How to Spot Authentic Silver Jewellery: A Comprehensive Guide
Knowing how to spot authentic silver jewellery is essential for many reasons. It is necessary to ensure the authenticity of any silver jewellery item which you are going to purchase from any kind of offline or online sources to ensure a wise financial decision.
For personal use, real & authentic silver jewellery is not only durable and long-lasting but also hypoallergenic. That is why it is a guarantee of a long time wearable item. If you are gifting a silver jewellery item to somebody else then of course you would like to give a high-quality and authentic piece rather than a cheap imitation.
In essence, buying silver jewellery protects your money, ensures the expected quality, & maintains the integrity of your silver jewellery also. It also increases the brand value of the brand from which you are going to buy.
The Visual and Physical Characteristics of Authentic Silver
How can you find that the silver jewellery item you are going to purchase is authentic? Well, it depends upon the physical and visual characteristics of the purchased material. Let’s have a close look on the general characteristics of authentic silver.
- The real silver has a cool, bright, shiny, and slightly white colour.
- Real silver has a smooth and reflective surface and it doesn’t have a yellow and dull look.
- Genuine silver pieces feel substantial when held in your hands. Real silver develops a specific patina over time due to oxidation in climate.
- Real silver forms a gray and black color of layer during getting tarnished. It can be removed by polishing. Imitation jewellery corrodes or discolor differently.
- Silver produces a different and clear ringing sound but other metals have a dull and flat sound.
-
High quality silver jewellery features fine details, clean lines, & a polished finish.
- Pure silver is a soft metal and because of this it resists scratching in a better way than imitation jewellery.
- Genuine silver has a reflective surface to bounce light well where other alloys and metals have a dull surface.
- Authentic silver jewellery items often carry hallmarks (e.g., "925" for sterling silver) indicating its purity level. Sometimes other information related to manufacturer, place & year of manufacturing.
- Silver is a diamagnetic metal which means it carries a very low amount of magnetic field. It can’t attract the iron or any other magnet towards itself.
Common Tests to Spot Fake Silver -
There are several tests to measure whether the purchased silver is fake or real. Here is a short overview of each & every test -
Magnetic Test -
Silver is a pure non-magnetic metal therefore it does not contain iron or nickel. In this test, a small fridge or neodymium magnet is taken and the jewellery piece is brought close to it. If it is attracted towards the magnet, the jewellery is not made of authentic silver. Most fake silver jewellery contains magnetic materials. It is a helpful check in spite of not being a foolproof method.
Acid Test -
This test includes the use of nitric acid. Real silver reacts with nitric acid in a different way in comparison to other metals. To apply this method, nitric acid is applied on a specific part of the jewellery piece. If the sterling silver is genuine, it gives a creamy or milky appearance. Any silver-plated jewellery gives the greenish appearance clearly stating whether the jewellery is real or not.
Ice Cube Test -
Silver has an excellent super conductive capacity of electricity. If you put an ice cube on the surface of a jewellery piece, it can melt the ice cube quickly. Silver-plated pieces or fake silver can melt the ice cubes by taking a lot of time in comparison to authentic silver. This test works best for silver rings & bracelets.
Sound Test -
If you struck silver pieces with a coin or a spoon, the authentic silver produces a distinct sound which is very clear and ringing. Fake silver or silver-plated pieces produce a dull sound because they are made up of less dense or different metals. This method is more useful for large silver jewellery pieces.
Hallmarks and Stamps -
Authentic silver jewellery is often hallmarked to indicate its authenticity. Most common stamps include - 925 for sterling silver, STER for sterling, ARGENTUM for fine silver. Some rare cases are there where the high authentic pieces are not stamped because of its piece or some other reasons. Fake silver jewellery is often stamped with similar stampings so it is necessary to use other methods of verification including this method.
The Tarnishing Test -
Authentic silver is tarnished over time if it is put into regular air or moisture. You can put your silver jewellery if it tarnishes or not in a while. If a deep black layer is developed over time then your silver is most likely genuine. You can remove this darkness with the polished cloth. Fake silver or silver-plated jewellery may not tarnish over time.
The Weight Test -
Genuine silver jewellery is substantial and relatively heavy in comparison to most other fake metals. Fake silver jewellery are mostly made of copper and aluminum so they are relatively less heavy rather than authentic silver jewellery.
X-Ray Fluorescence Test (XRF Test) -
It is a more realistic, authentic, costly, time-consuming, and non-destructive jewellery testing method. Professional jewellers use this technique to identify the real proportion of metals in silver jewellery. In it, X-rays are bombarded on the piece of silver jewellery. The jewellery is excited and produces the secondary X-rays. The XRF machine analyzes the emitted X-rays and generates a spectrum that shows the specific elements in the jewellery.
How to Check for Authenticity Before Purchasing Silver Jewellery -
There are different parameters to check for authenticity before purchasing silver jewellery -
-
Purchase your favorite silver jewellery from trusted online or offline brands. You are suggested to research the positive reviews, certifications & good customer support.
- Some high quality brands provide the required certificates or documents detailing the silver content. You can demand the originality certificate to verify the metal's purity and quality.
- Genuine silver jewellery always has a stamp to verify its authenticity. Be aware of those fake pieces without markings.
- High quality silver jewellery shows excellent craftsmanship, beautiful finishing, & attention to deal. Poor craftsmanship may be an indicator of fake or plated silver jewellery.
- Silver is considered a heavy metal. If it feels lighter in comparison to its price then it is not an authentic silver jewellery.
- Use a magnifying glass to check marks, stretches, and the overall appearance of the silver. Real silver has a clean and shiny surface in comparison to fake silver.
- Reputable sellers offer a clear return or exchange policy in case the delivered piece is not authentic. Be alert if the seller does not provide the guarantee or return policy.
- Always research the seller’s online reputation in the jewellery industry. Authentic brands are always transparent about their sourcing and metal quality.
Conclusion -
Identifying real and authentic silver jewellery is not a daunting task. By using the different tests and parameters like - stamps, hallmarks, and weight you can easily determine if your silver jewellery is authentic. With all the guidelines of this article, you will be able to justify your financial investment in buying silver jewellery.
The better you care for your silver jewellery items, the better you will be able to maintain its beauty and value for a longer period of time. Always remember that when you are going to buy authentic silver jewellery, you are not going to buy a trustable jewellery but also securing a timeless asset.