Does silver heat up? How to distinguish silver from a fake? Sulfur ointment and lapis pencil

Silver is a noble and highly demanded metal in our area, which we constantly encounter in Everyday life. Despite the fact that it is less often counterfeited than gold jewelry, the question of how to check silver for authenticity is still relevant. Below you will learn about the most effective methods detection of forgery.

What you need to know about silver jewelry

The first thing you need to find out about the present is that it always has a taste. A kind of brand is put on a silver product, and this is not always a 925 test. A similar figure is most often found in the CIS.

In each country, there can be a sample from 800 to 999. To find out more precisely about the product on hand (especially when it comes to an old and valuable item), you can always find what this or that stamp means.

A master of his craft will always be able to distinguish real silver by its appearance:

• like some other noble metals, silver perfectly reflects light, from which you can see a strong shine on it;
• it has a peculiar silvery-white tint;
• if silver is not taken care of and cleaned for a long time, it seems to be covered with a dull dark film and acquires a pinkish tint.

By eye and touch

You are not sure about the true value of products or silverware? Then you should definitely check out the methods below, which will help you learn how to check the authenticity of silver at home. Despite their simplicity, they are very effective.

Being careful, determining the authenticity of silver is not particularly difficult. Here are some simple options for you:

Hue	It is quite easy to distinguish worn ordinary cupronickel dishes from silver ones. Metal of a different color begins to show under the slightly whitish top layer. For example, chrome will give a light blue, nickel alloy - barely noticeable yellow tint. Silver will not lose its color, remaining both outside and inside white.
Temperature	You can also determine the authenticity of an accessory with your own hands, just by touch. Since silver, like silver, is an excellent conductor of heat, it heats up very quickly and takes on your body temperature almost immediately. This method can hardly be called accurate, but people who are familiar with precious metals definitely know how to use it.
Weight	To distinguish silver from aluminum is simple - just rely on their weight. The first material is much denser, and therefore heavier than conventional aluminum. The product made of silver will be immediately felt in the hand.
Plaque	If the product is made of zinc, it will definitely leave a subtle coating on your hand (if you hold it for a long time). This is not the case with silver, of course.

Other verification methods

If you do not trust your tactile sensations, you can use more detailed methods. How to identify real silver?

Option 1. Magnetic experiment

You can determine the value of the metal that is in front of you using a magnet. This experience is based on the fact that real silver is not magnetic.

So you will only need to bring the magnet to the item being tested - if it does not react to the item in any way, it is likely that it is true silver. However, keep in mind that if you can get a super-powerful magnet, even this metal will react a little to it.

Among other things, it is worth remembering that there are many non-magnetic materials similar to silver. So such a test will not give 100% probability and should be carried out in conjunction with other checks.

Option 2. Slip test

This option is best suited for checking ingots. And it also needs a magnet. You need:

1. Set ingot on a flat surface at a 45 degree slope.
2. Put on an ingot magnet so that it can slide down.
3. On real silver, the magnet will slide very smoothly.

Someone may notice some illogicality, because it was indicated above that silver is non-magnetic. The thing is that in this case, the magnetic field of the magnet itself will create a braking effect that will contribute to slowing down.

Option 3. Ice test

Ordinary ice will help to check the authenticity of silver at home. Just do not stick it out of the freezer until the experiment.

This option is best suited for ingots and coins, but on small accessories it does not work correctly enough.

1. Take the ice out of the freezer.
2. put it down on the tested metal product.
3. Being on real silver, the ice will melt as if it had been placed on something hot.

Option 4. Iodine-sulfur test

There are not many precious metals that are affected by other substances. For example, if you anoint true silver with iodine, a stain will remain on its surface.

It is worth noting that this method should be used with extreme caution, as there is a risk of damaging the jewelry dear to the heart. To implement it, you should use cotton swab moistened with a small amount of iodine, apply the product to an inconspicuous area and immediately wash it off.

A sulfur-based ointment can also cause a similar reaction. You can buy it at a pharmacy. You need:

1. Rub the item lightly fine-grained sandpaper.
2. Apply a small amount of sulfuric ointment on an inconspicuous area.
3. Leave the remedy for about 10-15 minutes and carefully inspect its surface.
4. dark spot on the product indicates silver. On ordinary stainless steel or nickel, there will simply not be such a stain.

