Is silver magnetic?

How to test silver at home: 8 handy methods + tips for use

Do you love silver? It is beautiful and noble! But hallmarking began relatively recently, and if you inherited silver things, bought them on occasion, or received them as a gift, then I would like to determine their real value. How to check the authenticity of silver without resorting to the services of experts?

Silver jewelry has been valued at all times and does not lose popularity today. Dishes, church utensils, and jewelry were made from it. Even the ancient Persians, Egyptians and Greeks knew that silver had bactericidal properties, so they actively used it in medicine, however, this property is also relevant in modern realities.

Some interesting facts about silver

Argentum, or silver, is in the same group with gold and platinum in the periodic table. These precious metals do not corrode and do not oxidize in air.

Silver has always been considered a magical substance with mysterious and miraculous properties. It is not only famous for its healing qualities, but also absorbs negativity and helps cleanse the spirit. That is why it is used in church and temple rites in almost all religions of the world. And in the times of the pagans it was associated with the Moon.

Silver infused water has healing properties, and regular use can significantly improve your health. By the way, astronauts on the ISS drink only silver water. And in Japan they have developed devices that purify the air using silver ions.

Do you know that silver jewelry is more popular than gold jewelry? Despite the fact that the shade of this metal is cold, people felt inner warmth and radiance, and happily wore and continue to wear silver jewelry. Precious stones in a silver frame are especially beautiful; they play with all colors and look catchy and contrasting.

Silver is versatile; jewelry made from it is suitable for both women and men, suitable for any outfit. It can be combined with enamel, gold, pearls and various stones.

Methods for checking quality and authenticity

Products made from pure natural silver are beautiful, but not practical. The fact is that this is a fairly ductile metal, it quickly loses its shine if it is not cleaned, and if worn carelessly, it breaks or becomes deformed; the pattern smoothes out over time. Jewelers have long begun to use various alloys with alloyed silver.

Unfortunately, samples are not taken in all countries, or the product may not be certified or manufactured privately. Therefore, the question of how to determine silver at home becomes relevant in some cases.

Stamp and hallmark

In an inconspicuous place, a special seal is placed on the inside, which shows how much real silver is contained in the alloy. It consists of three numbers and indicates the amount of precious metal in one kilogram. For example, a sample of 925 indicates that 1 kg contains 75 g of impurity and 925 g of pure silver.

What types of tests are there?

• 720 is low-grade silver, 280 grams is copper. This alloy is very strong and is used in industry. It is not suitable for jewelry, and such jewelry will not be sampled;
• 800 and 830 - cutlery is made from it;
• 875 - this alloy is often passed off as white gold, having previously been gilded;
• 916 - in Soviet times, silverware was made from it. Currently not used in jewelry;
• 925 is the most used standard among jewelers;
• 960 – close to natural silver, soft and easily deformed. Used in art, relief compositions. They no longer make jewelry from it;
• 999 – pure silver, from which coins for collections and bars are minted. Used in industry and medicine.

In jewelry stores, each piece of jewelry has its own passport - a small label on a strong cord with a seal, on which all the parameters are indicated: weight, fineness, presence of stones and their characteristics.

Thermal method

Silver has excellent thermal conductivity and quickly reaches ambient temperature. Hold the product in your hand and it will almost instantly heat up to 36.6 degrees. Dip it into cold or, conversely, hot water, the silver will immediately cool down or become hot.

By the way, using boiling water is a fairly effective method. The decoration removed from it will burn your hands and cool quickly, adapting to room temperature. The fake will be only slightly warm.

Real silver will melt an ice cube in a short time, which is completely impossible for cold metal jewelry.

Iodine, vinegar and chalk

Many substances react with silver, leaving traces on it.

Drop a drop of iodine onto the product and wipe it off immediately. Real silver will leave a black stain, which will be difficult to remove later. The method is not very good, you can damage the decoration, use it on an inconspicuous area from the inside.

Run an ordinary school chalk over the silver; the real thing will leave dark streaks. Vinegar does not give any reaction when interacting with silver, but non-ferrous metals, on the contrary, oxidize.

Sulfuric ointment

Sulfur-based pharmaceutical products also leave traces. Wipe the area previously selected for testing with fine sandpaper, apply ointment for one to two hours. If no stains remain, then it is a fake made of stainless metal or nickel.

Magnet

How to test silver at home if you don’t want to spoil the product with products that leave marks in the form of stains? It’s very simple - use an ordinary magnet. If the item is magnetic, then it is a fake. The method is quite common, but inaccurate; many non-ferrous metals also do not react to a magnet.

With a needle

Very often, costume jewelry is made from various alloys, and the top is coated with a thin layer of silver. Take a needle and scratch the metal - the silver-plated layer is easily removed, but pure silver has a high density of material, and it is impossible to break the molecular layer with a needle.

Nitric acid

Use this test method while wearing protective gloves. A drop of aggressive acid quickly darkens silver as an oxidation reaction occurs. The fake will hiss with greenish foam due to copper impurities in the alloy.

Special chemicals

Metal tests can be found at your local pharmacy or specialty stores. In our case, it is called the “silver test”. For proper use, read the instructions and carry out simple manipulations.

