So, a “325” indicates that the item is 32. 5% silver, “900” is 9% silver, and so on. On some items, they may include the decimal point. See an eagle stamp next to the number? The sterling silver came from Mexico, which is actually the biggest exporter of sterling silver jewelry in the world.
For example, an uncrowned leopard’s head means the piece was made in London from 1821-today. A castle means that it was made in Edinburgh. Additional stamps may indicate authorship or date. An “AB” stamp could stand for A. Beardshaw & Co. , for example. Other countries may have their own unique stamp. France currently marks its sterling silver items with the head of Minerva (92. 5% and below) or a vase (99. 9% pure silver), for example.
It can help to do this by comparing the sound to a piece of authentic sterling silver. If you have a US quarter made before 1965, that’ll work! Those quarters are 90% silver (900).
Copper is a common alloy in sterling silver, but 925 sterling does not contain enough to make a smell. Lower purity sterling silver (like 350) may have a faint coppery smell.
If the item does not bend, it is less likely that it is made from silver or sterling silver.
If you see black marks, the item is either silver or sterling silver. If nothing comes off, the item is almost positively not sterling silver.
If the item sticks to the magnet, it does not contain sterling silver. More than likely, the item is made from highly polished stainless steel intended to look like pure silver.
Alternatively, you can put the silver underneath the ice cube. You should see a puddle forming almost immediately if it’s real silver.
Professional appraisers are highly trained and experienced. Many reputable appraisers are certified by the American Society of Appraisers. Their job is to assess the quality and worth of items. Graduate jewelers are trained and certified by the Gemologist Institute of America. They are skilled artists and experienced repairers of jewelry. They are also capable of evaluating an item’s materials. [12] X Research source
You can do this at home, but it is dangerous since nitric acid is noxious. When handling nitric acid, you need to be extremely careful. Always wear protective gloves and eyewear.
Fire assay—melting down a sample of the metal and conducting a chemical assay The use of an XRF gun. This item send x-rays through the item to test the metal’s purity. Mass spectrometry—a test used to determine an item’s molecular and chemical structure. Specific gravity assessment—a water displacement test. [15] X Research source
