Have you ever stumbled upon an incredible seemingly silver tray, but wondered whether it’s the real deal? Have you spotted a gorgeous Chantilly spoon haphazardly thrown in a box of flatware at a thrift store and wondered whether it could possibly be sterling?
There’s an incredibly easy way to find out. Here’s how you can use a magnet when thrifting to determine whether you’re looking at sterling silver or an inexpensive dupe.
Use A Magnet When Thrifting To Identify Sterling Silver
Sterling silver has had its ups and downs on the market. Once upon a time, everyone added a set of silver to their wedding registry. People had silver patterns, and they collected servingware in sterling silver over the course of a lifetime.
But, as formal entertaining has fallen out of favor (though we like to think it’s coming back again!), sterling silver has ended up in the donate pile more often than your grandmother would ever like to admit.
That leads avid secondhand shoppers with a penchant for antique entertaining pieces to the silver-filled thrift store shelves, where they dig through gleaming tea sets and cake knives looking for the real deal.
While you can pull out your magnifying glass hoping to find a maker’s mark or a ‘925’ symbol indicating you’ve found sterling silver, there’s an easy (and fun!) way to find out. It just involves carrying a small magnet in your pocket.
Sterling silver should not attract a magnet. These items have both silver and copper, and neither one is magnetic. If a magnet is attracted to the silver, then there’s most likely a magnetic metal hiding beneath a silver surface.
Is The Magnet Method Foolproof?
While sterling silver is not magnetic, it’s not the only metal that won’t attract magnets. There are other metals that could look like silver when they’re on a thrift store shelf and, if you hold a magnet to them, you might think, “Great! It repelled the magnet, we’re in business.”
But if it’s aluminum or stainless steel with a specific metal composition that isn’t magnetic, then you could find yourself duped. Both of these would repel a magnet, but they’re definitely not as valuable as sterling silver.
Instead of thinking of the magnet method as a definitive answer that something is silver, think of it as part of the equation that rules out items that are not silver. If a magnet is attracted to a metal, it’s definitely not silver. If it’s not attracted, it might be silver, but it also might not be.
Feel Awkward Bringing A Magnet?
Most antique stores and thrift shops won’t even notice if you pull out a discreet magnet while perusing their silver. If they do, they likely won’t care (and if they do care, that might tell you something about the authenticity of their silver collection!).
But it’s understandable if you feel awkward strolling through the aisles carrying a magnet. The best way around it? Bring a money clip that has a magnet snap on it. You’ll be able to test items without pulling out an obvious magnet.