Option 5. Chemical test

Another way to find out silver at home is to use a special chemical test. Do not be afraid, you yourself will not have to "chemize" - you can buy everything you need at the pharmacy. When using this method, be careful, otherwise you risk damaging the surface.

Instructions for using the chemical kit are as follows:

1. Wear protective gloves to neutralize the skin of the hands from chemical burns.
2. Find the most inconspicuous place on the product and scratch it a little. This can be done with a thin needle or a metal file.
3. Apply purchased acid in place, from which part of the layer has just been removed.
4. Evaluate the results of the test. They can be analyzed according to the scale below.

You can learn even more useful information on how to identify silver without going to specialists from the video in this article.

Conclusion

Now you know some effective ways to check silver at home. With them, you will always be sure of the authenticity of your favorite accessories. And if any points seemed unclear to you, ask clarifying questions in the comments.

When choosing jewelry jewelry store the eye will certainly fall on silver. This metal is no worse than gold or platinum, and many girls like it much more, but its price is much more forgiving. But it is this precious metal that is counterfeited very often, and in order not to fall for the bait of scammers, one must be able to distinguish the original from the fake.

About silver

Silver has been valued for its beauty and physical qualities since ancient times. In nature, it is found in the form of nuggets, sometimes reaching enormous sizes, the largest nugget found during melting yielded 20 tons of pure silver. Unfortunately, most of the silver that can be found is found in combination with other substances, which greatly complicates the smelting of pure metal from nuggets. If we talk about the physical properties of silver, then special attention is paid to its plasticity, from 1 g of silver the thinnest wire 2 km long is obtained, and also due to which this metal is considered precious and is used by jewelers - its ability not to oxidize under the influence of oxygen.

About cupronickel

Melchior is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. Outwardly, this metal is very similar to silver, which many people use by selling fakes from cupronickel under the guise of this precious metal. Often cupronickel is used to make dishes, less often jewelry. But in this case, how to distinguish cupronickel from silver? Reviews of buyers and experts say that the first and main rule is to think about where exactly to buy it. This is where the whole process should start. You will not need to learn how to distinguish silver from cupronickel if the product was purchased at a large jewelry store. He will not allow himself to ruin his reputation by selling fakes. Pawnshops and those who want to sell jewelry "from hand" are another matter, they are likely to sell a fake.

How to distinguish silver from other metal

Most often, a fake can be found on vacation, for example, in Egypt or Thailand. In such places, decorations are often bought in the markets. Of course, it's worth trying, but it can be too expensive if you're gullible. The easiest way to determine if silver is real is to heat the item, such as rubbing it against your hand, silver has a high thermal conductivity and heats up much faster than any other metal. There are other ways to distinguish silver from other metals and cupronickel, using a magnet, a needle or chalk.

Tactile way

There are several tactile ways to distinguish silver from cupronickel and other fakes. One of them was described above, namely, to heat the product. But, besides the temperature, after heating the object with the help of friction with the hand, it is worth paying attention to the skin. If there are no stains left on it, most likely it is high-quality silver, but the dark marks remaining on the skin indicate that the product has too much zinc, which is harmful to the body, and you cannot wear such jewelry or use such dishes.

Also, the authenticity of silver can be determined by the weight of the product: silver is much heavier than other metals. This task is best handled by a professional, but an ordinary person can determine the authenticity simply by comparing the weight of the product with a similar silver one.

Try

Also one of the most simple ways metal authentication, which can be used directly in the store, is a proof test. For a fake, if it is, it is erased or fuzzy. As a difference between silver and cupronickel, the “MNTs” icon can also act, which stands for magnesium, nickel, zinc - the composition of cupronickel alloy. For goods of different production, the marking may differ, however, not a single manufacturing country has a sample with just the inscription “925”, there are always other signs - images or inscriptions, it is for fakes that the sample is most often found only in the form of a number. This will help those who are wondering how to distinguish cupronickel from silver, but there were no improvised means, such as chalk, with them.

Magnet

A less reliable, but still valid method for distinguishing silver from another metal is a magnet. Very often, I insert silver parts into products made from ordinary, non-precious metals. For example, it can be chain links with a sample. In this case, a magnet can help, silver is never attracted to it. But this method is not reliable, since not only silver does not attract a magnet, but cupronickel and non-ferrous metals also do not react to a magnet.

Needle

Also a common way to fake jewelry or dishes made of silver is a coating of copper or other metal with a thin layer of silver. In this case, a regular needle can help to distinguish a fake. It is enough to scratch the product with it, and if dark metal appears inside, then this is definitely a fake. However, this method is not suitable for those who are afraid to spoil appearance subject.

Sulfur ointment and lapis pencil

Sulfur ointment, which can be bought at any pharmacy, will also help distinguish silver: when rubbing a silver item with this substance, a black mark will appear on it within an hour. The only negative is that you have to scrub the silver from the black. There is also a way to identify exactly cupronickel alloy, for this you need to draw a lapis pencil over the metal - it will leave a dark mark on the product.

Iodine

You can check the authenticity with another tool available at any pharmacy, namely iodine. Cupronickel and other metals do not change their appearance under the influence of iodine, low-quality silver, with a large percentage of zinc impurities, will change its color to blue, but real silver, if you drop iodine on it, it will turn black. But this method is also undesirable for those who do not know how to clean silver. But do not despair, there are enough tips on the Web on how to do this. The most reliable of these is to use a special cleaning cloth or silver cleaning solution.

Chalk

Another method that can be used in a jewelry store before purchasing a piece is to rub it with ordinary chalk. From contact with silver, the chalk is covered with a black coating. Unfortunately, this method will not help if the fake is covered with a layer of silver.

And one more rule that you should take note of when coming to a jewelry store, or even more so when buying jewelry from your hands: before purchasing a product, you should find out the silver rate. This information can be very useful if you know how to use it.

It is important to remember that the price of a piece of jewelry or any other piece of silver cannot be less than or equal to the value of silver of the corresponding weight. The price quoted by the seller also includes labor. If the seller offers a heavy ring or pendant for nothing, it is one hundred percent fake. Accuracy and care when choosing purchases will help to avoid unnecessary expenses.

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

Stamp and test

Each product with a high content of precious metal has 2 hallmarks - the name of the manufacturer and the assay mark. Their presence indicates that the product is sold legally in the country.

The hallmark is placed on:

The state stamp consists of several elements:

• Right profile of a lady in a kokoshnik;
• The letter cipher of the state inspection of assay supervision in the lower left corner;
• Try;
• Standard frame.

Pay attention to the shape of the frame, it is an oval with cut sides. Let's say that the image is circled, and the sample is printed side by side in a rectangular frame or an oval frame with cut edges.

Foreign-made jewelry may have different marking methods, adopted by law manufacturer's country. For example, the traditional English brand is a walking lion, French products were stamped with the head of Minerva, a wild boar, a crab.

In order for the soft noble metal to gain strength, impurities of other metals are added to the alloy, usually copper, tin, nickel. Therefore, a sample is necessarily put on the finished product - a number that reflects the percentage of the content of the noble metal. The most common silver samples are 750, 800, 875, 916, 925, 960 and 999.

To create jewelry, 960 and 925 samples are most often used:

• 925 silver is called sterling, it does not lose its original appearance for a long time, does not darken even with prolonged wear.
• The 800th test is considered a coin alloy, used in the production of coins, cutlery, quickly loses its presentation.

A personal name is an abbreviation that allows you to find out the manufacturer, place, year of manufacture. May contain letters and numbers. Antique items are decorated with the initials of the master.

If there was no sample, this does not mean that you are faced with a fake. Perhaps in front of you is 800 sterling silver. Products from it are allowed to be produced without an imprint. Some silver imitations are stamped with the MNTs stamp, which means "magnesium-nickel-zinc". The fake sample is applied unevenly, it is easy to recognize if you have a sample.

Thermal conductivity

Among all metals, silver has the highest thermal conductivity, that is, it quickly changes temperature under the influence of the environment:

• Put a cool ring on your skin, it will instantly take its temperature.
• Lower the chain or necklace into a container with hot water and then take it out immediately. Jewelry will not have time to change the temperature.
• An ice cube will do the trick. If the item is large enough, place ice from the freezer on top.

