Test solid silver and recognize fake jewelry

We generally recognize solid silver by testing it with acid.

Many pieces of jewelry are sold claiming to be solid silver but they are jewelry and everythingthat is, a cheap metal plated with 925 silver.

A popular method for try silver jewelry it is that of touchstone.

Acid touchstone used to test silver

Testing silver with acid

This technique involves rubbing the jewelry on a specific stone, called a touchstone, which will lightly file the jewelry and maintain a deposit of the jewelry’s surface metal.

We then add a drop ofsilver test acid on this metallic deposit. The color taken on by the emulsion of the acid on the metal tells us about its composition.

The emulsion ofacid test on 925 silver it is grey/whitish and darkens over time. When acid is poured onto a metal other than sterling silver, the emulsion immediately turns black, green, or another color depending on the metal.

This method is effective but useless in the case of a 925 silver plated jewel, since it does not will test the money of the surface layer of the jewel. THE’tested silver Retains a dull gray color that will disappear after light polishing or cleaning with a silver care wipe.

One method used in Mexico (see video below) is to store jewelry in a hidden area when worn and in test the money Under the classified area, you will know whether your jewelry is made of copper, silver plated or solid silver.

In the video showing the acid test on silver jewelryyou can see the clear difference in color taken on by the acid emulsion in the case of a jewel. This method is valid for testing any silver ring or signet ring.

800 or 925 silver: what is solid silver?

Solid silver is a metallic compound comprising at least 800 parts by mass per 1000 of pure silver (also called 800/1000 silver).

Because silver is very ductile (malleable), other metals must be added to improve its mechanical properties, usually copper. In fact, a jewel made of 100% pure silver would deform at the slightest impact, pressure or mechanical stress.

The pointsCons according to the silver title

The first huge silver stock is the925 silver, commonly known as sterling silver. This is what we find most frequently for silverware and jewelry.

We can also find solid silver at 950/1000, but it is rarer and used mainly by artisan jewelers in the Andean area (Peru, Bolivia and Chile). The Peruvian jewels that we offer on the site are in 950/1000 silver.

In France, a solid silver jewelry must bear the seal of authenticity of the French State if it weighs more than 30 g. Few of your jewels weigh enough to receive this mark. But what about solid silver jewelry weighing less than 30g, how can we guarantee its quality?

Recognize solid silver by touch

There is an empirical method, called touchstonepermitting test the silver of a jewel and determine its degree of purity.

It consists of filing the jewel very lightly onto the stone and test the deposition of silver metal with acid. We then do the same with pieces of silver whose purity we know, 800 silver or 950 silver, and compare the colors taken on by the different emulsions. acids on silver tested.

This method is the oldest, fastest and does not damage jewelry. You can visit the Cookson website to learn more about the products for feel the silver to the touch.

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