How to distinguish silver from another metal – Home Tips

If you suddenly become the proud owner of family silver, bought a cute trinket at a flea market, or received silver jewelry as a gift, it wouldn't hurt to have the silver checked for authenticity. Fake silver is unlikely to make anyone happy, because, in addition to being an annoyance, low-quality metal can cause allergies. In this material we will tell you how to distinguish a silver coin from a fake, check the authenticity of your grandmother's earrings and examine family cutlery.

How to distinguish silver from fake

Contrary to popular belief, price is not always an indicator of quality. Real silver is not as expensive as many people think. So, a simple ring can be bought for only 1000 rubles.

First, you need to know how silver looks and behaves in its pure form. If your silver ring suddenly becomes very bent, do not rush to consider it a fake - in its pure form it is a very soft metal. Finding a hallmark will help you find out whether you were given a silver ring, as well as determine whether or not you got a silver spoon from your grandmother.

Silver products sold on the world market must be marked with a hallmark - three numbers. According to international standards, silver must be marked with the numbers 925, 900 or 800. 925 hallmark indicates that the product contains 92.5% silver, and 900 and 800 hallmarks indicate that 90% or 80% precious metal.

If there is no mark on your product, do not rush to get upset - it is quite possible that your jewelry was simply not created for sale. What other ways can you recognize silver at home? Let's figure it out.

It is very easy to test silver at home using iodine. The main thing here is to be careful, since too much iodine can ruin the item.

So, how to distinguish fake from real silver using iodine? Dip a cotton swab in iodine, run it over the metal and quickly wash off the applied composition. If the jewelry is really made of silver, iodine will leave a dull gray stain on it - the darker it is, the higher the standard. Don't be afraid to ruin the item - if you wash off the composition quickly enough, the stain will soon disappear. If this is a fake, after checking it will have a white limescale residue on it.

Magnet

Since real silver is not magnetic, this test will take you less than five seconds. Take any souvenir from the refrigerator and bring it to the decoration. If a magnet attracts it, this is a fake. If the jewelry remains in place, you can be sure that it is real silver.

Vinegar

While at home, you can test your silver with vinegar. The instructions for such a check are quite simple:

Lightly scratch the product with a needle and drop vinegar onto the scratch;
If the scratch is covered with greenish foam, this is a fake;
If there is no foam, and the scratch is covered with a white substance, it is real silver.

lapis pencil

Testing silver with a lapis pencil is one of the most reliable methods of checking at home. You can buy it at any pharmacy. To check, put on gloves and run a pencil over the jewelry. If after this a black stripe appears, the silver is fake.

Thermal conductivity

Silver has excellent thermal conductivity, so heating the jewelry can also serve as a verification of authenticity.

Dip the item in warm water or squeeze it between your palms to warm it up. After a few minutes, try placing an ice cube on it. If the ice begins to melt from the heat of the metal, it means that this is real silver.

Ordinary chalk will also help you recognize silver at home. Having almost the same properties as iodine, chalk can serve as an excellent assistant in safely testing silver for authenticity. Wipe the surface of the item being tested with chalk - if a black mark appears on it, it means the item is real.

Before purchasing a product

To understand whether it is silver or not, look at the back of the jewelry or accessory. If a thing is made legally, it must be stamped and hallmarked. They are located side by side in the form of an imprint. In different countries, the mark comes in different forms, but the sample of the product is necessarily indicated in numbers. The higher the standard, the more silver there is in the alloy from which the item is made.

If the jewelry was ordered from a jeweler, take the trouble to obtain documents that confirm the metal sample and guarantee the quality of the product. In other cases, when it is not known how genuine the jewelry is, there are several ways by which you can determine whether this item is silver or not.

What can they sell under the guise of silver:

aluminum;
costume jewelry;
brass;
zinc;
nickel silver (copper, nickel, zinc);
other low grade alloys.

How to distinguish silver from other metals

Unlike gold, whose yellowish sheen is difficult to confuse with anything else, silver resembles many base metals. Therefore, it is important to know how to visually distinguish white gold from silver, platinum or tin, so as not to mistakenly purchase a penny trinket.

Silver jewelry has a grayish tint

The first thing you need to pay attention to if you need to distinguish silver from platinum is the size of the jewelry. Platinum is too expensive a metal to make massive rings or earrings from. Another sign is color. Silver jewelry has a grayish tint, while platinum jewelry is much lighter and has a white cast.

