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How do you test for silver?

How do you test for silver?

Bring the magnet close to the silver item you want to check and see if it sticks strongly to the magnet. If it does then it’s not real silver. If you are also testing silver bars at home, a sliding test with magnets can be used to find out if it is real silver.

Can a magnet stick to sterling silver?

Sterling silver reacts the same way the silver does to magnet. They are both weekly magnetic and if you notice that it sticks too tight then the metal is simply not sterling silver. It could contain other elements and metals like iron, nickel, and many other magnetic metals.

Does a magnet stick to silver or gold?

By itself gold is not attracted to the magnetic fields we come across in our everyday lives. Most gold used in jewelry is actually a mix of silver and gold. Like gold, silver isn’t attracted to a magnet. There may even be other metals like copper, platinum, or nickel mixed with the gold to give it different colors.

Does 925 silver stick to magnets?

Pure silver is not magnetic, and now that sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, it should not be attracted to the magnet. If the piece is drawn to the magnet, it is either silver-plated or contains a more significant percentage of other metal than silver.

Can a magnet pick up gold or silver?

All aren’t attracted to magnets. Most gold used in jewelry is actually a mix of silver and gold. Like gold, silver isn’t attracted to a magnet. There may even be other metals like copper, platinum, or nickel mixed with the gold to give it different colors.

Can sterling silver ever be attracted to a magnet?

No, sterling silver does not attract to a magnet. Even though there is a 7.5% ferrous metal content this is still not enough for the whole piece to attract to the magnet. The beads are sterling silver plated.

Does silver attract to magnet?

Pure silver would not be attracted to a magnet, but with sterling the other 7.5% can be any undisclosed (legal) metal. There is a high possibilty that your silver was simply an alloy of silver and a ferrous metal. This would explain the attraction to a magnet.

Does a magnet pick up sterling silver?

Put a magnet on the silverware to see if it is attracted to it. A magnet will not be attracted to pure silver flatware, only steel and other metals. If the magnet is not attracted to the silverware, there is a good chance it is sterling silver.

Does silver respond to magnet?

No, silver does not respond to a magnet, period. If you have a silver it em that’s magnetic, there’s something else there.