Typically, lightly rub the area to be tested with sandpaper and apply the reagent. After a certain time, you can evaluate the results obtained by the color of the spot:

• shades of red – the product is genuine. Burgundy color indicates 925 standard, and scarlet indicates pure silver without impurities;
• brown colors - light characterizes low-grade silver, and dark color characterizes natural brass;
• yellow – jewelry is made of tin or lead;
• blue - in front of you is nickel.

You see, you don’t have to be a chemist to check the quality with chemical reagents.

Checking old silver items

Nowadays, silver is affordable for all segments of the population, so there is no need to counterfeit it, which cannot be said about antique jewelry or art objects.

They can be found in antique shops, private collections, or at grandma's flea market. Of course, they will not have a modern hallmark, and the master’s mark may be a fake.

It is better not to approach such items with iodine or nitric acid. You should have knowledge about the era of that time, the specifics of the decor, and, armed with a magnifying glass, a connoisseur will be able to visually determine the authenticity of a silver item.

Unfortunately, the average person does not have such knowledge, so to determine the true value, you can take the item to an experienced jeweler or for examination by specialists.

Folk tips and signs for using silver in everyday life

Humanity learned about the unique properties of silver more than 6,000 years ago, and perhaps much earlier. It has long been believed that this amazing metal is capable of absorbing negative energy, which is why it turns black. From a scientific point of view, it reacts with substances and trace elements found in the human body. If there is an imbalance in the body, then silver reacts sensitively to all changes.

1. To reduce high fever, wear a silver bracelet on your left hand.
2. Earrings improve alertness and concentration.
3. If you apply silver to your forehead, you can get rid of headaches and relieve eye strain.
4. A ring on the ring finger of the left hand strengthens the heart muscle.
5. If silver jewelry quickly darkens on a person, it means that he has health problems.
6. Silver dishes and cutlery are good for health.
7. Babies are given a silver spoon when their first tooth appears to strengthen the body. Of course, it must be used and not kept as a souvenir.

Conclusion

Based on the methods considered, several conclusions can be drawn. Home methods are not fully effective. Some components react with silver and leave stains on it that are difficult to clean. Therefore, if you are faced with the task of how to check silver or not, take your jewelry to an expert.

Source: https://adella.ru/home/cleaning/kak-proverit-serebro-na-podlinnost.html

Expert advice: how to distinguish silver from a fake

How to distinguish silver from fake, cupronickel and platinum yourself when purchasing or at home? There are several testing methods based on the chemical and physical properties of this noble metal. All products, jewelry or household items must have a test indicating how much of this metal is present in the alloy.

It is placed on all products made from alloys that include precious metals. The sample is taken in the assay office, its presence confirms the quality of the product. The fineness is 999, 960, 925, 875, 830 and 800.

The higher the number indicated on the product, the more silver in the alloy. If the item is old and there is no hallmark on it, then there are several techniques that can confirm or refute guesses about the price of the item.

How to check a metal item

Sometimes low-cost jewelry made from silver is passed off as white gold. Silver jewelry looks similar to platinum. This noble white metal is often used to coat inexpensive metal products to give them a beautiful color and shine.

In order not to confuse platinum with silver, you need to look at the sample. Platinum hallmarks do not match silver hallmarks. If the product indicates 925 standard, then it can only be silver. Platinum has hallmarks of 375, 500, 585, 750, 958.

The numbers indicating the hallmarks of silver and white gold are different, and if you remember them, there will be no mistake.

1. If someone passes off a metal item as jewelry, then to confirm the seller’s words, you need to check its magnetic properties. Silver is not attracted. If a metal thing is attracted by a magnet, then it is not silver.
2. Silver objects can be confused with cupronickel. This alloy is also non-magnetic and looks very similar to precious metal. To distinguish silver from cupronickel, you need to carefully examine the metal object. The letters MNC are stamped on cupronickel, and on the product made of precious metal there is a sample with numbers and a female head crowned with a kokoshnik. If you weigh two similar items made of cupronickel and silver, the precious metal will be heavier than the alloy of copper, zinc and nickel called cupronickel.
3. The questionable object must be momentarily immersed in water at a temperature close to 100°. The high thermal conductivity of silver allows the metal item to heat up quickly. Cupronickel alloy cannot heat up so quickly. Its low thermal conductivity has made it popular in the manufacture of cutlery.
4. If you are offering jewelry with silver plating, you must remember that it is easily damaged by sharp metal objects. It is enough to draw a line with a sewing needle to leave a mark on the jewelry.

Application of chemical methods

1. All precious metals are inert and do not combine with most chemicals. Iodine cannot stain them. If a blue spot appears on the product in place of iodine, then zinc predominates in the decoration.
2. Zinc leaves dark spots on the body after wearing. If there are stains, then the product contains precious metal in minimal doses.
3. Silver nitrate is used in medicine to cauterize warts and papillomas. You can buy it at the pharmacy under the name lapis.

   It leaves traces on ordinary alloys, and noble metals do not react with it. It is enough to run a wet lapis over the object to understand what metal is used for decoration.