Put the cool ring on your skin, it will instantly take its temperature

Physical properties

• Consider the quality of the coverage.
• Sterling silver should be white color , with a bright polished sheen.
• Blackened stylized antique and it doesn't shine as brightly.
• Antique jewelry becomes covered with a black and gray coating over time. If the plaque is red or brown, you have another alloy in front of you, for example, brass or cupronickel.
• Silver can be matte, but it shouldn't have any tint. Reddish tint - a sign a large number copper in the alloy.
• Throw a ring, earring or coin on the table.
• When falling, a sonorous sound should be heard melodic, clear sound.
• Silver spoons you can knock on each other.
• Copper fakes knock dully, cheap alloys make a metallic sound, like small coins.
• Rub the object with your palm.
• Counterfeits with an admixture of zinc leave dark marks.
• Silver plating can be rubbed gently to see the background color.
• Put the jewelry in a glass of water for a few days. Genuine silver will remain pristine, but fake will rust.
• Smell. This method requires you to have a sample.
• Those who had silverware, remember their special, specific smell.
• If there is a coating, scrape it off. Melchior, like other copper alloys, smells like copper.
• Taste it.
• At brass, cupronickel, uncoated nickel silver will have a metallic aftertaste.
• Noble metals are tasteless.
• Weigh. There are reference manuals for numismatists that contain data on ancient and modern coins. Weigh your sample, compare the resulting weight with the indicated one.

Antique jewelry becomes covered with a black and gray coating over time.

Checking with improvised means

If after examining the product there are doubts, you can conduct several tests using improvised means:

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

Sulfuric ointment:

• Apply ointment.
• After 30 seconds, wipe off with a cloth or tissue. The place of application should darken.

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

Lapis pencil:

• Wet the tip of the pencil.
• Put in 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.

Once lapis was widely distributed, 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.

• Take stationery chalk, rub the decoration with it.
• Postpone.
• Check the result after a few minutes. If the chalk turns gray, this is a real noble metal.

Bleach:

It is believed that if you pour a small drop of bleach and wait a few minutes, the product will react with acid and darken. But a lot depends on the composition of the bleach. Silver is a low-active metal, so household chemicals may not have any effect. Imitation can be irrevocably spoiled, especially with chlorine.

Vinegar:

Silver is a low reactive metal, so household chemicals may not have any effect.

According to the electrochemical activity series of metals, silver is an inactive 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 damage products with a high copper content. Cupronickel cutlery is even recommended to be soaked in acid if a plaque has formed.

Needle:

• Make a deep scratch with a needle.
• Take a close look at whether the color of the core differs from the coating.
• A yellow or red tint indicates that a coating 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 immediately attract.
• 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 action of nitric acid, a violent reaction occurs with the evolution of gas, silver dissolves, an aqueous solution of silver nitrate and nitric oxide is formed.
• Such an experiment should not be carried out at home.

• The most reliable way to determine whether your jewelry has jewelry value, you can call checks with iodine, sulfuric ointment, lapis pencil, needle, chalk.
• Iodine is not safe for the product stains remain for a long time, they are almost impossible to wash.
• The lapis pencil is very handy, the reaction comes quickly, but it will have to be specially ordered, since it is not sold in all pharmacies.
• Using a needle, you can find out if a spray has been applied, but the scratch can no longer be reduced.
• Chalk does not damage the product.
• The darkening remaining after the sulfuric ointment can be wiped with ammonia or put in a soda solution. Another option is to boil it with a piece of ordinary 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 a coin.
• Checking with a magnet will not give the desired result if the base material of the alloy is copper. So, cupronickel, 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 probe. The simplest set for testing precious metals costs less than 1000 rubles. It can be purchased at jewelry workshops, some pharmacies, online stores.

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

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How to choose silver when buying

Despite the fact that silver is a noble, precious metal, dark or black spots can appear on it over time. If you purchased metal good quality, then this is less likely to happen. Although, it cannot be said that this precious metal is not subject to darkening at all. The main reason for the loss of gloss and purity of the product is oxidation. There are several reasons for oxidation. To avoid or prevent them, it is necessary to deal with questions: how to properly store, how to care for 925 sterling silver, how to protect silver from the influence of external factors. In this article, we will try to answer them. In addition, we will talk about how to determine the quality of a precious metal, its sample, how to distinguish silver from other metals or fakes.

Silver storage rules

The key to a long service life of precious metal jewelry is not only their proper wearing, but also proper storage, as well as knowledge of how to care for silver items. By following a few rules, you will learn how to store silver so that it does not darken. And save yourself from premature damage and contamination of the metal. These rules apply to any sample, as well as to metals that contain silver.

