In this series of posts we are going to look at the different ways to test silver. We will also be looking at the composition of silver and how this relates to its quality.
See: Different ways to test silver – Part 2
Silver is a very adaptable metal which has been popular in handcrafted jewelry for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
However, not many people know that silver is made up of other metals, mainly copper. This is because pure silver is soft and another metal is added to make it harder.
This is important for the silver smith and the lover of silver because it makes creating delicate pieces which are more durable.
Pure silver is called ‘fine silver’ while ‘sterling silver is a mix of 92.5 % silver and 7.5% copper.
This post should help you clarify the purity of the silver you are purchasing. It will also help determine whether a piece of jewelry is silver or silver plate.
Look for the silver stamp
To make sure you know how good the silver is look for stamp.
When it comes to understanding the power that lies in the symbols and gemstones you wear, there’s more than meets the eye…
Many countries require silver to be stamped, while some do not. Knowing where the silver came from will help determine if it has a stamp or not.
You may need to use a magnifying glass to find the stamp, too.
Look for the following numbers: 925, 900 or 800. These refer to the percentage of fine silver contained in the piece.
So if a ring is stamped 925 it has 92.5% silver.
If the number is 800 this is often referred to as “coin” silver because it has 80% fine silver only.
Testing your silver
Silver can be tested with a very strong magnet called a neodymium. This is a rare-earth magnet and can test the weak magnetic field that pure silver has.
If you piece clings happily to a small, cheap magnet, that is an indication that it doesn’t have much pure silver in it.
