How to check silver at home. A few practical tips.

Information on how to check silver at home is quite a lot. We list the methods of home testing, dividing them conditionally into three types: mechanical, using chemical means and so-called indirect methods: determination by touch or by smell. Of course, not all options provide absolute certainty of authenticity. However, the brand of silver can not always be an absolute guarantor. The cases of counterfeits were seen in the last century.

The most accessible of mechanical methods is scratching. We draw on the inside of the product with a thin needle: if the resulting trace does not change the color, you have silver, and if the strip has become reddish-yellow, then this is brass, covered with a thin layer of silver on top. You can make a notch. The method is reliable, but requires great care to avoid damage to the product. If you are a lover of antiques and are not averse to buying antique silver on a flea market, the method using a needle is suitable in this case too.

Holders of subtle sense of smell, able not only to sense the nuances of smell, but also to remember them, can determine the metal for the specific smell of silver.

The simplest way is to hold the silver product in your hand. Being a good conductor of heat, this metal immediately heats up.

Taking a silver thing in the palm of your hand, twist it with your fingers. The remaining trace indicates that the silver is contained in minimal quantities. If the skin of the fingers is clean, then you keep a quality product.

You can also check the metal using conventional chalk. It is enough to rub the product with a small pinch of chalk powder. If the chalk has darkened, then before you is a piece of silver.

Silver is not attracted to the magnet. To be sure of the authenticity of the metal, simply bring a piece of the magnet to the item being inspected.

You can check silver with acids or iodine. A small drop of iodine will leave a dark spot on the metal. However, for the sake of precaution, in this case it is better not to experiment, but to turn to specialists.

Tips on how to check silver at home with simple household tools can be found in different sources. Here are the most popular of them:

- Place the ice cube on the inner or outer surface of the object. You can use a teaspoon. Silver is a good conductor of heat. Watch the time. Silver teaspoon is cooled for 5-10 seconds, silvered for 30 seconds.

- Take a small amount of French mustard. Then warm it. You can even fire lighter. Place on the product. If the silver is genuine, the mustard stain will darken. You can remove it with vinegar.

In addition to specific techniques for checking silver at home, pay attention to this information: if the seller emphasizes that this is nickel silver (or the label contains such an inscription), then the word "silver" is conditional. This product may contain precious metals in small quantities or not contain at all.

Such varieties as German or Indian silver appeared in the West in the 1880s. German silver is now called an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. Copper in its physical properties is very close to silver. It is added even to pure silver in order to increase the elasticity. Experts call this process doping.

Fortunately, we live in a world of constantly renewing technologies. Even knowing a few ways how to check silver at home will not replace testing with a special reagent, the so-called silver test, which is on sale.