How To Tell if Silver is Real

Silver is not only a rare, shiny and highly lustrous metal, but just like gold and platinum, it is resistant to corrosion. It can stay rust and tarnish-free for long periods of time. Since silver is highly malleable, it can be bended and shaped easily to create timeless and everlasting jewelry and show pieces.

Silver has all the properties that gold and platinum possess, but is way more affordable, making it a practical purchase for almost everyone out there. Many people with sensitive skin opt for silver jewelry for everyday wear because of how non-reactive the metal is. It doesn’t cause allergies or adversely affect the skin. However, if you are looking to purchase real silver, it can be quite a challenge because of the numerous imitations available in the market. Here are a few fool-proof ways you can distinguish real silver from the fake:

Check For a Hallmark:

Hallmarks are tiny stamps of authentication engraved on any real silver piece. They are a measure of its purity and may also indicate the name or initials of the manufacturer. The value is expressed usually as parts per thousand. If you see 999 engraved on a jewelry piece, it suggests that the item is 99.9% pure silver. The most common form of silver that you’ll find in the market is Sterling Silver or S925, indicating that the contents are 92.5% pure silver. This type is mostly used because silver is very soft and malleable. It is often alloyed with other metals like zinc and copper to make it  sturdier and more long lasting.

Test With a Magnet:

Unlike most metals, silver does not exhibit any attraction towards magnets. Placing a strong magnet around a silver object should make no difference because real silver is entirely nonmagnetic. On the other hand, if the item that you’re testing has substantial quantities of other metals like iron, zinc, etc., it’s likely to be ferromagnetic.

Test With Ice:

You must’ve often seen that silver is used in solar panels, that’s because this metal has the highest thermal conductivity. To perform this experiment, you’ll need two ice cubes, the silver item you intend to test and a small pan. At room temperature, place one ice cube on the pan and the other on the silver piece of your choice. If the item is indeed pure silver, you’ll observe that the ice cube placed on it will melt at much faster rate than the ice cube on the pan.

Test For Flaking:

More often than you think, an item that claims to be pure sterling silver is simply coated with a thin layer of silver, which vanishes overtime to reveal the metal underneath the layer. To be sure, create a tiny scratch on the item deep enough to remove the top layer of the surface. An item made of real genuine silver will leave behind silver flakes and will not sustain any visible damage. While an item that is only plated with silver, easily scratches leaving behind black marks and dents that show the metal underneath.

Test The Polish:

Real silver oxidizes and tarnishes with time, but the change isn’t permanent. Beneath the layer of rust, the metal’s shine and luster is still intact. It simply requires polishing every now and then. Take a soft cotton cloth and rub it gently on a silver piece that appears to be oxidized. Since an item that isn’t genuine silver would have sustained permanent damaged, no black residue will appear on the cloth. But if it is indeed pure silver, the rust layer will be wiped off and the original grandeur of the item will be restored.

Test For Odor:

Silver is an odorless metal, go ahead and give the item in question a deep sniff.  Does the item have a distinct sulfur-like odor? Does it have a metallic or rotten egg-like smell? The scent is a clear indication that the item isn’t genuine silver, it is either silver plated or contains large quantities of other metals mixed with silver.

Check For Patina:

Patina is a layer of tarnish or color that appears on silver over the course of time. It is a mark of true genuine silver, commonly found on older artisan pieces and jewelry items. Real silver oxidizes with regular wear and use. Hence, patina indicates the age of the item being considered.  But don’t be fooled because patina can also be synthetically added to an item with the help of bleach. Visually fake patina is darker in color and creates a sharper contrast, while real patina is less obvious and only lightly defines the contours of the silver piece.

Test For Sound:

An easy way to check the authenticity of the item in question is to drop it on the floor. Real silver makes a lovely bell-like sound when it is tapped on or when it comes in contact with another surface. Hearing the sound of a ringing bell when dropping an item is an indicator that it is pure silver.

Chemical Testing:

One of the reasons for the high demand of silver jewelry is the fact that this metal is highly unreactive and doesn’t corrode. If an item that claims its silver appears to be doubtful, you can test it by purchasing chemical test kits from Amazon. Observe caution while dealing with these chemicals as they are acidic and toxic in nature. Create a small scratch on the surface of the item in question and then place a small drop of the given acid on the affected area. Pure sterling silver will produce a dark red color on being treated with acid. The presence of other metals will cause the region with acid to develop other colors like blue, green or yellow.

Our Final Thoughts!

Most of these tests will give you a good idea of whether or not the piece that you’re checking is really silver or a fake. But just to be on the safe side and for 100% certainty, it is recommended that you visit a professional appraiser. They have sophisticated machines that can authenticate any item and give a more conclusive result.