1. The best storage option would be a box with soft interior compartments. It has the necessary departments and compartments for storing each product separately. The fact is, if you store jewelry all together, from excessive friction and pressure on each other, they can be damaged. If you have not purchased a box, you can wrap each piece of jewelry in a regular bag and put it in a dark place. Silver, unlike gold, is not afraid of polyethylene. Although, long-term storage is still not welcome. Shreds can also serve as packaging soft tissue. But! Never store jewelry in cardboard, paper or rayon packaging. These materials contain sulfur, which reacts with copper.
2. An alternative to the box will be soft bags or wooden boxes varnished. Wood without varnish can also affect the condition of the metal.
3. Do not choose places near radiators or air conditioners. Also, do not store silver on the windowsill. Best conditions- dry, cool, dark place.
4. Activated carbon will stop the oxidation process by absorbing the gases released. If you are leaving jewelry for a long time, put a few tablets in the compartment where you store jewelry.
5. Do not leave jewelry unattended for a long time. Despite being worn, they are also subject to oxidation, the metal does not like a long absence of contact with the human body.
6. Do not forget to remove jewelry when in contact with water for a long time, when visiting a bath, sauna, spa, while cleaning, while using cosmetics.

Causes of Silver Oxidation

1. Addition of copper. The main element that leads to the darkening of the metal is copper. It is her jewelers who most often use as an impurity. This is done in order to make the precious metal harder and more wear resistant. It is copper that reacts and starts the oxidation process in silver jewelry.
2. interaction with the human body. Together with human sweat, a large number of different chemical elements are released, with which silver itself does not react. But the various impurities that are added to it are quite. Most often, it is copper. Copper is a very reactive metal. She reacts with big amount elements and may darken silverware. One of these elements is sulfur. It is released, both during the normal functioning of the human body, and in some diseases. For example, in diseases of the kidneys or liver.
3. Nitrogen. This element is also excreted along with human sweat. It reacts with copper and can also darken the metal. In some cases, nitrogen, on the contrary, can lighten the product.
4. Usage cosmetics. Creams, balms, lotions, perfumes, shower gels, detergents. All this can affect the condition of the jewelry. It is advisable to remove rings and pendants while using creams or other cosmetics. They often contain, for example, titanium dioxide, which reacts with argentum sulfide and gives a reaction in the form of darkening of silver. Also, the element with which the reaction will occur is mercury. It is found in small amounts in many daily products.
5. Therapeutic procedures with hydrogen sulfide. When visiting resorts that have hydrogen sulfide baths or resorting to healing procedures in the form of hydrogen sulfide baths, do not forget to remove all jewelry. This applies not only to silver, but also to other metals. Cleaning silver after interaction with sulfur is quite difficult.

How to determine the quality of silver

Today, the world of jewelry and bijouterie is so rich, and the craftsmanship is growing every year, that it becomes more and more difficult to distinguish the original from a good fake. In order not to be deceived, consumers are increasingly interested in how to determine the quality of silver, how to determine the standard, how to distinguish silver from metal or jewelry, and also check the quality.

You can determine how high-quality metal you have purchased without the use of special tools and with them. Real, high-quality silver has characteristic features that will allow us to say about its quality:

• The presence of a sample. Any product that has passed a series of checks and certification must have a sample or stamp. However, scammers have learned to fake the sample. Therefore, even a sample is not always a guarantee of high quality.
• Thermal conductivity. Real silver instantly takes the temperature of the body or substance with which it comes into contact. Therefore, even in a jewelry store, you can carry out this check. Squeeze a ring or other jewelry in the palms of your hands. If it quickly became warm, then the metal is natural. At home, you can lower the product into very hot water.
• Purity. Even blackened silver will never stain your hands. If you took a piece of jewelry, and there are dark marks on your hands, then we are talking about silver plating. And the main metal is brass or copper.
• To make sure that it is genuine metal, you can run a needle on an inconspicuous place in the jewelry. If you see a dark, reddish or yellowish tint, then the metal is fake.
• Ringing. If you have a perfect ear for music, you can try throwing a piece of silver and listen to how it sounds. They say that the sound of real silver is comparable to crystal, the sound of which is sonorous and lingering, unlike ordinary glass.
• Magnet. Silver, like other precious metals, is dimagnetic. Only in the presence of a large amount of impurities, it will react to the magnet.

Determination of a silver sample using reagents.

A more reliable result will give the definition of the sample using reagents. They will allow you to check the authenticity of silver at home.

Sulfuric ointment

This ointment can be purchased at any pharmacy. Apply the ointment to the product and leave for several hours. Quality depends on the type of reaction. If the decoration turns black, then sulfur has reacted with the ointment. So the product is real. If a red tint has appeared or no changes have occurred, then you are dealing with a fake.