White gold is also easy to distinguish from silver. Silver, as mentioned above, has a gray tint, while white gold turns more yellow. In addition, silver items will be much less shiny than white gold items.

Tin is not very different from silver, so identifying the metal by eye in this case will not be easy. However, you can use the above method with iodine - if after applying the solution the metal turns black, then you have tin.

You can distinguish silver from palladium using nitric acid - it can be bought at a pharmacy or a specialized online store. Be careful and be sure to use gloves when working with acid! If you drop the substance onto silver jewelry, it will leave a dark mark. And if it's palladium, it will turn red.

How to check silver at home for authenticity (video)

Methods for determining the authenticity of a coin

If a bracelet, ring or coin is suspicious, use one of the methods below:

using improvised means:

Rub the coin with chalk. If dark traces remain on it, then the metal is real.
Apply bleach to the surface. The substance is an oxidizing agent that causes darkening of precious metals. Before doing this, protect your hands
with gloves.
Sulfuric ointment. Apply it to a coin that has been lightly rubbed with sandpaper, and after 15 minutes wipe with a napkin. If a stain appears, then the item is genuine. If there is no stain, then you have stainless steel, nickel, high-quality aluminum or cupronickel.
Draw over the product with a lapis pencil. The silver coin will be covered with black marks
, but the fake will not change its color or appearance.
Apply some nitric acid to the surface. Green foam will indicate a fake.
A solution obtained by mixing equal parts of nitric acid and potassium dichromate is also used. When it comes into contact with metal, the composition should leave brown-red marks.

How to distinguish silver from silver plating

The easiest way is to find a brand. Silver-plated items are not branded because too little precious metal was used to make them.

If there is no mark on your item, you can carefully look at its shape and condition. If the item is silver-plated, the coating in some places may have worn off or started to fall off - look for cracks and chips. Finally, jewelry made entirely of silver does not rust. If rust is noticeable on silverware or jewelry, it means that you are looking at silver plating.

Delicious recipe! Chicken fillet with pasta in a slow cooker

How to determine a silver sample at home

As mentioned above, when determining the authenticity of an item, a three-digit stamp is your best friend.

If there is no mark on the product, you will have to arm yourself with knowledge of chemistry and go to the nearest jewelry store for a special chemistry set. The reagents from this kit need to be dripped onto the product and carefully monitor the color of the liquid. Compare the results with this table:

The metal, which is still attributed magical properties, was once valued no less than gold. Now argentum (Ag according to the periodic table) is used in various fields of industry, in medicine and, of course, in jewelry. Therefore, you can easily distinguish silver from other metals at home.

Ways to identify a fake home

Test your jewelry with simple testing methods:

If, after wearing a silver item for a long time, a mark remains on the skin, most likely the jewelry is made of zinc.
The magnet method is unlikely to help. It is so obvious that silver is not counterfeited. Counterfeiters are sophisticated these days, so this simple method will be powerless.

Immerse the silver item in boiling water. The fact is that silver quickly conducts the body, so it will become very hot in 5 seconds. But a low-quality product will remain warm.
Scratch the decoration with a regular needle. If no traces remain, it is silver. If the top layer has worn off at the scratch site, you have a brass product.
Silver bends easily and does not spring back. But it’s better not to use this method if you want to keep your item.
A piece of chalk will also help identify a fake. If you run it over the decoration, it will leave black marks on the crayon. Has the chalk changed color? Then you have a fake in your hands.
Real silver must react with halogens and iodine, among others. It is enough to apply a few drops of a regular pharmaceutical product and the jewelry will darken. Jewelers use this method to artificially age silver. Such a thing becomes like an antique. Please note that it will be difficult to wash off iodine. If the jewelry has become cloudy or has dirty stains, most likely you are looking at a silver substitute - nickel silver.
At the moment, there is no point in identifying silver by smell, since there are a lot of modern flavorings that are added to fakes in order to hide the cheapness of the metals.
Sulfur ointment, which is sold at the pharmacy, will also help in this matter. It is enough to apply it to a silver item, and it will darken somewhat. But the trick will not react in any way to such manipulation.
A lapis pencil, which is rarely found in home medicine cabinets lately, can also help out. But after running it over the decoration, it should not change color or leave marks. The lapis pencil also distinguishes gold objects from fakes.

