Genuine silver or sterling silver if genuine can last for years if well cared for. Because it is a soft metal, silver by itself cannot be used for jewelry or cutlery. That is why it has to be mixed with other materials. To qualify an item as genuine silver, it must be 92.5% pure. Most sterling silver has 7.5% other material, usually copper.
Sometimes the items are made of other metals and have a thin layer of pure silver on top. This is known as silver plating, which wears off with use and/or wear.
Like gold, silver must bear a mark indicating its purity. Normally they usually carry the code 925, if not, it is not authentic silver. Next, we indicate a series of tricks so that you discover if what you have is money or not. Keep in mind that with two grams of pure silver, you can bathe up to 2.5 kg of any metal.
What do you need to know if it is genuine silver?
- Jewelry, cutlery, or another object that has silver.
- soft cloth
- Magnet (optional).
Nitrate test, materials:
- A silver object.
- Lime.
- Nitric acid.
- Napkin.
- Water with bicarbonate of soda.
Instructions to know if it is genuine silver
- Inspect the item carefully and look for the following markings: “9.25,” “925/1000,” “Sterling,” “S/S,” or “Sterling 9.25.” If you do not see any of these marks, it is possible that the item is not pure silver and that it is silver plated or another material. You can also find other brands such as 900 and 800. What it is indicating is the percentage of silver they carry, so the 925 has 92.5%, the 900 90%, and the 800 80%.
- Please check the color of the item carefully. Original silver is less shiny and cooler than silver-plated items.
- If you see areas where the silver appears to be chipping or has a greenish cast, the item is not pure silver.
- If even with these indications you want to investigate further, you can try cleaning the object with a cloth. Silver usually leaves a trace on the cloth in the form of black marks. These are caused when sterling silver oxidizes. Because the action of air and other chemical results tarnish silver. This does not happen with fake silver.
- If the object is suspected to be made of stainless steel, such as cutlery, a magnet could be brought closer. If it is made of stainless steel, it will be attracted to the magnet. This test is not entirely reliable, since not all metals are attracted to it. If it sticks strongly then you have enough steel.
- If you have ice in your fridge, you can take advantage of doing another test. Place the silver on top of the ice and it will melt as if it had heat underneath.
- Another test is to take the object in your hand and try to scratch the wall. If it scratches, it is genuine silver. Be careful with the wall you choose to make the lines, because you may have problems.
- Keep in mind that sometimes the item may have a sterling mark, but if you suspect that it is a fake, you can go to the jeweler for a definitive test. A small drop of nitric acid is added, it is a specific industrial acid. Upon contact with this acid, if the object turns green, it is not sterling silver. This chemical reaction is due to its high copper content. Items that are brass, silver plated, nickel silver, or low-quality silver will turn green.
- You can also carry out this test at home, but it is more advisable to have it done by an expert because the piece could be damaged.
- File the piece of silver to be checked to remove any impurities it may have.
- Once filed, proceed to apply a drop of nitric acid. But do it in a place that is not going to be seen.
- Wipe clean with a little touch. There has to be a white spot. The more gray remains, it is of lower quality, but if it turns green, it is not silver.
- Finally we wash the object with water and bicarbonate to avoid burns.
Tips to know if it is genuine silver
- Make sure you go to a reputable jeweler and make sure the test is done in a discreet place. Please note that nitric acid will leave a permanent discoloration on your item.
- It is always a good idea to consult a professional to make sure the silver is authentic. Buying silver from a reputable seller is also important.
- A silver necklace, no matter how much you stretch it, does not deform, it returns to its original shape. Silver is malleable. For the 5% copper, it carries. Since 1000 silver cannot be worked with, hence the addition of copper.