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.”
925 silver necklaces, may have ferromagnetic materials on the clasp or other fasteners. Thus, magnets may attract parts of it. The same goes for silver-plated items. Jewelry that has an iron or nickel core and is merely plated with silver will likely be attracted to a magnet.
Most silver-plated items will stick to a magnet since they have a metal alloy base dipped in silver, but sterling silver will not.
Silver isn't noticeably magnetic. In fact, only iron, nickel, cobalt, gadolinium, neodymium and samarium are magnetic in our everyday lives. Knowing that silver isn't magnetic is useful since it can help you spot fake silver.
Magnet Test
The rest of the jewelry is made from other alloys like copper. This should not be confused with silver plated jewelry, which can be easily tarnished or scraped off. Also, 925 silver is not magnetic. So you can run a magnet through a piece of 925 silver jewelry.
Markings
There are markings such as “S925”, “. 925”, and “925”. This gives assurance that the silver is indeed a 925 sterling silver. However, there are some sterling silver that don't have these marks so don't directly assume that the silver is fake if it doesn't have the mentioned markings.
Ultimately, sterling silver (also known as 925 silver) is hypoallergenic, high-quality, fashionable, and safe. Silver is typically mixed with other metals to make a more durable alloy, as pure silver is far too soft to be used in jewellery.
You should see one of the following markings or something similar: "9.25," "925/1000," "Sterling," "S/S" or "Sterling 9.25." If you do not see any of these markings, it's highly unlikely the item is genuine silver. If you do not see the sterling marking, the item is probably silver plated.
Usually, eight out of 10 pieces made of . 925 silver are worth the material value. One troy ounce of pure silver is worth $24.15 today and one troy ounce of . 925 silver is worth $24.15.
Neodymium magnets are very strong and can help to test the authenticity of gold and silver bars, coins, bullion, or jewelry.
What to do: Hold the magnet up to the gold. If it's real gold it will not stick to the magnet. (Fun fact: Real gold is not magnetic.) Fake gold, on the other hand, will stick to the magnet.
Look for the 925 marking.Genuine sterling silver jewelry will be marked with these three numbers or STERLING or STER. Hold a magnet to the silver. If the magnet sticks, your jewelry is not real sterling silver. Smell the sterling silver.If it smells strongly metallic, then your jewelry is not real sterling silver.
925 silver oxidizes when exposed to air leading to chemical changes in its wake. Using a soft white cloth, rub a small part of the jewelry, if the surface produces a black mark it would mean that the product is sterling silver. On the other hand, the color change would be absent in fake merchandise.
Look for a Hallmark Stamp: Look for a stamp or mark on the piece that says "STER," "925," "800," OR "999." 925 or STER means it's 92.5% pure silver, which is traditional sterling, 999 means 99.9% pure which is fine silver, and 800 means it's 80% pure silver or a lower quality than sterling silver.
No, silver is not magnetic. Test your jewelry with a strong magnet. Slowly move the magnet closer. If your piece snaps to the magnet, then it is not true sterling silver.
Since sterling silver has a lower percentage of silver than pure silver, sterling silver is less expensive. Of the three types of metals, it's typically the least expensive choice. You'll also find more jewelry options in sterling silver since it's a more accessible material to mold into different shapes.
925 sterling silver features a great look and good durability. It's relatively affordable and there are a lot of different places where you can buy it. Just remember to make sure that a silver item is real before buying or selling it.
As we mentioned, true sterling silver jewelry has a silver stamp that identifies the percentage of pure silver that's found in the piece (925, SS, 92.5, etc.). Silver-plated jewelry won't have this silver stamp.
Tarnish is the oxidization that occurs when air-borne sulfurs and chlorides are present, causing a yellowish cast on the sterling silver.
Cobalt, iron, nickel, neodymium, samarium, and gadolinium are all magnetic metals.
Metals such as silver, gold, titanium, platinum, palladium, stainless steel, zinc, pewter, copper, aluminum, and tungsten are not magnetic.
Pure silver is not susceptible to tarnish in a pure oxygen environment. However, the copper that is contained in 925 sterling silver may react to the ozone and hydrogen sulfide in the air and cause sterling silver to tarnish. Perfumes, hair sprays, and profuse sweating can also cause a quicker formation of tarnish.