Sterling silver is real silver. The number 925, comes from sterling silver’s composition of 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% is made up of alloys, such as copper, to enhance the durability of the metal.

How can you tell if a sterling silver chain is real?

Inspect your silver chain for a mark known as a “hallmark.” An imprint of the numbers “925” indicates that the chain contains 92.5% of pure silver. Other marks may be “Sterling Silver,” “Ster” or “Sterling.” Markings are normally found on the clasp or end ring of the chain. Hold a magnet above your chain.

Does 925 silver stick to a magnet?

Real sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver; the most common alloy used to harden it is copper, and neither of these metals is magnetic. Often a clasp is made of something different that may be magnetic, but if the chain you describe sticks to a magnet, then sadly it is not “sterling” and should not be marked “. 925.”

Can you test for.925 sterling silver jewelry?

If it comes away spotless, the jewelry is either extremely clean, or it’s not .925 sterling silver. Magnets have little to no effect on genuine sterling silver. This means that if you have one handy, you can use it to perform a very simple test.

What does the number 925 mean on sterling silver?

An imprint of the numbers “925” indicates that the jewelry piece contains 92.5% of pure silver. Other marks may be “Sterling Silver,” “Ster” or “Sterling.”

How can I tell if my sterling silver jewelry is real?

Hold a regular magnet above or near your jewelry piece. Pure Silver is not magnetic, so if your jewelry piece is drawn to the magnet, it is not real 92.5 sterling silver or more. Chances are that the alloy your jewelry piece was made has a different composition percentage.

Why does 925 sterling silver jewelry turn brown?

That’s because you’ll need to have a small bottle of nitric acid. When this acid comes into contact with fake or less than 925 silver jewelry, it will cause some discoloration. For example, 80 percent silver will turn brown, while 50 percent silver will turn green.