If you love silver, whether in jewelry or decorative objects, and you have been given a piece as a gift or you plan to buy it yourself but you are not sure of the quality of the material, do not worry. There are different ways to tell if an object is genuine silver and in this post we are going to give you some tricks so that you are more sure about the validity of the product. Let's start!
How can you tell if a piece is real silver? Sometimes objects can be so well made that the material gives off. However, if you do not want to fall into a trap when buying jewelry or silver pieces, we advise you to read the following recommendations and tricks to make sure that the silver you buy is authentic.
Ask for the seal of quality
If when buying silver in a store you have wondered how to know if an object is genuine silver, the best thing to do is to ask for the stamp of authenticity that certifies the material that has been used in the manufacture of the piece. This seal will indicate the origin of the silver as well as its degree of purity.
Look at the silver number
In Spain, jewels and objects that have been treated with silver are marked for identification with a number that indicates the purity of the silver that has been used for their manufacture: 800, 900, 925 and 999. Let's see what each means. figure:
- 999 silver: 100% purity
- 925 silver: 92,5% purity
- 900 silver: 90% purity
- 800 silver: 80% purity
For a piece to be considered sterling silver, at least it must be 925 silver. The 800 or 900 stamps are called silver coins because this material is usually mixed with copper.
Tricks to know if an object is genuine silver
Although you may believe that identifying a silver object can be a difficult task for untrained eyes, in reality the situation becomes easier if you know the appropriate tricks.
In this post we present 9 tricks to know if an object is real silver. From observing the color of the piece or using the bleach technique to performing the weight test or the sound trick, among others. Without further ado, let's see what these tricks consist of.
Look at the color of the part
To check if a jewel or object is made of silver or not, a very simple trick is to observe its color. It will not be pure silver if it has a greenish hue or if it flakes off. Original silver is cooler in color and less shiny than silver-plated pieces.
Use an ice cube
In the jewelry sector there is a material called alpaca that is widely used in this sector due to its appearance, since it imitates that of silver. In addition, it lowers the price that is usually closer to that of jewelry.
That is why, sometimes, at first glance it is difficult to distinguish between alpaca and silver. However, a very simple trick to achieve this is to put an ice cube on the object in question: if it melts in a short time, the piece is made of silver, but if it does not, it will be made of nickel silver.
To carry out this test, I advise you to place some absorbent paper on the surface where you are going to do it, since the ice releases a lot of water when it melts.
Use a magnet to find out if you have silver
A trick to know if the jewel has silver is to use a magnet. Silver is not very magnetic, so if you get close to it, a magnet will barely stick to it. On the other hand, if the magnet sticks to the piece, this will mean that it is not made of silver but that the main material is another. However, it may have some silver plating.
Use a cloth to clean the object
Another way to tell if the object or jewelry contains silver is to use a cloth to clean it. When cleaned, silver leaves a small trace of black specks on the cloth as it tends to oxidize. Something that with imitation silver does not happen. Paying attention to this will be useful to discover if the jewel is made of silver or not.
lye technique
Perhaps this is the most delicate trick to apply and it is that by pouring a drop of bleach on the object it could be damaged if it is not silver. If it is, the silver will begin to oxidize but after cleaning it, it will recover its original appearance. In the event that it is not silver, the oxidation will last.
The heat trick
Did you know that silver heats up quite easily? Knowing this, a small test can be carried out to check if a jewel is made of silver. Applies heat to the piece. If it heats up quickly it will be silver.
the smell test
This simple trick will help you to know if your object or jewel is made of silver or not. If you perceive a certain metallic smell, it is probably not made of this material because real silver has no smell. On the other hand, some metals that are used as an imitation do have a characteristic aroma, such as copper.
The weight test
This test is not definitive but if you take it into account along with the others, it will help you identify silver more easily since it is a relatively heavy metal.
That is to say, if when holding a silver object or jewel you feel that it is heavy, it is probably silver. However, be careful as there are other heavy materials as well.
the sound trick
This test can also be used to find out if an object is made of silver or not. For example, if the sound is short or muffled when hitting an object, it is most likely not made of real silver. On the other hand, if it emits a lasting and clear sound, it is most likely that it is.