4. School chalk will turn black from exposure to silver ions.
5. Silver items will darken when interacting with sulfur. When a sulfur-containing ointment is applied to a metal, a reaction will occur and an oxide film will form.
6. If you conduct a chemical test, chrompic will help identify Argentum.

   It is applied to the cleaned surface, a reaction occurs that gives a red spot at the site where the reagent was applied. Chrompic is a strong oxidizing agent and a toxic substance, so you need to work with it carefully.

You can determine Argentum without having a sample on it with the help of jewelers. They have the ability to determine metal using special methods. It is recommended to purchase silver items at official sales points, and not in various shops selling costume jewelry.

Correctly chosen real jewelry made of this noble metal can retain its radiance and beauty for a long time. Careful wearing of rings and earrings, bracelets and brooches will help maintain an ideal appearance. They do not stain the skin, do not darken when worn, and help improve human energy.

Source: https://gdeserebro.ru/problemy-resheniya/kak-otlichit-serebro-ot-poddelki.html

How to check silver for authenticity at home

Products made from precious metals attract everyone. Some people opt for gold jewelry, while others prefer silver: it costs less and looks no worse than gold.

Due to the fact that silver items are rarely counterfeited, few buyers are aware of what a counterfeit looks like. Sometimes the purchased jewelry may be made of a different metal.

Therefore, it is better to know how to test silver at home after purchasing it from an untrusted store.

Silver product: how to distinguish it from a fake?

You can distinguish real silver from counterfeit silver in a store using the following criteria:

• try. All silver items must have a hallmark indicating the percentage of silver they contain. The number on it can be different: it all depends on the country in which the product was made. The most common samples are 925 and 875, but there are others. If the research item is marked with a number from 800 to 999, it is made of silver;
• thermal conductivity. Silver items heat up in a matter of seconds and give off heat just as quickly. If you hold a product made of noble metal in your hands or dip it in hot water for a moment, it will instantly absorb the temperature of its surroundings;
• weight of the subject being studied. Silver has a higher density compared to other alloys, so it should be felt in the hand;
• appearance of the product. The original has: a silvery-white metallic tint, good reflective properties. But if you don’t clean it for a long time, it becomes dull and acquires a pinkish color;
• the sound that a silver object makes. If you knock on it with the same product, for example a silver coin, a ringing sound will appear.

Checking silver using improvised means

When silver items are inherited or received as a gift, doubts often arise about their authenticity. In such cases, you have to look for other ways to test silver. To use them you will need tools that are available in almost every home:

Iodine

One of the substances that can affect noble metals. If you apply a drop of the substance to real silver and immediately wash it off, it will leave a gray stain. This verification method must be used carefully: it can damage the product.

Ordinary chalk

Has the same properties as iodine. Simply rub the surface of the decoration with chalk. Dark chalk marks indicate its authenticity.

Vinegar

Place the item in the container with vinegar for a few seconds. If it is made of silver, there should be no reaction. The opposite situation indicates that the product is fake.

Needle

It is used when there is a suspicion that the item is silver plated on top. We lightly scratch the surface with a needle, after which we carefully examine it: on a fake, a thin layer of silver can be easily removed, but nothing like this will happen with the original.

Bleach and nitric acid

Before checking silver for authenticity, it is recommended to wear rubber gloves: they will protect the skin of your hands from exposure to aggressive substances. When reacting with this kind of oxidizing agent, silver objects begin to quickly darken. If the color of the jewelry remains the same, then the purchased product is fake.

In general, there are many criteria that distinguish a real silver item from a fake. You can check its authenticity at home using improvised means. But it is best to turn to an expert with such a question: he certainly knows how to check silver or whether there are impurities of other alloys in the product. Then you won’t have to pay twice, and the decoration won’t get damaged.

Source: http://ujutnijdom.ru/sovety/kak-proverit-serebro-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

Ways to check the authenticity of silver yourself at home

Silver products are very popular among people, and this applies not only to jewelry, but also to silverware. In addition, this metal is also used in industrial production and is called technical silver.

To evaluate silver, a measure such as sample is used. It shows the quantitative content of metal in 1 kilogram of alloy. For the production of jewelry and cutlery, silver with a purity of 875, 916 and 925 is used. But how to determine technical silver? Everything is simple - it has the highest 999 standard, and besides, the technical metal is very ductile, so it can be deformed.

Iodine

Due to the fact that a large number of precious jewelry offered on the jewelry market are fakes, every person should know how to check silver for authenticity.

Often, scammers intending to profit from the gullibility of citizens, under the guise of real silver (and at an appropriate price!) offer customers jewelry made from cheap metal, but covered with the thinnest layer of precious metal.

However, knowing the properties of this metal, with the help of some tests you can easily distinguish a piece of jewelry from a fake. Moreover, many of these methods can be easily implemented at home using improvised means and substances (iodine, vinegar, etc.).

Silver or not: how to recognize?

A visual and tactile test for silver can be performed at a jewelry store before purchasing a piece, but to do this you need to know what real silver should look like. It is easy to find out the authenticity of jewelry made from this metal - just squeeze it in your hand. It is known to conduct heat, so it will take up to a minute to heat it up.

To distinguish silver from aluminum, which is used to make fakes, just hold the jewelry in your hand. A precious product will be weighty, while an aluminum one will surprise you with its lightness. However, this method is more suitable for evaluating massive products.

The main sign that the jewelry is not precious, but just zinc, is the presence of a slightly dark coating on the skin of the hands after contact with such a product.

When purchasing any product made of precious metal, you should definitely pay attention to the hallmark. It itself should have clear boundaries, and the numbers should be easily visualized. The hallmark mark on a genuine product is located symmetrically with respect to its edges.

When answering the question of how to determine the authenticity of silver, mention should be made of household methods:

1. Magnet test: Silver can be easily tested at home using a rare earth neodymium magnet. The thing is that silver is not attracted to a magnet, which can be used to determine the authenticity of the metal. To perform the test, bring a piece of magnet close to the product. If it comes under the influence and is attracted, then you can be sure that it is a fake. Using a magnet, the authenticity of not only products, but also silver bars is tested. You should take 1 ingot, tilt it at an angle of 45 degrees and place a piece of magnet on it so that it slides down. If the magnet lingers on the ingot, there is a 100% guarantee that the sample size of the ingot is lower than stated.
2. Ice test: This method is suitable for coins and bars. For the dough you only need 1 ice cube. It should be placed on the surface of the ingot and monitored as the ice melts. Since silver has excellent thermal conductivity, the process of melting ice will take a couple of seconds.
3. Iodine Test: This at-home silver test must be done with caution as iodine leaves dark stains on real metal. To test the authenticity, but not spoil the product, iodine should be applied to the inside of the jewelry, and this must be done pointwise.
4. Sulfur ointment test: this product is purchased at the pharmacy. A small area of ​​the product should be rubbed with sandpaper and lubricated with sulfur ointment. The result is assessed after 15 minutes. If there is a stain left where the acid was applied, then you can be sure that the jewel is real. But metals such as nickel and stainless steel will not interact with acid, so there will be no stains on products made from such metals.
5. Chalk test: how to determine silver at home? It’s quite easy - just take a piece of chalk and rub the product with it. If dark stripes remain on the chalk, then such a sign will indicate the authenticity of the jewelry.
6. Boiling water test: if you have any doubts about the quality of the jewelry, you should prepare a glass of boiling water and dip the piece into it for just a second. Silver jewelry will become hot in a second, which cannot be said about other metals.
7. Needle test: just take a thin needle and lightly scratch the jewelry with it. There will be no trace of the needle left on real jewelry.
8. Test with a lapis pencil: you can buy such a pencil at the pharmacy. This device is used for testing precious metals at home. It is enough to wet the product and make a stroke on it with such a pencil. If the trace changes color, this will be a sign of a fake.

Sulfuric ointment

Chemical method

How to test silver at home? You can buy a chemical test kit at a jewelry store. When working with reagents (acid), hands should be protected with gloves.

To test a product, you should make a scratch on it, then apply acid to it. To evaluate the test result, you should read the instructions for the kit.

For example, on pure silver, a scratch under the influence of acid will acquire a bright red color, but yellow, blue and brown tints of the scratch will indicate a fake.

To avoid becoming a victim of scammers and spending a colossal amount of money on a trinket positioned as a precious piece of jewelry, all such purchases should be made in specialized stores. It is desirable if these are retail outlets selling branded products.

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Source: https://DedPodaril.com/serebro/info/kak-proverit-serebro.html

How to test silver at home: 11 ways to determine authenticity

Hello again, dear readers. Recently, there has been an increase in the popularity of silver jewelry, so I have prepared a short review on how to check silver for authenticity. There are many simple ways, each of which deserves attention. So, let's begin.

Methods for checking the quality and authenticity of silver at home

I’m willing to bet that in every home there will be not only an unidentified thing - an antique spoon or a candlestick that you want to recognize, but also the means to carry out the test immediately after reading the article, without leaving home.

Before carrying out tests, it is worth considering that there are fakes coated with a thin layer of noble metal. For accuracy, it is better to scratch the product a little to remove the top layer and conduct more than just a superficial analysis.

Sample and stamp

Products made from precious metals have been branded for a very long time. On an object, if it is made of a noble alloy, there will definitely be a corresponding stamp with a hallmark. The mark must be executed with high quality, legibly and clearly. But with the current level of technology, a sample can also turn out to be a fake.

Thermal conductivity

Silver holds the record among other metals for thermal conductivity. It can heat up and cool down almost instantly. This property allows you to check the metal for authenticity. Take the thing you are testing and, for comparison, put another metal object, for example a tablespoon, in hot water for a moment, take it out and touch it. The silver will have time to heat up, but the spoon will not.

You can, on the contrary, cool the objects and then pick them up. The noble alloy will immediately become warm.

Voice test

This method is good for determining the authenticity of coins. If you tap a silver coin with a metal object, the sound will be clear and clear. If the sound is dull, then the coin, alas, is ordinary. For this type of test, it is advisable to have a genuine item for comparison.

lapis pencil

The next test method is to apply a lapis pencil to the product. It can be bought at any pharmacy. To test silver, simply moisten a pencil in water and run it across the metal.

The active ingredient in the pencil is silver nitrate. There should be no traces left on the noble alloy.

Iodine and chalk

When it comes into contact with iodine, a dark stain appears on the silver. It is almost impossible to get rid of it completely, so this method is applicable for ingots or products that are not a pity. Starch applied to the remaining trace will help to partially neutralize the effect of iodine.

When chalk comes into contact with genuine silver, it will itself acquire a grayish tint, while the metal will only become lighter. By the way, in the old days chalk was used to clean family silver from plaque.

Bleach

When in contact with chlorine, the noble metal will darken. Therefore, try not to conduct such experiments with a chain or earrings, but the inside of the ring can be carefully treated with a small drop of the product.

Physical impact

You can distinguish between fake and genuine jewelry without the use of chemicals. Counterfeits usually contain zinc impurities. If you turn such a thing in your hands for several minutes, a dirty residue will remain on your fingers. Pure silver will not leave any traces during such a test.

You can also check using a sewing needle. Run the tip across the metal surface without pressing. If it is a silver-plated fake, then the top layer is deformed. If the product is solid, then there will be no scratches.

How to determine technical silver

This metal is widely used in industry; it is used in the production of electrical equipment, batteries, radio components and much more. It can be either pure metal or all kinds of alloys. This kind of silver is called technical silver.

One of the above methods is suitable for checking. But most often, a solution of nitric acid and sodium bichromate in equal parts is used to test technical metal. An intense red tint to the liquid will indicate a high content of precious metal.

How to tell if a spoon is silver or not

If searching for a sample turns up nothing, you can easily use one or more of the methods above to check the authenticity of the silver. For example, heat, vinegar or lapis pencil.

How to check in the store when purchasing

To check an item in a store, a magnet from home, as well as physical interaction, are perfect. Rub the product with your fingers for a couple of minutes under the pretext of a detailed examination of the proposed purchase.

You can even determine its authenticity by smell - silver has a fairly noticeable characteristic aroma. And a fake will most likely not smell like anything.

How to distinguish silver from cupronickel

Silver items must be hallmarked. If there is a mark with the letters MNC, then it is cupronickel. In addition, cupronickel quickly oxidizes in water, becoming covered with a greenish coating. To carry out a simple test, just leave the object in a container of water for a while.

Products made from these two alloys differ markedly in weight: silver is heavier. If you have something to compare with, you can simply weigh the object in your hand.

A lapis pencil moistened with water will leave a dark coating on the cupronickel at the point of contact. You can again use your sense of smell: cupronickel smells noticeably of copper, since it is contained in significant quantities in this alloy.

How to test silver at home - the authenticity of real silver: vinegar, iodine, magnet

A real silver product is easy to distinguish from a fake, and this article will help us understand all the nuances. Let's get acquainted with the most effective ways to determine the authenticity of silver.

Physical properties

• Consider the quality of the coating.
• Sterling silver should be white , with a bright, polished luster.
• The blackened one is stylized as antique and does not shine so brightly.
• Over time, antique jewelry becomes covered with a black and gray coating. If the coating is red or brown, you have another alloy, for example, brass or cupronickel.
• Silver can be matte, but it should not have any tint. A reddish tint is a sign of a large amount of copper in the alloy.
• Throw a ring , earring or coin on the table.
• When falling, a ringing , melodic, clear sound should be heard.
• Silver spoons can be knocked together.
• Copper fakes knock dully , cheap alloys make a metallic sound, like small coins.
• Rub the item with your palm.
• Counterfeits containing zinc leave dark marks.
• The silver plating can be gently rubbed to reveal the color of the backing.
• Place the jewelry in a glass of water for several days. Genuine silver will remain pristine, but counterfeit silver will rust.
• Smell it. This method requires that you have a sample.
• Those who had silver dishes remember their special, specific smell.
• If there is a coating, scrape it off. Cupronickel, like other copper alloys, smells of copper.
• Taste it.
• Brass, cupronickel , and nickel silver without sputtering will have a metallic taste.
• Noble metals are tasteless.
• Weigh it. There are reference books for numismatists that contain information about ancient and modern coins. Weigh your sample, compare the resulting weight with the indicated one.

Antique jewelry becomes covered with a black-gray patina over time.

Checking with improvised means

If after examining the product there are still doubts, you can conduct several tests using available tools:

Iodine:

• Apply iodine with a cotton swab.
• Set aside for a moment.
• Evaluate the result. The darker the stain, the higher the grade of the product. If a white coating appears, this is a fake.

Be careful, traces of iodine are very difficult to wash off from the surface of jewelry. Most likely, the stain will remain forever.

Sulfuric ointment:

• Apply ointment.
• After 30 seconds, wipe off with a cloth or napkin. The application area should darken.

Sulfur ointment is one of the most proven and safe testing methods. It is used against skin inflammations, so it can be applied without gloves. Sold in any pharmacy.

Lapis pencil:

• Wet the tip of the pencil.
• Place a small drop.
• If the drop turns black, this is a fake. Lapis is composed of silver nitrate and does not react with either silver or gold.

Lapis was once widespread, but now it is not sold in all pharmacies. This is an outdated remedy for cauterizing warts and papillomas; if it gets on open skin, a black spot will remain for a long time.

