identifying
Genuine Silver

 
 

Fine silver, sterling silver and argentium silver are all valuable precious metals. Jewelry made from these metals is durable, hypoallergenic and tends to hold its value over time.

Silver-plated jewelry can look similar but is made primarily from other metals with only a thin surface layer of pure or sterling silver. Silver-plated jewelry is less expensive than genuine silver jewelry but is susceptible to chipping, degradation and wear & tear.

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how to distinguish genuine silver

Check the Hallmark

Hallmarks are the tiny numbers etched or stamped on a piece of jewelry indicating the metal used in the piece. It isn’t mandatory to mark or advertise for quality in Canada - for example “sterling silver” - but regulations state that “any mark or advertisement which does refer to the quality of a precious metal article must be factual and in a manner authorized by the regulations”. Typical markings include:

  • Fine silver – “999” or “.999FS” (contains at least 99.9% pure silver)

  • Sterling silver – “sterling”, “925” or “.925” (contains at least 92.5% pure silver)

  • Argentium silver –“925”, “935”, or “960” (contains at least 92.5% pure silver)

Cost

Genuine silver pieces are more expensive than silver-plated pieces. Genuine silver has high resale value whereas silver plated pieces do not. The thin layer of silver plating can’t be reclaimed easily and has little value.

Appearance

Genuine silver is typically less shiny compared with silver-plated pieces. Any surface flaking also indicates a piece is silver-plated.

Cloth test

Wipe the piece with a jewelry polishing cloth or soft white cloth. Genuine silver will produce a black smudge on the cloth from the presence of surface oxidation. Silver-plated will produce little smudging if none at all.

Professional Input

If the above tests don’t provide clear results, take the piece to a jewelry shop. Additional tests can be performed which should only be conducted by a professional.