How can you tell plated silver

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What's the difference between silver plate and sterling silver? What is a hallmark? The Date Mark — denotes the year of hallmarking. Leave your comment. Thank you. There are also a couple easy home tests you can do to help point you in the right direction.

None of them will provide positive proof, however, so consider them ballpark estimates at best. Ice test: Silver is a very good conductor, and will relay cold or heat very quickly. Put a few ice cubes in a container not the one you are trying to test and add about an inch of water. Smaller Sterling silver items will become cold after about 10 seconds, larger ones may take a little longer.

This is a helpful method when you have similar items you can compare against. For example, a possibly silver fork and a fork from a stainless steel cutlery set. Sense tests: Silver has a slightly warm yellowish sheen, and a slight scent which is stronger when heated or wet. Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Genuine silver is generally less shiny and colder in tone than silverplate. If you see places where the silver appears to be flaking off or turning green, the item is silverplated.

To investigate further, you can try cleaning the item with a soft cloth. Real silver will oxidize with friction and as a result usually leave black marks on the cloth. Exposure to air or other chemicals results in tarnishing that does not occur with fake silver. Go here , for tips on how to clean your sterling silver.

If you suspect the item is made of stainless steel as many types of flatware are , you can try holding a magnet near the item. The magnet will be attracted to the steel but not silver. If the item does have the sterling marking, yet you still suspect it may be fake, you can take the item to jeweler for a professional "acid test.

Items that are silver-plated brass, nickel silver or low-quality silver will turn green.