Chalk:

• Take stationery chalk and rub the decoration with it.
• Set aside.
• Check the result in a few minutes. If the chalk turns gray, you have a real noble metal in front of you.

Bleach:

It is believed that if you pour a small drop of bleach and wait a few minutes, the item will react with the acid and darken. But a lot depends on the composition of the bleach. Silver is a low-reactive metal, so household chemicals may have no effect. The imitation can be irrevocably damaged, especially by chlorine.

Vinegar:

Silver is a low-reactive metal, so household chemicals may have no effect

According to the electrochemical activity series of metals, silver is a low-active metal, therefore it does not react with 9% vinegar. Most alloys will not react with such a weak acid without heating.

Copper is also a low-active metal, so vinegar will not harm products with a high copper content. It is even recommended to soak cupronickel cutlery in acid if plaque has formed.

Needle:

• Make a deep scratch with a needle.
• Take a close look to see if the color of the core differs from the coating.
• A yellow or red tint indicates that spraying has been applied.

Magnet:

• Take a strong magnet and pass it over the surface of the object.
• Silver has almost no magnetic properties, but a fake made of steel or nickel will be immediately attracted.
• It should be noted that metals with a high copper content are also non-magnetic.

Nitric acid:

This option is only suitable for those who are familiar with chemistry.

• Under the influence of nitric acid, a violent reaction occurs with the release of gas, silver dissolves, and an aqueous solution of silver nitrate and nitric oxide are formed.
• This experiment should not be carried out at home.

Tips and tricks

• The most reliable ways to determine whether your jewelry has jewelry value are tests with iodine, sulfur ointment, lapis pencil, needle, and chalk.
• Iodine is unsafe for the product , stains remain for a long time, they are almost impossible to wash.
• A lapis pencil is very convenient , the reaction occurs quickly, but you will have to specially order it, since it is not sold in all pharmacies.
• Using a needle you can find out whether the coating has been applied , but the scratch cannot be removed.
• Chalk does not spoil the product.
• The dark spots remaining after the sulfur ointment can be wiped with ammonia or placed in a soda solution. Another option is to boil it with a piece of regular aluminum foil.
• Not everyone can determine the taste, sound or weight of silver. In addition, this requires a large sample, such as a ring or coin.
• Testing with a magnet will not give the desired result if the main material of the alloy is copper. So, cupronickel and brass will not be attracted to a magnet.
• Bleach and vinegar were useless , nitric acid is not suitable for home use.

The most reliable chemical test is a professional sampler. The simplest kit for testing precious metals costs less than 1,000 rubles.

It can be purchased at jewelry shops, some pharmacies, and online stores.

Reacting with silver, the substance becomes blood-red and turns black or green on the fake. The reagents are convenient and penetrate through coatings of any thickness. Be careful, the sampler is very caustic and may irritate the skin.

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Source: https://srazuchisto.com/uborka/ukrasheniya/proverit-serebro.html

How to check the authenticity of silver at home

Silver is the noble metal that we come across most often. Although it is less likely to be counterfeited than gold, sometimes the question arises of how to test silver to be sure of its authenticity. Well, it's time to learn the basic verification methods.

By eye and touch

To begin with, at home or in a store during purchase, you should inspect the entire product. It must have a stamp indicating the sample. In Russia, the most common sample is 925, but there are also samples from 800 to 999.

Different states have their own brands, and the state can change branding standards. There are tables of brands and rules for their application. If you are seriously interested in the question, you can always find out what kind of stamp is in front of you and what its meaning is.

This is especially important for antique silver items.

Real experts can, with a high probability, determine the authenticity of a silver item by eye. The metal reflects light well, making it very shiny. It has a characteristic silvery-white hue. If the product is not cleaned, it becomes covered with a dark film, becomes dull, with a pinkish tint.

• Worn cupronickel tableware is very easy to distinguish from silver. Under the whitish top layer, metal of a different, usually pinkish, color appears. Chrome gives off a bluish tint, nickel alloy has a slightly noticeable yellow tint. Silver does not change its shade by volume; it will be white both inside and outside.
• To determine authenticity by touch, hold the item in your hand. Silver conducts heat well, so it will heat up very quickly, and its temperature will be equal to the temperature of your body. This method is very approximate, but people who are constantly in contact with noble metals know how to use it.
• It is very easy to distinguish aluminum from silver by weight. Silver is much denser, therefore, it can be felt in the hand, which indicates its authenticity. Aluminum is very light.
• A product that contains zinc will leave a slightly noticeable residue on your hands if you keep it for a long time.

Iodine and sulfur ointment

There are very few substances that can attack noble metals. Among them, iodine stands out. If you anoint real silver with iodine, a stain will form on it. This method must be used extremely carefully, as it can ruin a beautiful product. It is best to choose an inconspicuous area, apply a minimum of iodine with a cotton swab and wipe it off immediately.

Sulfur ointment sold in pharmacies has the same reaction. To check authenticity:

• the product is lightly rubbed with fine-grained sandpaper;
• lubricate with a small amount of sulfur ointment;
• leave for 10-15 minutes, after which the surface is inspected.

A dark spot indicates authenticity; on nickel or stainless steel there will be no such spot at all.