Testing silver with iodine

Of course, all these determination methods are designed for home conditions. They are imperfect and do not allow us to accurately confirm the authenticity of the product or indicate the sample.

In order to find out all the details, you can take the jewelry to a jeweler or appraiser. There, the item is manipulated with the addition of nitric acid and potassium bichromate: the solution is dripped onto the item and the degree of color change is determined. Normally, it should acquire a reddish tint. Depending on the intensity of the resulting color, the sample of the product is determined.

In addition to manual ones, there are also automated methods for determining authenticity. A special device has been developed with a sensor that shows not only the metal from which the thing is made, but also its sample. Remember that the most commonly found sterling silver is 925.

As you can see, there are valuation methods of different complexity and cost. Choose the method that suits your situation. If you are interested in finding out for yourself about the authenticity of a piece of jewelry, conduct some simple experiments at home. But if you are interested in selling an item, you most likely need documentary evidence, which can only be obtained from jewelers.

Silver refers to a noble metal that has increasingly been subject to counterfeiting lately. Therefore, in today’s material we will look at how to distinguish silver from other metals. Traditionally, all actions will be carried out at home. Please share your experience through the comment form.

Metal properties

For at least six thousand years, humanity has known what silver looks like. The white (now we can add metallic to this definition) shine most likely attracted the first people to its nuggets. Initially, argentum found application in the manufacture of weapons and jewelry, but not only.

The properties of argentum noted by ancestors determine its use today:

Silver was placed in water (or kept in containers made of this metal). The metal killed harmful microbes. Christian priests still use this method now, and there are special products for water purification and Ag-based bactericidal medicines on sale.
“If I make silver water, I have excellent taste,” the Russian Empress Catherine II noted. Metal ions are still used today in the bottling of mineral waters. It is believed that it gives not only a healing, but also a rejuvenating effect.
The metal was used as talismans against evil spirits, and weapons made from it were used to fight black forces. Silver amulets are also popular in the 21st century. Any jewelry made from it can be considered as such.
Ancestors made mirrors from metal. Ag has ideal reflective properties. Nowadays, high-precision mirrors are made from it, which are used in science and technology.
Despite its refractoriness, silver is very ductile and easy to process. Therefore, jewelry made from it is unique and varied. The finest silver threads are used in optics and electrical engineering.

This is a truly unique metal with rich properties. Previously, shiny coins were placed in milk to prevent it from turning sour longer. Nowadays, some elements for underwater vehicles and spacecraft are made from argentum, which can support enormous loads. Silver will surely take a person into the distant future.

Grandma's tips

In jewelry, metal is not used in its original, pure form (the same applies to the production of cutlery). Other components are added to the alloy, which give additional strength. The classic option here is copper. To distinguish real silver from a fake, you need to talk not about Ag as such, but about the percentage of its content in the alloy.

of people living today were able to determine the purity of metal without any drugs or devices

Argentum is very thermally conductive - it heats up quickly and cools down quickly. If you hold it in your fist, it will immediately acquire body temperature. You can put it in boiling water (if the decoration does not have stones) and then pick it up. Real metal will burn, but not for long.
The product can be rubbed in your palms for several minutes. If the skin remains clean, the alloy is good; if dark traces remain, there are excess impurities (most often zinc).
Silver ringing is not just a stable phrase. When gently tapped, the jewelry rattles; the argentum vibrates lightly and protractedly. The percussion instrument should be something akin to a knitting needle.
If you place a spoon made of Ag in the sun, it will brightly reflect the rays and shine. A cheap alloy will give a dull glow, or even a barely noticeable one.
People with a keen sense of smell (and good experience) distinguished silver by smell. They assured that pure metal smelled of freshness and lily of the valley. Now this method is hardly suitable for everyone - modern perfumery will make even iron smell like roses.
Argentum has a high density. Even a small product made from it should be felt in your hand. And today it is so easy to distinguish silver from much lighter aluminum.
Previously, the ring was covered with crumbs of rye bread and left there for two days. If the jewelry noticeably turned black during this time, this was a good sign - the alloy was considered to be of high quality. With today's bread this test may not pass.
You can try to bend the spoon (plate). An object made of normal argentum will yield quite easily and will have almost no spring. But this method will not give a 100% guarantee: you can also bend a steel device. And it will be difficult to return the item to its original appearance.

