Red Nymph Jewelry
If you’re considering buying 925 Sterling Silver and you are new to the jewelry industry, you will no doubt want to know the difference between pure silver and 925 sterling silver. Sterling silver is a popular metal used to make jewelry and other decorative items.
Well, pure silver is not really made up of only silver. It has 99.9% of silver, and a small content composed of other metals such as copper. Sterling Silver, on the other hand, consists of 92.5% silver, and the remaining part consists of copper – mostly copper. This is the reason why Sterling Silver is popularly referred to as 925 Sterling Silver or just 925 Silver.
The reason silver needs to be combined with other metals is that it is very difficult to make great designs with just pure silver, which is very soft and malleable. A bit of hardness has to be introduced, by adding other metals such as copper. That’s why jewelers are capable of making the most intricate and complex designs with 925 Sterling Silver.
Why Would You Need To Learn How To Tell Apart?
Modern 925 Silver Mark925 Sterling Silver jewelry certainly does not come cheap. It requires quite an investment from your side, whether you are buying sterling silver pendants or rings. But it is a worthwhile investment as its value increases with time. What is very important though is not to be duped into buying fake 925 sterling silver jewelry from “unidentified sources”.
This is a serious issue because many jewelers are known to sell fake sterling silver necklaces, rings, earrings and so on. Sterling silver is much cheaper than costlier metals such as gold, and yet, fake imitations of sterling silver jewelry are wildly sold in the market.
For instance, it is common to come across silver plated jewelry that is sold as real sterling silver jewelry. These jewelry pieces have only a minimal silver content and are bound to deteriorate, sooner than later.
A jewelry is considered to be fine silver if it contains 92.5% (or more) of pure silver but pure silver is too soft to be used without another metal. So copper and nickel are commonly incorporated to make up the remaining 7.5%.
On the other hand, Silverplate is different from real silver because only the surface of the jewelry is covered with real silver and the rest of the item is made up of the copper or nickel alloy.
5 Steps To Help You Tell If Your Sterling Silver Jewelry Is Real 92.5:
The “Hallmark” Test
Inspect your silver jewelry all around for a mark known as a “hallmark” (you might need a magnifying lens for this). An imprint of the numbers “925” indicates that the jewelry piece contains 92.5% of pure silver. Other marks may be “Sterling Silver,” “Ster” or “Sterling.” Markings are normally found on larger parts of the jewelry piece where they can be engraved.
The “Magnet” Test
Hold a regular magnet above or near your jewelry piece. Pure Silver is not magnetic, so if your jewelry piece is drawn to the magnet, it is not real 92.5 sterling silver or more. Chances are that the alloy your jewelry piece was made has a different composition percentage.
The “Weight” Test
Another easy way to tell if your jewelry piece is real 92.5 Sterling Silver is by comparing it to an item of a similar weight that you know is made of real silver. If the weight feels the same, your silver jewelry piece is more likely to be genuine.
The “Scientific” Test
Here is where you have to pretend to be one of the MythBusters guys. Gather around some protective goggles and gloves and wear them. Then add a drop of nitric acid to a small silver part of your jewelry. If it turns green, it is not made of genuine silver. Nitric acid is a chemical with a high copper content, which discolors non-silver items.
The “Easy PEASY” Test
I left the easiest for the end. Try rubbing your silver jewelry lightly with a soft, light-colored cloth. If black marks appear on the cloth, the jewelry piece is likely to be genuine silver. Real silver oxidizes when exposed to air; this creates the tarnish that appears on the cloth when it is rubbed.
In Red Nymph Jewelry， we are proud of our fine 92.5 Sterling Silver jewelry crafts. That’s why since many years ago we mark ALL of our jewelry pieces with a 925 mark as a proof of Genuity. Additionally, we are open to all kinds of audits and lab tests as a proof of our quality transparency. For your next silver jewelry order, choose Red Nymph Jewelry.
It requires quite an investment from your side, whether you are buying a sterling silver pendant or a necklace. But it is a worthwhile investment as its value increases with time. What is very important though is not to be duped into buying fake 925 sterling silver jewelry.