There is also such a way to check. Rub the decoration with chalk. If it is silver, the chalk will turn dark. A more modern method is to use a special silver test. It is easy to use at home and easier to remove from the surface.

Scratch and magnetic properties

If there is a suspicion that the item is silver-plated on top, then you need to lightly scratch it. The thin film will be erased and reveal the fake. You are unlikely to be allowed to do this in a store, but when purchasing a product secondhand, you can safely ask for a basic examination to determine whether the product is real or fake.

To distinguish silver from iron or nickel alloy, you need to bring a magnet to the product. Silver is absolutely not magnetic. This is the most accessible method at home, however, it will not work if the fake is also made of non-magnetic material (aluminum, cupronickel, etc.)

More complex methods

There is a hydrostatic weighing method based on Archimedes' law. To implement this, you need accurate scales.

The essence of the method is that the product is first weighed in the usual way, determining the dry weight, and then immersed in water, determining the weight in water. If you divide the dry mass by the difference between the two masses, you get the density of the metal.

For silver, this value should be 10.5, which indicates its authenticity. If you get a density of about 7, then most likely you have tin.

This is not to say that this method is easy to implement at home, but it can be done if desired. It is best to have scales for hydrostatic weighing, but, of course, they are only available in laboratories.

The most accurate and fastest is spectral analysis. Professionals also use touchstones, gold chloride and other reagents. But such methods are used extremely rarely at the household level. They are used primarily by jewelers and laboratory workers. These are the ones you should turn to if you want to know exactly the composition of the alloy.

Source: http://HozObzor.ru/garderob/aksessuaryi/kak-proverit-serebro-v-domashnix-usloviyax.html

How to check silver for authenticity at home: TOP 10 simple ways

Silver things have been valued since time immemorial. And in our time, this noble metal remains in great demand. Despite the fact that it is counterfeited quite rarely, such troubles still happen. Therefore, it would be a good idea to learn how to check silver for authenticity in order to be sure of the quality of the chosen product.

In this article you will learn about the simplest and most effective ways to identify a fake.

You can find out whether the silver in front of you is real without leaving the store using the following signs:

• Sample. All silver items must have a mark indicating the percentage of silver in them.
• Thermal conductivity. This metal has the property of literally heating up in a matter of moments and also rapidly cooling down.
• Weight. Silver itself has a high density, and therefore it should be felt in the hand.
• Appearance. The main properties of a genuine product include a silvery-white tint and excellent quality of reflecting light. But, if this material is not taken care of, it fades, acquiring a pinkish tint.
• Sound. When you tap a valuable item with a silver item (for example, a coin), you will hear a characteristic ringing sound.

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Checking using available tools

It happens that a piece of jewelry made of precious metal was received as a gift or passed on to you by inheritance as a family antique, but there is no confidence in the naturalness of such a thing. In these cases, the question usually arises of how to determine the authenticity of silver at home.

The easiest option is to buy a special test at the pharmacy. But, in fact, even if you are not an experienced jeweler, then, if you know a few tricks, performing such a mini-research is not at all difficult. Below are the available methods using available tools.

Chalk

It has the same properties as iodine, only it has a more gentle effect on the metal. Wipe the surface of the silver spoon with chalk. The product is genuine if there is a black mark on this place. There is no stain - this is a fake.

Bread crumb

In the old days, our ancestors determined the naturalness of silver and gold objects in a very unusual way - with the crumb of rye bread.

To do this you need:

1. Knead a piece of crumb in your hands.
2. Stick to the product.
3. Leave the precious metal in this form for 2 days.
4. After the specified time has passed, remove the bread.
5. Check which product is in front of you. If the metal has darkened or oxidized, then it is fake.

Warm

Silver has good thermal conductivity characteristics. To find out whether you really have a precious metal in front of you, hold it in your hands or dip the thing in boiling water for a moment.

In a couple of minutes it will reach the temperature of your body or hot water. If you place a small piece of ice on top of a silver object, it will begin to melt rapidly.

Approximately

You can simply carefully examine the required item.

• Hold the jewelry in your hands for some time - there will be no traces left of natural silver. And if there are traces on the palm, it means that the product contains impurities. Such products will quickly break and darken.
• Real silver can be wiped with ammonia and it will shine again, but this will not happen with an alloy containing zinc.
• It is very easy to distinguish real silverware from cupronickel silverware. Metal of a foreign shade will be visible under the top layer. Thus, chrome has a blue tint, nickel has a yellowish color, and silver has a white tint.

How to determine the silver sample

It doesn’t matter at all what you purchased: a cross or a jug - it must have a hallmark and a stamp on it. You can use a magnifying glass to examine the markings on a valuable item. The specified sample must be in the range from 800 to 999 . The most common are products with 750, 800, 875, 916, 925, 960, 999 samples. The sale of products without a stamp and hallmark is prohibited by law in many countries.

But these attributes cannot guarantee the naturalness of the product. At home, a sample can only be detected tentatively (if it is still not printed on the product).

However, let's figure out how to determine the silver standard yourself. To do this, you will need a touchstone, which is usually sold in jewelry stores:

1. Make a small scratch on the item being tested.
2. Apply a small amount of reagent to the scratch and observe it.
3. Determine the result using the table. Each color indicates the content of impurities in the composition of the jewelry being examined.