All these tests were based on knowledge of the properties of Ag. Knowledgeable people could determine the authenticity of the metal by its appearance. This is probably still available to experienced jewelers.

Authentication of silver items

It is difficult for an ordinary consumer to distinguish a fake from a precious metal. Unscrupulous traders often sell cupronickel under the guise of silver jewelry. When creating a fake, unknown material

, on the surface of which a thin layer of noble metal is applied, as in the case of gold. This technical method is called silvering.

In the store upon purchase

The check can be carried out before making a purchase, in the store itself. To do this you need to do the following:

Check out the sample. Silver products are marked with a mark that shows the metal content in the alloy, because silver is not used in its pure form
. The stamp must contain numbers from 800 to 925. Everything else is fake.
Appearance. The original reflects light well and is silver-white in color. If the metal has not been cleaned for a long time, it becomes covered with pinkish stains. Even in this condition,
silver items do not leave yellowish or dark marks on the skin.
Hold the product in your palm. Silver is thermally conductive and heats up instantly. If you put a spoon made of this metal into a glass of hot water and then touch it, you can get burned.
It's worth weighing in. This is a very dense metal, so objects made from it are quite heavy.
Recognize using sound. Tap the piece with another silver object. The original should produce a ringing and ringing sound
.

If, after the tests, you find it difficult to understand whether it is silver or not, then do not rush to buy, because there is a risk of becoming a victim of scammers.

Testing with iodine and vinegar

Is this antique jewelry in front of you, or have you not tested your purchase in the store? Silver can be checked for authenticity using iodine. Apply a drop to the metal and rinse immediately.

If the jewelry is made of genuine silver, a dark spot should appear on the area covered with iodine. It is unlikely that anything will happen to a fake, but it depends on the metal that is in front of you. Be careful not to pour too much solution

, otherwise you risk damaging the product.

Noble metals are resistant to vinegar. Pour some diluted vinegar into a glass and place the silver item in it. There will be no changes to the original, but a fake may cause a reaction, become lighter or darker, or become stained.

Modern home laboratory

In modern conditions, you can distinguish silver from a fake at home. The achievements of physics, young chemist kits, and medications are now available to people. You just need to know how to apply this or that method.

Simple and fast

A method that has been passed down from century to century is to scratch the inside of the ring with a needle. When this succeeds too easily, and a different shade is discovered under the top layer, there is a fake with spraying. But now scammers know how to make fakes that will pass such a primitive test.

There are more reliable home methods:

Vinegar. Scratch the ring rim. Drip vinegar (away from stones). If green foam appears, then the product is most likely fake.
Lapis. It contains Ag ions. You need to work with gloves. Rub the lapis on the jewelry and observe the reaction. A normal fusion will demonstrate its absence. The fake will turn black.
Sulfuric ointment. Apply it to the product and leave for 2-3 hours. Then wipe the jewelry and rinse it. Argentum will become dark. A fake, depending on the metals used, will either not react or will give a yellow, pink or greenish tint.
Iodine. You will need a white plate. Place the product on it. Drop iodine. If there is no reaction, the argentum is not real (perhaps nickel silver was purchased under its guise). A blue spot appeared - a lot of zinc. Blackness defines quality jewelry.
Chalk (regular white will do). The ring or chain needs to be rubbed vigorously. If the jewelry turns black, it contains enough Ag.
Magnet. Silver will not be magnetized. But this is not a very reliable method - some metals will react the same way. But this method can be effective when the links of the chain are made of different alloys. Part of the decoration will be attracted, and part of it will not.
Ice. Place a piece of it on a piece of jewelry that has been stored at room temperature or just removed from your hand. If the ice begins to melt immediately, this is a good indicator.

Delicious recipe! Recipes for cooking sea bass in the oven

Some of these methods are dangerous because they can damage both the product and the utensils used. But cleaning the jewelry itself can become an additional test. Argentum can be made to shine with moonlight again by rubbing with ammonia or raw potatoes. Zinc alloy will no longer give the same shine.

In the footsteps of Mendeleev

True chemistry buffs can put their passion to work to their advantage in determining the authenticity of jewelry. Impurities in lunar metal will make it possible to identify various acids and their mixtures. In some cases, it will be possible not only to verify the presence of additives, but also to classify them.

