How to check the purity of your silver jewellery
Lucky for you, there are a series of tests you can perform at home to ensure that you have invested in the right thing. Here are all the ways you can check the purity of your silver at home:
Magnet test
Silver isn’t magnetic. At all! To conduct this test, hold a magnet near your silver piece and if it sticks, the item is likely made from another metal or just silver-plated.
Ice Cube Test
Silver has excellent thermal conductivity. To check the purity of the jewellery, place an ice cube over the silver item. If it melts much faster than it would on most other materials, you’re likely dealing with real silver.
Lighter Test
Be careful with this test since it involves flames. Using a lighter, heat the item for about 10-15 seconds. Real silver heats up quickly and cools fast. If your item peels, gets damaged, or behaves oddly, it’s not real silver.
Bleach Test
Apply a tiny drop of bleach to a hidden area on the item. Genuine silver will tarnish quickly, but other metals won’t react in the same way. Be careful though, since this could damage your piece!
If you are feeling a little bold, you can also go for the Silver Acid Test, where a small amount of nitric acid is applied to a discreet area of the silver. Real silver will change color, often turning blue or red depending on its purity. Non-silver metals, on the other hand, will turn the acid green. Ensure proper safety precautions before delving into these tests to protects yourself and your silver item.