikiHow was the first to pop up when I Googled. I didn't need to go to any other site because this one gave me all the info I needed. Thanks, wikiHow!"
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"I just found a bag of silverware and miniature salt and pepper shakers with sterling marked on the bottom of the shakers. Thank you for your informative article. I will do the tests on the tableware. Your suggestion to use a magnifying glass worked!"
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"These methods helped tremendously, in classifying several antique pieces as well as a few questionable cuff bracelets. Another trick: Look at the color in good lighting. Plated items have a golden hue, fine silver has no undertone, simply silver."
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"It was very helpful. I have about 30 spoons that I think are silver that came from my grandmother. All kinds of stamps on them from Denmark and Germany, so I might have to do a few tests. Thank you for the help."
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