Observing safety precautions, you can conduct the following experiments:

With nitric acid. The product will have to be scratched. Acid should be dripped onto the damaged area. A strong green coating will indicate excess copper. Sample 925 and higher will give a beige tint. Very pure Ag will turn black.
With potassium dichromate. It is used in photography and pyrotechnics. Clean the product, wipe with alcohol, and dry. At intervals of a few seconds, drop the solution onto it two or three times. Immediately remove excess with a napkin. A sample of 750 or more will react in red. The more argentum there is in the alloy, the redder the spot will be.
With gold chloride. It is prepared using a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acid (aqua regia). Clean the product. Apply the reagent to it. The result appears immediately. If the sediment is inky, a quality product is being tested. Yellow and brown colors indicate the presence of aluminum and excess copper.
With silver nitrate. The light gray color of this reagent on the product will indicate a high sample (from 750). Cloudy white is the opposite.

You need to understand that jewelry can be damaged by using acids. Counterfeits can become completely unusable. Since zinc and tin corrode quickly, the chain may simply break.

Most tests do not provide complete confidence in the accuracy of the assessment made. You also need experience. But all of them at least partially allow us to understand what kind of product a person is dealing with.

Sample and touchstone

Modern rules that form the basis for the circulation of precious metals make it possible to distinguish copper and other additives from silver, as well as determine their content in a product. For this purpose, a measure has been established, the so-called test. And to monitor compliance with the rules, special devices have been invented.

You need to know about the sample system and the rules for their use:

The sample shows how much Ag is contained in the alloy. It represents a three-digit number. Conventionally, each unit here means 1 gram in 1 kilogram. But kilogram jewelry is a thing of the past. Therefore, the measuring unit on modern products simply shows every tenth of a percent of argentum.
When making jewelry, 925 alloys are most often used. This means that they contain 92.5% Ag and 7.5% copper.
Less common hallmarks: 750, 800, 875, 916, 960. 999 alloy (almost pure precious metal) is used only for specialty bars, high-value collectible coins and in some high-precision fields of science.
If a product claims to be called silver, the purity must be indicated on it. It is applied by branding. Information about it is also indicated on the attached product label. The label fastening must be sealed. If the seller does not comply with these mandatory, legally established conditions, there is a high chance of encountering a counterfeit.
In addition to the sample, the label must contain other information about the decoration. This is its name, weight, total price and price per 1 gram, name of the manufacturer, description of the stones (if any). If the product is plated (for example, rhodium), this must also be indicated.
Information about the name, weight, sample, and price of the product must also be included in the purchase receipt.
You can test the product for samples and additives using a touchstone. To do this, you will need to make a scratch on the jewelry and drip the reagent. Brown color, for example, will indicate the presence of brass. The yellow color will help distinguish silver from tin (lead will also signal its presence with yellow).

You can purchase the stone at a jewelry store. It should come along with a plate from which, depending on the reaction of the alloy, its composition can be accurately calculated. Now good stones are offered at prices ranging from 700-800 rubles.

Russia, of course, is not Latin America, whose countries are world leaders in argentum production. But there is also enough silver in the state. Citizens do not encounter counterfeits very often. To avoid them, as a rule, it is enough to purchase jewelry in specialized stores , and not at market stalls or station stalls.

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.

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.

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.

Delicious recipe! Cooking beaver tail at home

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.

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.

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.

Application of chemical methods

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.
Zinc leaves dark spots on the body after wearing. If there are stains, then the product contains precious metal in minimal doses.
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.
School chalk will turn black from exposure to silver ions.
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.
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 at official sales points, and not at various stores 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.

Silver jewelry and products made from this metal are very popular. Silver is cheaper than gold, but its appearance is no worse. The metal is considered noble and has a calm silver tint. It is especially suitable for girls and boys, as well as people with light hair and eyes. Therefore, it is not surprising that silver has so many fans. But often buyers get into trouble when they find out that the jewelry is not real.

Since such cases have become more frequent, it would be useful to learn how to distinguish silver from a fake. Moreover, in addition to jewelry made from this metal, people order interior items or accessories for decoration.

Silver products

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.

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.

To reduce high fever, wear a silver bracelet on your left hand.
Earrings improve alertness and concentration.
If you apply silver to your forehead, you can get rid of headaches and relieve eye strain.
A ring on the ring finger of the left hand strengthens the heart muscle.
If silver jewelry quickly darkens on a person, it means that he has health problems.
Silver dishes and cutlery are good for health.
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.