If the silver is free of impurities, you will see a red color.

A beige color has appeared - the product is 800 standard.

A green tint indicates 500 proof.

If tin or lead is added, yellowness will appear.

Dark brown contains an admixture of brass, and blue contains nickel.

Source: https://Kubachi.su/story/kak-opredelit-podlinnost-serebra

How to test silver at home for authenticity - with iodine, vinegar

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Silver is a beautiful noble metal from which jewelry, coins, home decoration and dishes are made. And although silver items are counterfeited less often than gold items, sometimes it becomes necessary to verify the authenticity of the metal. How to test silver at home, read our article.

Pure silver has a silvery-white metallic hue and is highly reflective. However, if it is not cleaned for a long time, it darkens and becomes dull.

Standard Silver Tests

When going shopping, it is important to remember how to properly test your silver. The main criteria to pay attention to when choosing:

• The sample shows the percentage of silver contained. This is a required element. 999 sterling silver is very soft, so products are not produced from it. The maximum value that can be found on sale is 925. This mark means that the jewelry is made from an ingot consisting of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.
• High thermal conductivity. This property characterizes rapid heating and heat transfer. So, if you hold silver objects in warm hands or place them in a container of hot water, they heat up in a matter of seconds.
• Appearance. Noble metal has a characteristic silver-white hue. Thanks to their reflective properties, these items shine in the sun. If rings, chains, and earrings are not cleaned in a timely manner, they become dull and take on a pinkish tint.
• Weight. Noble metal has a high density. You can distinguish a fake from an original by holding the product in your hand: it should be weighty.
• Sound. If you take a silver coin and knock it on the product being tested, a characteristic ringing sound should be heard. This speaks volumes about the quality of the metal.

Ways to test silver at home

Having looked at jewelry, cutlery, vases and other items made of precious metal, it is easy to verify their authenticity. This can be done directly at the point of sale or at home. There are simple and simple ways to do this. Knowing how to test silver will prevent you from bringing home a cheap trinket instead of an expensive item.

Iodine

Testing with iodine helps determine the authenticity of the metal, the main thing is not to spoil the thing. To carry out the test, carefully apply iodine to the product with a cotton swab and wait a little. Then evaluate the result: if a dark spot appears, you have a precious metal, a white coating is a fake. Be prepared for the fact that traces of iodine are difficult to wash off from the surface of the jewelry. Perhaps the dark spot will remain forever.

Vinegar

Silver is a low-active metal, so it does not react with weak household chemicals. So, if you place a piece of jewelry or cutlery in a container with 9% acetic acid, then no effect will occur without heating it. If the item is made of a different alloy, a violent reaction is possible, so be careful not to spoil, for example, a family value.

Khrompik

Using potassium dichromate or Chrompik, you can determine the silver sample. This reagent has a bright orange color that changes when it interacts with metal.

To determine authenticity, you need to clean the product and add a few drops of Chrompik. After 1–2 seconds, you need to remove it with filter paper or a napkin. The quality of the sample can be judged by the resulting color.

A light brown shade means a sample of up to 750, red - over 750. A bright red intense color indicates a sample of 916.

Chalk

Checking at home can be done using such a means as ordinary chalk. With this method it is impossible to damage the item being tested. To do this, you need to rub the product with limestone and evaluate the result. Dark stripes that appear on a piece of limestone will indicate that you are dealing with a precious metal.

needle

You can do the test using a thin needle. To do this, you need to lightly scratch the decoration. There will be no trace of the needle left on the precious metal, and scratches will form on the product coated with a thin layer of silver, since as a result the layer of precious metal is removed. This method is inappropriate in a store, but can be easily done at home.

Sulfur ointment

Using a pharmaceutical preparation such as sulfur ointment, you can check the authenticity of silver. For this purpose it is necessary:

• lightly rub the item with fine-grained sandpaper;
• apply the ointment to an inconspicuous area;
• wait 10–15 minutes;
• inspect the product.

The dark spot that appears is a qualitative reaction. Nickel, stainless steel or other alloys do not react in any way to this drug. This method of checking must be handled with extreme caution so as not to damage the jewelry that is dear to your heart. Be prepared for the resulting stain to remain forever. This method is similar to testing with iodine.

Magnet

Knowing that real silver is not magnetic, you can verify its authenticity experimentally. To do this, you need to bring the product being tested to a magnet. If there is no reaction, it means you have a genuine alloy in your hands. It is only important to consider a few points:

1. If there is a heavy-duty magnet, a slight reaction may occur.
2. There are also similar alloys that are also not magnetic, so this method cannot be called completely reliable.

Another reagent helps determine silver at home - silver nitrate. This chemical element should be applied to a previously cleaned surface. Products of high standard (750, 800, 875) give the reagent a light gray color.

White color means fake or low sterling silver. Similar actions can be done by replacing the substance with regular bleach. Carry out all actions with gloves.

If the selected item darkens, then it consists of a noble metal.

How to test silver at home!

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Source: https://sovets.net/18817-kak-proverit-serebro.html