The Magnet Test Silver is not noticeably magnetic, and exhibits only weak magnetic effects unlike iron, nickel, cobalt, and the like, says Martin. If your magnet sticks strongly to the piece, it has a ferromagnetic core and is not silver. Fake silver or silver-plated items are generally made of other metals.

How can you tell if something is silver plated?

If you do not see the sterling marking, the item is probably silver plated. Check the colouring of the item carefully; 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 silver plated.

Do magnets pick up sterling silver?

Answer: Real sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver; the most common alloy used to harden it is copper, and neither of these metals is magnetic. Often a clasp is made of something different that may be magnetic, but if the chain you describe sticks to a magnet, then sadly it is not “sterling” and should not be marked “.

How can you tell if something is silver or pewter?

Examine the coloring of your item. Silver is usually shiny and silvery, after its name. Its a bright metal with a high luster. Pewter, on the other hand, looks more like lead and has a much darker, duller sheen than silver.