This is a serious issue because many jewelers are known to sell fake sterling silver necklaces, rings, earrings and so on. Sterling silver is much cheaper than costlier metals such as gold, and yet, fake imitations of sterling silver jewelry are sold in the market.
For instance, it is common to come across silver plated jewelries that are sold as real sterling silver jewelries. Just jewelries have only a minimal silver content and are bound to deteriorate, sooner than later.
That is why, knowing how to identify real 925 sterling silver from the fake ones will be of a great help to you and save you from much pain later.
The techniques described here will help you do just that – to identify real sterling silver jewelry from the fake ones that are sold by certain untrustworthy sellers.
1. Rub the jewelry using a soft white cloth.
If you find any black marks on the cloth, then you can be sure that it is made of real sterling silver. This is because any air exposure causes real sterling silver to oxidize. This causes them to deteriorate with time, and the reason why black marks are found on the cloth they are polished with.
2. Do The Nitric Acid Test.
When drops of nitric acid are added to fake non-silver jewelries, they cause them to lose their color. Always ask a jeweler before buying 925 sterling silver from him if you can conduct the nitric acid test on it.
Nitric acid has no effect on real 925 silver, so if the jeweler is selling you a genuine product, he won’t have any objection to that. But be sure to wear gloves and protect your eyes with goggles while doing the nitric acid test.
If the jewelry is made of real sterling silver, the part on which you drop the nitric acid will appear creamy in color, otherwise, if fake, it will appear green.
3. Use the Smell Test.
Real sterling silver shouldn’t smell. If it does, it is because there is too much copper in it.
4. Use the Magnet Test.
This is a simple test. Magnets have no effect on silver – just as they have no effect on gold or platinum. But if you find that the jewelry is attracted to the magnet, then it will be clear to you that it is not made of real sterling silver.
There are a number of ways to test the authenticity of silver, but you should be aware that not all of these methods will work on every piece. If your family heirlooms have sentimental value and can’t be replaced with something else, it’s best to take them to an appraiser who has experience testing antique pieces. However, if you’re shopping for new jewelry or just want confirmation before buying second-hand pieces, these are the methods for how to tell if silver is real.
How To Tell If Silver Is Real: FAQs
Q. How Can You Tell If Something’S Genuine Silver?
A. Investigate for hallmarks and stamps (printed symbols on metal) of authenticity, such as assay marks from trusted suppliers. Hallmarks often denote the percentage of metals in the item, where an object was made, and what year it came out.
Testing with a magnet, ice cube, and bleach are also popular as these don’t cause any damage to the piece. Do a lighter or acid test only if you are confident that you won’t damage the jewelry.
Q. How Do You Test For Silver Acid?
A. Nitric acid is commonly used for the acid test. But if you don’t know the proper concentration, purchase a silver acid testing kit. Genuine silver will turn the acid bright red while 925 silver will make it dark red.
Q. How Can You Tell If Something Is Silver Or Silver Plated?
A. If a piece of silver is genuine, it will be heavier than a silver plated item. The coating of a silver plated piece will flake off over time, which won’t happen to a solid silver item. Also, you can find the difference by checking the hallmark or through the sound, acid, and odor tests.
Q. How To Tell If Silver Is Real: Does Real Silver Turn Colors?
A. Yes. Tarnishing happens as silver reacts with oxygen in the air. In fact, it’s not the silver that reacts or changes colors but the metal alloy in it. For this reason, genuine silver does not tarnish or rust. On the other hand, 925 silver tarnishes because the copper alloy in it reacts with air elements and turns the piece yellowish or blacking.
Q. How Do You Test Silver With A Magnet?
A. When you hold a magnet to silver, the magnet will not stick. If it does stick then you know that your piece is not made of authentic silver. You have to use a strong permanent magnet like neodymium to perform the test.
Q. How Much Is A 925 Silver Chain Worth?
A. Weight and brand value are the two main factors that go into determining the price of a 925 silver necklace. It may cost anywhere between $20 and a couple hundred dollars. Of course, a vintage piece will have a much higher price.
Q. What Is 1G Of Silver Worth?
A. The price of silver can fluctuate a bit depending on the market situation. Based on the current market value, a one-gram silver bar costs $0.74.