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To identify a piece of sterling silver, first look for the sterling silver hallmark, which is sometimes written as “925,” or “S925” in the U.S., a stamped lion in the U.K., or a stamped vase or Head of Minerva in France. If it doesn’t have a stamp, run a magnet around the pieces of metal.
Silver has distinctive properties and there are a number of easy tests you can perform at home to confirm whether your piece is real or fake. We'll also explain how to know if your piece is pure silver or silver plated. For a simple walk-through of each silver test, scroll on down!
Since it’s difficult to tell real sterling silver from something that is silver-plated by appearance alone, here are a few things you can do to test for authenticity: Look for the 925 stamp. Most sterling silver objects from reputable sources will feature a stamp that identifies the piece as “925,” “Ster,” or “Sterling Silver ...
Look for a stamp anywhere on your piece of silver featuring a number, the words fine silver, or pure silver. A numeral stating 925, 900, or 800 is an indication of the percentage of fine silver (eg. 92.5%, 80%). This is an international silver labeling system, also called a hallmark.
Learn how to tell if silver is real by using the stamp, magnet, odor, polish, ice, and flake test, according to appraisers.
Sterling silver will turn dark red, while fine silver turns bright red. Lower silver content turns different colors depending on the alloy content. If you see blue, dark brown, or yellow show up, it means the piece is made from metals other than silver.
While sterling silver contains 92.5% silver, pure silver, also known as fine silver, is 99.9% pure silver. The addition of other metals in sterling silver increases its durability, making it more suitable for everyday wear compared to pure silver.
Common marks include “925” (indicating 92.5% silver, the sterling silver standard), “800,” or other numeric codes. They also often include hallmarks which can identify if it is Sterling Silver, Country of Origin, City, and Maker.
One of the most reliable indicators of genuine silver is the presence of hallmarks or stamps. These marks, often located in inconspicuous areas like the inner side of jewellery or the underneath of ornaments, carry vital information.
A creamy white reaction suggests pure or sterling silver, while a green reaction indicates a base metal with silver plating . Hallmark Test: Look for hallmarks that indicate silver purity, such as "925" for sterling silver. However, be cautious as some fakes may also have fake hallmarks .