Cars & Other Vehicles

How To Test Silver

Maybe your friend gave you a piece she found, or you bought it online from a shady site.Maybe you want to check out some heirlooms that are not real.You need to know how to test your silver.It is possible to use silver as a chemical element.95 percent of sterling silver is silver and 7.5 percent is other metals.It is more difficult than pure silver.It is called "fine silver" because it is soft.Products covered with a thin layer of fine silver can be mistaken for silver.The first step is to begin testing your silver.

Step 1: Look for a stamp.

The stamped items should be based on the silver content.Be cautious if there is no stamp.It may be pure silver, but it's created in a country that doesn't require stamps.

Step 2: The international silver stamp rating is evaluated.

There is a piece of silver with a magnifying glass.International sellers of silver will mark the silver with a number.The numbers show the percentage of silver in the piece.The piece is made of 92.5 percent silver.A stamp of 900 or 800 means the piece is 90 percent or 80 percent silver.

Step 3: Take a test with a magnet.

It's important to use a strong magnet, such as the rare-earth magnet.Silver has weak magnetic effects.The ferromagnetic core of your magnet is not silver.Some metals can be made to look like silver if they don't stick to a magnet.The magnetic test should be done in conjunction with another test to make sure the core is not another metal.

Step 4: You can try the sliding test.

If you are testing silver bars, you can use a magnet to see if it is real or not.If you want your silver bars to be at a 45 degree angle, you have to angle them.Put the magnet down.The face of the bar has a magnet on it.This may seem counterintuitive, but silver is paramagnetic and the rare earth magnet causes electric eddy currents in the silver which act as an electromagnet to slow the descent of the magnet.

Step 5: Take some ice with you.

You should keep it in the freezer until you need it.It might not seem like ice and silver go together, but silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal.The test works well with coins and bars, but will be harder on silver jewelry.

Step 6: The piece of ice should be on the silver.

Don't take your eyes off it.As soon as the ice is placed on something hot, it will begin to melt.

Step 7: You can try the ring test with any coin.

When silver is tapped on with another metal, it makes a lovely ringing sound.You should find a United States quarter made before 1965, if you want to try this out.The US quarters made after 1964 are made of a copper-nickel alloy.The older quarter has a clear ringing tone, while the newer quarters have a dull thump of a sound.

Step 8: Drop your own coin on a flat surface.

You have a real silver coin in your hand if it makes a sound like a bell.The silver is mixed with other metals if it's dull.

Step 9: A chemical test is performed on an item.

If there isn't a stamp on the piece, use a chemical analysis.Put on gloves.A corrosive acid will be used to test the piece.The acids burn the skin.This method can cause slight damage to your silver item.You might be better off trying to determine the silver content using one of the other methods listed in this article if you suspect you have a high value item.

Step 10: You can buy a silver acid test.

You can buy them online at sites like Amazon or eBay.If you think your piece is silver plated, you will have to use a small jeweler's file to make a mark on it.

Step 11: If you want to make a small scratch on the silver piece, you have to find a hidden place.

The underlying metal needs to be tested with acid.Use a metal file to scratch the piece.If you scratch the surface enough, you can get past the silver layer.Use a black stone plate if you don't want to leave a mark on your piece.They can be purchased in the same store or with a silver testing kit.Rub silver on the stone so that it leaves a large deposit.The line should be one to one-half inch thick.

Step 12: Only apply a drop of acid to the scratched surface.

The polished look of the piece will be affected if the acid touches any areas that are not scratched.If you used a black stone, add acid to the line that you created on it.

Step 13: The acid on the scratched surface can be analyzed.

The color of the piece will have to be analyzed.The instructions and scale of the silver test are important.The color scale is as follows: Bright Red: Fine Silver Darker Red, 925 Silver Brown, 800 Silver Green, 500 Silver Yellow, Lead or Tin Dark brown, Brass Blue.