Sterling has a particular weight and a particular coldness, and both are noticeable before you find the mark. Architectural Vintage Bangle, sterling silver
Silver is easier to test at home than gold, because it has two properties nothing cheap can imitate: it conducts heat better than any other metal on earth, and it reacts with sulphur in a way that produces a very specific smell and a very specific tarnish. Start with the mark, because the mark usually settles it, and keep the physical tests for the pieces that carry no mark at all.
First, read the mark
| Mark | Means | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|
| 925, STERLING, STER | 92.5% silver | Britain, America, most modern work |
| 830, 830S, 800, 813H | Lower continental standards | Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, Finland |
| Three towers, three crowns | Danish and Swedish town marks | Scandinavian antiques |
| Lion passant | British sterling standard | Full British hallmark rows |
| EPNS, EP, A1, nickel silver | Not silver at all | Plated tableware and jewelry |
| ALPACA, GERMAN SILVER | Not silver, a nickel alloy | Tourist and costume pieces |
Those last two rows cause most of the disappointment in this subject. German silver and nickel silver contain no silver whatsoever; the words describe a colour. EPNS means electroplated nickel silver, which is a thin silver film over that alloy. The full story of what 925 and its relatives mean is in what 925 means on jewelry.
The tests that actually prove something
The magnet. Silver is not magnetic. If a piece pulls firmly to a magnet it has a steel or iron core and is not solid silver. A weak wobble is normal even on genuine silver, because clasps and springs are often steel. This test can only disprove, never prove.
The ice test. The best of them, and the most fun. Silver conducts heat better than any other metal, so an ice cube placed on a silver surface melts visibly faster than the same cube on steel, brass or plated ware. Put two cubes on two objects side by side and watch. The difference is obvious within seconds, and nothing common imitates it.
The smell. Rub the piece briskly between your fingers for a few seconds and smell your fingers. Real silver leaves almost no odour. Copper-heavy base alloys and plated pieces leave a distinct metallic, coin-like smell.
The sound. Tap a piece gently with a fingernail or another piece of metal. Silver rings with a high, sustained note that carries. Plated base metal gives a dull, short thud. This works best on flatware and hollow objects, less well on small jewelry.
Tarnish behaviour. Real silver tarnishes to a warm brown-black that sits in recesses. Plated pieces wear through at high points to show a yellow or grey metal underneath. A piece that has never tarnished at all, on an object claimed to be a century old, deserves suspicion.
Danish sterling from the 1990s, tarnishing in the recesses exactly as it should. Puffy Heart Charm Collar, sterling silver, Denmark, 1990s
The tests that prove nothing
The bleach test, where a drop of bleach is said to blacken silver instantly. It does, but it also blackens several base alloys, and it damages the surface of whatever you drip it on. Skip it.
The nitric acid test is genuinely diagnostic and genuinely destructive, since it requires filing a notch. On an antique it is vandalism, and a jeweler with an electronic tester can do the same job in seconds without touching the surface.
Colour alone. Nickel silver, stainless steel and rhodium plating all look like silver, and good plating looks like it for years. The eye is not a test.
When there is no mark
Absence of a mark is common and not damning. Small pieces, continental work, and a great deal of jewelry made before marking became routine simply carry nothing. Where the mark is missing, weigh the evidence together: ice test, no magnetic pull, no metallic smell, tarnish behaving correctly, and a weight appropriate to the size. Four out of five means you are almost certainly holding silver. If it matters financially, a jeweler with an XRF analyser will tell you in seconds for nothing, and that is what I would do rather than any home test.
Frequently asked questions
Does silver stick to a magnet?
No. Silver is not magnetic, so a firm pull means a steel or iron component. Clasps and pins are often steel, so a slight response is normal.
What is the ice test for silver?
Place an ice cube on the piece and on a known base metal object. Silver conducts heat far better, so its cube melts noticeably faster.
Is German silver real silver?
No. German silver, also called nickel silver or alpaca, is a copper, nickel and zinc alloy containing no silver at all.
What does EPNS mean?
Electroplated nickel silver: a thin layer of silver deposited over a nickel alloy base. It is plated ware, not solid silver.
Is 800 silver real silver?
Yes, 80% silver, a common continental standard. It is lower than sterling at 92.5% but genuinely silver.
Why is my silver not tarnishing?
Either it is being worn and cleaned often, which is normal, or it is rhodium plated, or it is not silver. Check the mark and run the ice test.
Can I test silver without damaging it?
Yes. The magnet, ice, smell and sound tests are all non-destructive. Acid testing requires filing a notch and should be avoided on anything antique.
Read next: What does 925 mean on jewelry? · How to tell if gold is real · How to clean antique jewelry safely
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