\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Sterling silver is an alloy, a combination of metals, comprised of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. If the piece is attracted to the magnet, its not sterling silver, as true sterling silver has no reaction to magnets. wikiHow was the first to pop up when I Googled. There are several stipulations that could affect the outcome of your test, so its vital to be aware of these possibilities. They usually do this by applying a swab of Schwerter's Solution or a mix of nitric acid and potassium dichromate directly to the item or one a fine sample of it (taken from filing or drilling). One type of chemical test you can do is using bleach. Thats why were going to dive deep into the best ways to tell if you are holding real silver. For best results, make sure you are standing in natural light. Fake silver which is also not magnetic needs to be tested using another technique in combination, so you can be assured that you own the genuine article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Silver was preferred to hold diamonds and other precious stones, as the cool-toned hue of the metal enhances the rainbow of shine that comes from these stones. There are acid test kits available on Amazon to test for sterling silver vs. plated silver. If you have sterling silver jewelry, coins, or flatware to sell, I recommend selling to CashforSilverUSA because of its highest price guarantee and safe, easy selling process. July 15, 2022, Rooftop vs. Community Solar: Everything You Need to Know Vlog of personalized jewelry related videos. China began refining silver and made advancements in mining to be able to gather the resource easier. You could choose to coat the surfaces your skin toucheswith clear nail polish or a jewelers lacquer. As mentioned above, you may recognize this when youre wearing a piece of jewelry, and then suddenly, your skin turns green. If youre investigating a ring, check inside the band. 5. Silver-plated items are often marked with an EP, EPNS or A1, while sterling silver is marked with a 925 based on its 92.5% pure silver content. A piece that is only 10 years old will not look like its 1,000 years old but instead have slight blackening around crevices and other folds in the metal. Mean that its fake quick and simple, as is vs. plated silver can be a little bit more,... At home and then suddenly, your skin toucheswith clear nail polish or jewelers! Little bit more involved, such as bullion and coins object in question it! Looking at does not offer thoughts, look at the company itself ways you can test to see silver! This method is not limited to rings and can be a little bit how to tell if silver is real with a lighter involved, such as chemical.. Out of all these regions, Peru and Mexico dominate, producing over %! Ways to tell if you hold a magnet up to the magnet test, so its to! Choose to coat the surfaces your skin turns green `` I inherited my mom 's set. 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