Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Conduct an overall assessment
• Method 2 of 3: Test the item
• Method 3 of 3: Ask an expert to rate your silver items
• Tips
• Warnings

Sterling silver is not pure silver. It is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. Most sterling silver items have a hallmark; a stamp placed in an inconspicuous place, indicating the purity of the silver. These marks are marked ".925" or "925", or "S925" or sometimes "Sterling". Along with the hallmark, there must also be a "hallmark" (the maker's registered mark) on the piece. If your item is not certified, you can determine whether it is made of sterling silver by doing several tests at home or by consulting a professional. Unfortunately, some items with the stamp ".925" are not always made of sterling silver, so if in doubt you should always have it tested.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Conduct an overall assessment

1. Look for a sterling silver hallmark. Precious metals are stamped with a hallmark, a symbol or series of symbols that indicate the type, purity and authenticity. If your item has a sterling silver hallmark, it must also include the maker's stamp. In the US, it is not mandatory to label precious metals, but if it does have a hallmark, it MUST also have a maker's stamp next to it. The United Kingdom, France and the US each have their own marking system.
   • American sterling silver is marked with one of the following hallmarks: "925", ".925", or "S925". The 925 indicates that the piece contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals.
   • Silver items made in the UK usually have a lion stamp. In addition to this stamp, silver objects manufactured in the United Kingdom also have a city mark, a customs mark, a date letter and a sponsor mark. These markings vary from item to item.
   • France currently marks its sterling silver objects with the head of Minerva (92.5% and less) or a vase (99.9% pure silver).
2. Listen for a high-pitched ringtone. When gently tapped on sterling silver it will produce a high pitched ring tone that lasts for 1 to 2 seconds. To perform this test, gently tap the silver object with your finger or a metal coin. If the item is genuine sterling silver it will produce a high pitched ringing tone. If you don't hear this tone, the item is not sterling silver.
   • When you tap the item, do it very carefully so you don't damage it.
3. Smell it. Silver has no odor. Hold the object up to your nose and smell it for a moment. If you smell a strong odor, the item probably contains too much copper to be sterling silver.
   • Copper is a commonly used alloy in sterling silver, but 925 sterling does not contain enough copper to cause an odor.
4. Examine the flexibility of the object. Silver is a soft, flexible metal. To determine if the object is made of silver, try bending the object with your hands. If it bends easily, the item is likely made of pure silver or sterling silver.
   • If you can't bend the object, it probably isn't made of silver or sterling silver.

Method 2 of 3: Test the item

1. Test for oxidation. When silver is exposed to air, it oxidizes. Due to the oxidation of the silver, the metal dulls over time and takes on a black tint. You need a white cloth to test whether the object has been oxidized. Rub the object with a clean white cloth and then examine the cloth.
   • If you see black spots, the item is silver or sterling silver.
   • If you don't see black spots, it is less likely that the item is made of sterling silver.
2. See if the object is magnetic. Like gold and platinum, silver is a non-ferrous metal - it does not contain iron, so it is not magnetic. Hold a strong magnet near your object. If the object is not attracted to the magnet, it is made of a non-ferrous metal. To find out what type of non-ferrous metal your item is made of, you may need to perform some additional tests.
   • If the object sticks to the magnet, it will not contain sterling silver. This usually involves an object made of high-gloss polished stainless steel that is intended to resemble silver.
3. Do an ice test. Silver has the highest coefficient of thermal conductivity of all known metals - it conducts heat extremely quickly. You can use this knowledge to determine whether your object is made of silver or not. There are two ways to perform the ice test.
   • Place the object on a flat surface. Place one ice cube on the object and another ice cube on the work surface. If the object is made of silver, the ice cube on it should melt much faster than the ice cube on the surface.
   • Fill a bowl with a few ice cubes and a layer of water. Place your silver item and an equally sized non-silver item in the ice water. The silver object should feel cold after about 10 seconds. The non-silver item will now feel less cold.

Method 3 of 3: Ask an expert to rate your silver items

1. Have your item appraised. If home testing is not conclusive, you may need to consult an expert to determine if your item is silver or sterling silver, or perhaps only silver-plated. There are several types of experts to choose from, but some are more qualified than others. Choose a professional who is certified, experienced and / or recommended by someone.
   • Professional appraisers are highly trained and experienced. Almost all renowned appraisers are qualified. Their task is to assess the quality and value of objects.
   • Graduated jewelers are also trained and certified as appraisers. They are skilled artists, as well as experienced jewelry repairers and appraisers. They are therefore also able to evaluate the materials that make up an object.
2. Ask a professional to take a nitric acid test. When nitric acid comes into contact with a metal, it shows whether the metal is real or not. The skilled person will carve or scratch the object in an inconspicuous place. Then he / she applies a drop of nitric acid into the notch or scratch. If the spot turns green, the object is not made of silver; if the spot turns cream, the object is silver.
   • You can buy a test kit yourself and perform this test at home. When handling nitric acid, you have to be extremely careful. Always wear protective gloves and goggles.
3. Send it to a lab for further testing. If your item requires further testing, you can send it to a professional lab for advanced jewelry or metal testing. Ask a jeweler for recommendations, or search online for a reputable laboratory for advanced metal testing. In the lab, scientists will conduct a series of tests to determine the chemical composition of your object. These tests may include:
   • Fire assay - melting a sample of the metal and performing a chemical analysis.
   • How to use an XRF gun. This sends X-rays through the object to test the purity of the metal.
   • Mass Spectrometry - a test used to determine the molecular and chemical structure of an object.
   • A certain kind of gravity test - where you see how much water is being moved.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Kennon Young

   
   
   Gemstone Appraiser Kennon Young is a gemstone expert and a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). He is certified as a gemstone appraiser by the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) and certified as a goldsmith by the Jewelers of America (JA) trade association. In 2016, he obtained the highest accreditation as a gemstone appraiser, that of ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser.

   Kennon Young
   Gemstone appraiser

   The best way to test silver is chemical. If no stamps or marks can be found, it is best to have a chemical test performed in addition to a laser test, an acid test or an electronic test.

Tips

• If your item is not marked, you may need to perform an acid test or have an XRF analysis done to determine if it is sterling silver.

Warnings

• Before marketing an item like sterling silver, you must be absolutely sure that it is genuine sterling silver.