Vinegar

Checking the metal for authenticity with vinegar is easy. It is enough to use 9% vinegar. If the metal does not react when interacting with it, then you have a genuine jewel in your hands.

Ammonia

It is not difficult to check silver with ammonia. After all, the metal does not react with ammonia, so nothing will happen to it. So the metal is genuine.

Iodine

Copper impurities in the alloy also react with iodine. Therefore, if you drop it on the jewelry, it will darken. The sample is determined depending on the degree of darkening. The more darkened the product, the higher the sample of the metal.

Chalk

You can determine the authenticity of the metal with chalk. If you rub the jewelry with a piece of chalk, dark stains will remain on it. This suggests that the silver is natural.

Nitric acid

You can test silver with acid. It can be purchased at a pharmacy. This method is pretty accurate. The main thing to remember about precautions. If we are talking about checking a ring or earrings, then it is better to carry out the test on the back of the jewelry. The place where you will drip the reagent must first be scratched. Then, put a couple of drops of acid on the damaged area. The green tint indicates silver-plated brass or cupronickel. Quality alloy will darken.

Ready composition

There are also ready-made compositions for checking silver for authenticity. It does not require any preparation, just follow the instructions in the instructions. In addition, such a composition is safe for human health. You can buy it in jewelry stores.

How to calculate a sample at home

Of course, the easiest solution is to contact a specialist. But if you do not have such an opportunity or have a desire to carry out this procedure yourself at home, then you will have to resort to the use of chemical reagents and knowledge of physics.

Potassium dichromate

A reagent with such a complex name is called Chrompic in a different way. Before using it, you need to prepare the product itself. Degrease, clean and dry the jewelry. On the surface it is necessary to apply several drops of the reagent sequentially, with an interval of 2-3 seconds, wiping them with filter paper. If a brown spot appears, then you are dealing with a sample from the 500th to the 750th. If a red spot appears, then the sample is above the 750th. The richer the red color, the higher the sample.

Chlorine nitrogen

This method is not as accurate as the previous one, but in general no less effective. The surface of the product to be tested should also be cleaned, degreased and dried. After applying the reagent, the reaction should be instant. Only in this case it is not the object that reacts, but the reagent itself. And you need to look at the color of the drop. If she gives out very dark shade, then most likely we are talking about a high sample. The lighter the drop, the lower the sample. If the shade is yellow or brown, then you are dealing with aluminum or copper.

How to distinguish silver from other metals

From white gold

To distinguish White gold from silver, you must either be a professional or contact one. Unfortunately, this is not possible at home. In a jewelry store, you can visually distinguish white gold from silver only by carefully looking at some details. For example, white gold will shine more in the light. In addition, it is many times more expensive than silver products. They are also designated by different sample numbers.

From cupronickel

Cupronickel and silver items are very easy to confuse. This is often used by scammers. However, cupronickel has nothing in common, except for the visual component, with silver. Melchior is an alloy of lead, copper and nickel. There is no sample on the cupronickel product. On it there is only an abbreviation of the components of the alloy - "MNTs". The difference between silver and a fake will appear when interacting with water or a lapis pencil. Melchior, when immersed in water, will leave a greenish tint on it. Lapis pencil - will leave dark spots. Also, iodine will give out a fake. Cupronickel will not interact with iodine, a dark shade will appear on silver.

From aluminum

It is more difficult to distinguish silver from aluminum, however, such cases are not uncommon. As with other tests, one of the simplest is the diamagnetic test. High-quality silver is not attracted by a magnet, aluminum is easily. You can carry out such a check at the stage of purchase right in the jewelry store. It is also worth remembering that silver conducts heat very easily and quickly, which cannot be said about aluminum. If both metals are immersed in hot water, silver will heat up much faster and stronger than aluminum. A simple experiment at home can be done with acetic acid. If you lower a silver item into it, it will not react in any way. If the same is done with aluminum, it will oxidize and dissolve.

How to check a coin for silver

If you find a find in the form of a silver coin in your old chest, you can check its authenticity at home. A silver coin can be checked in several ways that are applicable to ordinary jewelry:

• Chalk. If you run chalk over the surface of the coin, dark prints will remain on it. In this case, the coin is real
• Bleach. Since you don’t have to worry about the aesthetic component of the coin, pour bleach on it. If the metal is real, it will darken.
• Sulfuric ointment. The principle of operation is the same as with jewelry. If the coin reacts with the ointment, it is genuine.
• Lapis pencil. If the reaction occurs, then the coin is real.

