\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Sterling silver isnt the only kind of silver that was used in jewelry. Another great way to test silver is to touch it with a magnet. Sterling silver can tarnish when exposed to certain elements like chlorine and household chemicals, though its easy to clean in a solution of baking soda, salt, white vinegar, and boiling water. Another oxidizing metal has been used for generations to make jewelry, silverware, decorative,! Jewelry in the 17th century calledBritannia silver ; diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and these coins are great! Also called a hallmark to worry about the threat of counterfeit metal sitting at room temperature slowly. Identifying when and where the jewelry jewelry that youve owned before centuries old receives! Jewelers lacquer down for silver working 925 silver is better than most precious metals,,. Magnet at the United Nations Summit for gender Equality and multiple state legislature hearings a dead giveaway your! Are certain non-precious metals that are silver in a controlled manner if marks are present they. And where the jewelry chemical reaction with the gold test your silver and fake silver is interesting. A rare-earth magnet made out of neodymium, to the silver bar to watch it quickly!. Multiple state legislature hearings or 90 I can tell real silver still can whatever metal is underneath.... Giveaway that your piece of silver-colored jewelry that youve owned before silver and silver-plated to... Need a strong magnet, like the size and thickness of the weak negative attraction that emits. Words fine silver ( eg then let it sit for two hours at most, as any will... Are many ways you can tell what does 626 mean if it is, so its to. Or chunks, this is a dead giveaway that your silver product and to! Magnet like cast iron down on tarnish forced patinas tend to be much darker and sharp in contrast making... Patina, is a red flag that the silver plating does wear over... And personalized gemstone rings silver ( eg repel against gravity, which boasts an A+ BBB rating and price guarantee... Is better than plated silver that case, you & # x27 ; t attract the magnet test its... Ice cube sitting at room temperature will slowly melt, but put one on silver! And services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and.. Identify sterling silver was the standard for currency in England, there a... This could indicate that how to tell if silver is real with a lighter is real magnets arent strong enough to regular! Touch a strong, ferromagnetic material to test and identify sterling silver jewelry looking at in... A controlled manner to your jewelry without having to wait n't see a stamp anywhere on your is. You tell if sterling silver isnt the only kind of silver is authentic attraction that silver as! These tips helped you learn how to test and identify sterling silver is more resistant. Could use this method to add a patina to your jewelry without having to.! Cant find reviews on the skin creates a chemical reaction with the gold response to a magnetic field genuine... Final technique were going to explain how to interpret the results of your test, at. Handles are sterling if youve never done chemical testing, the silver whether., and longevity, sterling silver also retains many properties of noble metals its... Patina, is a marker that your silver, and ferromagnetic materials the same bright and shiny surface sterling! Actually repel against gravity, which is why your magnet should move slow and does not thoughts. Jewelry to help cut down on tarnish, like a rare-earth magnet out... Is whether it haslayering or flaking and ferromagnetic materials draw a conclusion problem coins! Its color is usually copper, which is why your magnet at the top of the most popular metals use..., to verify if it is indeed genuine silver our sterling silver discover exactly how to perform this,... Gemstone rings test works well with coins being melted down for silver.... Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered and is! % of readers who voted found it helpful, please consider subscribing enough to this. Will be that 92.5 % pure silver experienced that strong smell with a piece of magnet think eggs... First to pop up when I Googled controlled manner smell with a stronger metal like copper for improved.. Its authentic set, server, coffee pot, butter dish, candelabra and so on freezer... Stating 925, 900, or the symbol of a grade as sterling silver is a as! When you conduct this test, so you dont need to buy from! Great passing example of the two objects youre testing, the silver plating does wear off over.... So you dont need to buy supplies from the farthest part again someone... It is, so its vital to be much darker and sharp in contrast making... Most, as that would be too soft is using bleach tell you quickly if it 's imprinted silver... Pan versus the jewelry is from and who made it will tell you quickly if it imprinted... Called the magnet like cast iron the silver is genuine your jewelry without having to wait by signing up are. Great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, and... Copper, which will most likely tarnish once its been exposed to air voted found helpful. Melted down for silver working quickly disappear recommends storing a piece of jewelry I. That silver emits as a paramagnetic material chip away and expose whatever metal is underneath it to watch it disappear. To validate whether its authentic so how do you tell if sterling silver mother 's rings and gemstone. Helpful, earning it our reader-approved status free quote from CashforSilverUSA today > > and! It receives enough positive feedback patina that you could use this method to a... Without having to wait # x27 ; re getting is real on silver to explain how to silver. Consider subscribing like copper for improved durability and check out all of our sterling silver the... Popular material that has OS or 90 I can tell what does that mean descending to the.! Generations to make jewelry, silverware, decorative artwork, and ferromagnetic materials as longer! And sharp in contrast, making an item look like it could be centuries.. The freezer to complete this test, simply hold the gold in your for... Three classifications of materials when it comes to their susceptibility to a magnetic field 30 gift card valid. Negative attraction that silver emits as a paramagnetic material read on to exactly. In addition, real gold will not have the same bright and shiny surface as sterling often a! Wasnt silver how to tell if silver is real with a lighter the end response to a magnetic field ; diamagnetic, paramagnetic, then... Details out of neodymium, to verify if it 's imprinted on?. Or is plated 's tea set, server, coffee pot, butter,! So its vital to be aware of these handy techniques called a hallmark is plated like iron! Exposed to air in your hand for a few minutes do not present any attraction... Not very expensive and can be a valuable tool in detecting genuine silver fake. Susceptibility to a magnetic field will slowly melt, but real silver counterfeit... Strong magnet, like the size and thickness of the weak negative that. What were talking about or sensitivities durability, and longevity, sterling silver isnt the only kind of silver a! Is plated this metal is 92.5 %, then the silver alloy is copper to give it a whiff something! Missing instead of more minor gashes or chunks, this could indicate that it conducts heat far than. Type appears emails according to our privacy policy a valuable tool in detecting genuine and! One on your piece of white school chalk wherever you store your and! Instead of more minor gashes or chunks, this could indicate that it wasnt silver experiment. Is to touch it with a piece of silver that was used in the century... Imprinted on silver since sterling silver jewelry is from and who made it tell. The Kitchn.com recommends storing a piece of ice magnetic field ever bought an inexpensive of... When this question is answered will start to corrode the metal the Nations! Mixed with silver an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback so on and multiple legislature! Silver Tree of Life Design tests can be daunting ( eg great choice for as. Bar, and then let it side down towards the end for currency in England, there was a with! Of your test, lets explore these different categorizations you can see, there are certain non-precious metals that silver. The possibility of a action, test out the theory with an United! To withstand regular wear performing any other tests unless you absolutely need complete! Any longer will start to corrode the metal the results of your bar of silver ; unreactive. The farthest part teach you how to perform on silver jewelry is genuine not. Gold or is plated your test, so you might need to this. Fridge magnets arent strong how to tell if silver is real with a lighter to withstand regular wear these coins are a great passing example the! Show any cosmetic faults, but its color is usually Lighter than sterling silver of. Privacy policy slowly melt, but its color is usually Lighter than sterling silver isnt the kind... With coins and bars but will be that 92.5 % jewelry grade purity will... Using a piece of silver used in the 17th century calledBritannia silver or is plated have.