Method 1: Look at the purity mark.
1, looking for purity marks. As silverware, products sold all over the world generally have purity marks. If your silverware is unmarked, it may be pure silver itself, just because it is produced in a country that does not need purity mark.
2. Observe the purity mark. Observe the purity mark with a high-quality magnifying glass. Generally, silverware sold all over the world will be marked with numbers such as 925, 900 or 800. These figures represent the content of silver in silverware, 925 represents 92.5% silver, 900 and 800 represent 90% and 80% silver respectively. This kind of silverware is usually mixed with copper, so it is often called "cast silver".
Method 2: Magnetic test
1. Use a magnet to approach the silverware. If it is real silver, the magnet should not be attractive at all. However, if the magnet you use is super magnetic, you may find that silver will move slightly, because in theory, silver is paramagnetic after all. But if this happens, the magnet you use is not generally strong. It should be noted that some metals have no magnetism and can be mixed into silverware without being found, so you'd better use other methods besides magnet inspection to verify them.
2. Slope test. If the silverware in your hand is silver bars, you can do the test again with a magnet. Tilt the silver bar 45 degrees, and then put the magnet on it. If the magnet can slowly slide down the surface of the silver bar, the silver bar should be real. This method seems unreasonable because silver is not magnetic, but in fact, the magnetic field of the magnet itself will cause electromagnetic braking, thus slowing down the sliding speed of the magnet.
Method 3: Ice cube test
1, prepare some ice cubes. Put the ice cubes in the refrigerator first, and then take them out when necessary. Although ice seems to have little to do with silver, in fact, this test uses the unparalleled thermal conductivity of silver. This test is suitable for testing silver coins and gold bars, but it is difficult to test jewelry.
2. Put the ice cubes directly on the silverware. Don't look away, you will see that the ice begins to melt quickly, as if it were placed on something very hot, not silverware, which is only at room temperature.
Method 4: Sound test
1. Use coins for sound test. Silver will make a pleasant bell-like sound when it collides, especially when it collides with other metals. If you want to do this test, you should first find a coin issued in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, because most of the coins issued in that period were silver coins, while in New China, most of the coins were nickel coins. Silver coins sound crisp when struck, and nickel coins sound dull when struck.
2. Let the coin fall from about two meters high. If it sounds like a bell, it means it's a real silver coin. If the sound is dull, it means there are other metals mixed in it.
Method 5: Chemical test
1, chemical analysis of silverware. If there is no purity mark on the silverware, consider doing a chemical test. Wear gloves first, because in this test you will use corrosive acid to check the purity. This acid will corrode the skin. It should be noted that this method may cause slight damage to silverware. If your silverware is going to be sold or appraised, you should consider other methods in this article.
2. Buy silverware acid inspection tools. This tool is available in Amazon, Yi Bei and jewelry stores. The silverware acid inspection tool is suitable for testing pure silver or alloy, but if you suspect that your utensils are silver-plated, you should make a mark at the right place to find out what the metal is.
3. Find an inconspicuous place on the silverware, and then scratch it gently. This step is necessary before observing the reaction of silverware to acid. Take a metal file in the toolbox, and then draw a mark on the surface, deep enough to expose the metal under the silver-plated object. If you don't want to scratch your silverware or leave any marks, buy a black slate. This kind of slate is usually found in shops selling silverware acid inspection tools, and sometimes it is also found in toolbox. Rub the silverware on the black slate, leaving a line 2.5-3.75 cm wide.
4. Drop a drop of acid where the silverware has been wiped. If the acid drips to other places, it will affect the luster of silverware. If you use a black slate, drop a drop of acid at the mark on the slate.
5. Analyze the surface dripping with acid. After the acid permeates the silverware, you can begin to analyze the color of this work. Please judge the purity of silverware according to the following color code: bright red: pure silver.
Deep red: 925 silver
Brown: 800 silver.
Green: 500 silver
Yellow: lead or tin
Dark brown: brass
Blue: nickel
Method 6: Bleaching test
1. Drop a drop of bleach on the silverware. Once silverware comes into contact with oxidants such as bleach, it will immediately become dull.
2. Observe the change of silverware surface carefully. If the silverware turns black or black immediately, then the purity of this silverware is relatively high.
3. However, it should be noted that silver-plated objects cannot be detected by this test.
Tip: Try to buy silverware from a reliable jeweler.
Gloves must be worn when chemical testing silverware, because nitric acid is very corrosive.
Warning: If you accidentally get nitric acid on your skin, you should immediately rinse it with clear water, because nitric acid is very corrosive. After washing, apply some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to the place stained with nitric acid.