From technical silver

Technical silver is a metal that is not used in jewelry. It has a 999 test and, despite the high concentration of the precious metal, can cause allergies in humans. This alloy is used exclusively in the technical field. If they are trying to sell you a 999 piece of jewelry, do not be fooled by any means. It's a fake copy.

From palladium

You can distinguish palladium from silver using chalk or a lapis pencil. These methods will reveal the authenticity of the precious metal.

From tin

Tin from silver will also help to distinguish with the help of a lapis pencil or sulfuric ointment.

From steel

Steel is more difficult to distinguish from silver than from other metals. In this case, methods with chalk, a needle, a lapis pencil will be effective.

From jewelry

The main difference between precious metal and jewelry is the presence of a sample. If it is not, then you are dealing with jewelry.

Do you want to determine what the owner of the antique store is trying to sell you? You were given a new chain, but you doubt its quality? You do not know how to identify a silver coin from a fake? It is not necessary to carry the product to the laboratory for a silver test. confine ourselves available means to test silver at home.

Authentication of silver items

It is difficult for a simple consumer to distinguish a fake from a precious metal. Unscrupulous traders are often disguised as silver jewelry sell cupronickel. When creating a fake is often used incomprehensible material, on the surface of which a thin layer of noble metal is applied, as is the case with gold. This technical method is called silvering.

In store when buying

Checking can be carried out before making a purchase, in the store itself. To do this, do the following:

• Look at the test. Silver products are marked with a brand that shows the metal content in the alloy, because silver is not used. V pure form . The stamp should have numbers from 800 to 925. Everything else is a fake.
• Appearance. The original reflects light well and comes in a silvery-white color. If the metal has not been cleaned for a long time, it becomes covered with pinkish stains. Even in a similar state silver products do not leave yellowish or dark marks on the skin.
• Hold the product in the palm of your hand. Silver conducts heat 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.
• Worth weighing. This is a very dense metal, so objects made of it are quite heavy.
• Recognize with sound. Tap another piece of silver on the item. The original must be published 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.

Checking with iodine and vinegar

Do you have an old piece of jewelry in front of you, or have you not tested the purchase in the store? Silver can be tested for authenticity with iodine. Apply a drop to the metal and rinse immediately.

If the jewelry is genuine silver, a dark spot should appear on the iodine-coated area. Something is unlikely to happen with a fake, but it depends on the metal that is in front of you. Be careful and don't spill too much solution otherwise you risk damaging the product.

Noble metals are resistant to vinegar. Pour a little diluted vinegar into a glass and dip a silver item into it. No changes will occur to the original, and a fake may cause a reaction, become lighter or darker, or become stained.

Methods for determining the authenticity of a coin

If a bracelet, ring or coin is suspicious, apply one of the methods below using improvised means:

• Rub the coin with chalk. If dark marks remain on it, then the metal is real.
• Apply bleach to the surface. The substance is an oxidizing agent that darkens precious metals. Before that protect your hands gloves.
• Sulfuric ointment. Apply it to a coin, slightly worn with sandpaper, and after 15 minutes wipe it with a napkin. If a stain appears, then the product 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 black footprints, and a fake will not change its color and appearance.
• Apply some nitric acid to the surface. Foam Green colour point to a fake.
• A solution obtained by mixing equal parts of nitric acid and potassium bichromate is also used. When it hits the metal, the composition should leave brown-red traces.

How to distinguish silver from cupronickel

Often cupronickel is given out for silver items. In addition to special tests, a magnet can be used to detect fakes. It's better to check large items or ingots. Noble metal should not be magnetic.

Many metals have properties identical to silver, so testing is best done along with other methods that will help you find out if it is genuine or not:

1. Needle. The method is good if you suspect that the thing is silver plated. Scratch lightly with a needle. Nothing will happen to the original. A thing with a thin layer of silver will be covered with scratches, as the needle will remove a layer of precious metal.
2. Weighing. Weigh a coin or other product twice, dry, and then wet. Calculate the difference between the indicators and divide the weight of the dry product by this number. If the result is approximately 10, then you are dealing with silver.

If, after all the methods carried out, you still doubt the authenticity of the product, then contact a specialist.

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