THE RUBBING TEST
This is the easiest test for 925 Sterling Silver Jewellery. Use a soft cloth to rub your piece and then check the surface. If there are black marks on the cloth, this is a genuine Sterling Silver piece because Real silver oxidizes on exposure to the air and hence the tarnish left on the cloth.
MAGNET TEST
This test can be easily done at home as long as you have a powerful rare earth magnet, like one made out of neodymium. You can easily and cheaply buy neodymium magnets online.
Silver is a paramagnetic metal, meaning it only exhibits very weak magnetic properties, and should not attach to any consumer-grade magnetic.
Keep in mind, however, that other metals that look silver do not exhibit any strong magnetic interactions, either, so this test should be used in conjunction with other test.
- Put your silver piece on top of a non-magnetic surface, such as a wooden table, with no other metallic objects nearby.
- Now put your magnet close to the piece and see if it can attract it. Try touching the magnet on the piece and try lifting the magnet. If the piece remains attached with enough force to dangle from the raised magnet, then it’s very unlikely it is made of silver
DO NOT PLACE YOUR HAND ON ANY PART OF YOUR BODY BETWEEN ANY NEODYMIUM MAGNET BIGGER THAN A COIN AND A PIECE OF METAL. SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR!