How to check silver for authenticity before buying. How to determine a silver coin or not

20.08.2019

You will need

Reagents for the determination of silver samples: chlorine gold, nitrate silver, chrompeak, filter paper or tissue.

Instructions

To begin with, be sure to check the presence of the brand and metal. This is the simplest sign, but it does not provide a 100% guarantee of authenticity. The stigma can easily be forged. But every piece of jewelry must have this mark.

Silver is too thermally conductive, that is, if you squeeze the product in your hand or dip it in boiling water, it instantly becomes the same temperature.

Rub the silver thing in your hands, if after that the palms remain clean, this indicates the quality of the metal. And if your hands get dirty, then most likely the silver is diluted with zinc.

How to choose silver when buying

Although silver is a noble, precious metal, dark or black spots can appear over time. If you purchased good quality metal, this is less likely to happen. Although, it cannot be said that this precious metal is not subject to darkening at all. The main reason for the loss of shine and cleanliness of the product is oxidation. There can be several reasons for oxidation. To avoid or prevent them, you need to deal with the questions: how to store it correctly, how to care for 925 sterling silver, how to protect silver from external factors. In this article we will try to answer them. In addition, we will talk about how to determine the quality of a precious metal, its fineness, how to distinguish silver from other metals or counterfeits.

Silver
Basic properties (Extraction and application)	How is silver used ...
Types of silver (Technical alloys, Silver samples)	White, Black, Table, Technical gold and more ..
How to distinguish from a fake	How to distinguish natural silver from other metals ...
Why does gold change color (how to clean it at home)	Why does silver oxidize?
Cleaning of silver jewelry with stones	How to properly care for silver jewelry ...
The effect of silver on humans	How to wear silver for men, women ...

Silver storage rules

The guarantee of a long service life of jewelry made of noble metal is not only their correct wearing, but also competent storage, as well as knowledge of how to take care of silver items. By following a few rules, you will learn how to store your silver so it doesn't darken. And save yourself from premature damage and metal contamination. These rules apply to any sample, as well as to metals that contain silver.

The best storage option would be a box with soft inner compartments. It has the necessary sections and compartments for storing each product separately. The fact is, if you store the jewelry all together, from excessive friction and pressure on each other, they can be damaged. If you haven't purchased a jewelry box, you can wrap each piece of jewelry in a regular bag and put it in a dark place. Silver, unlike gold, is not afraid of polyethylene. Although, long-term storage is still not welcome. Also, pieces of soft tissue can serve as packaging. But! Never store jewelry in cardboard, paper or viscose packaging. These materials contain sulfur, which reacts with copper.
An alternative to the box would be soft bags or lacquered wooden boxes. Wood without varnish can also affect the condition of the metal.
Avoid choosing locations near radiators or air conditioners. Also, do not store silver on the windowsill. The best conditions are a dry, cool, dark place.
Activated carbon will stop the oxidation process by absorbing the emitted gases. If you are leaving the jewelry on for a long time, put a few tablets in the compartment where you keep the jewelry.
Do not leave jewelry unattended for a long time. Despite the fact that they are also susceptible to oxidation in the wear, the metal does not like the long absence of contact with the human body.
Do not forget to remove jewelry after prolonged contact with water, when visiting a bath, sauna, spa, while cleaning, while using cosmetics.

Reasons for silver oxidation

Adding copper. The main element that causes the darkening of the metal is copper. It is her that jewelers most often use as an admixture. This is done in order to make the precious metal harder and more durable. It is copper that reacts and starts the oxidation process in silver jewelry.
Interaction with the human body. Together with human sweat, a large number of various chemical elements are released, with which silver itself does not enter. But the various impurities that are added to it are quite. Most often, it is copper. Copper is a highly reactive metal. It reacts with a large number of elements and can darken silver items. One of these elements is sulfur. It is secreted, both during the normal functioning of the human body, and in some diseases. For example, with kidney or liver disease.
Nitrogen. This element is also excreted along with human sweat. It reacts with copper and can also darken the metal. In some cases, nitrogen, on the contrary, can lighten the product.
The use of cosmetics. Creams, balms, lotions, perfumes, shower gels, detergents. All this can affect the state of the jewelry. It is advisable to remove rings and pendants while using creams or other cosmetics. They often contain, for example, titanium dioxide, which reacts with argentum sulfide and gives a reaction in the form of darkening of silver. Also, the element that will react with is mercury. It is found in small amounts in many daily products.
Hydrogen sulfide treatment procedures. When visiting resorts where there are hydrogen sulfide baths or resorting to medical procedures in the form of hydrogen sulfide baths, do not forget to take off all jewelry. This applies not only to silver, but also to other metals. It is difficult to cleanse silver after interacting with sulfur.

How to determine the quality of silver

Today the world of jewelry and bijouterie is so rich, and the skill is growing every year, that it becomes more and more difficult to distinguish an original from a good fake. In order not to be deceived, consumers are increasingly interested in how to determine the quality of silver, how to determine the fineness, how to distinguish silver from metal or jewelry, and also check the quality.

You can determine how high-quality metal you purchased without the use of special tools and with them. Real, high-quality silver has characteristic features that will make it possible to say about its quality:

The presence of a sample. Any product that has passed a series of checks and certification must have a test or a stamp. However, scammers have learned to fake a sample. Therefore, even a sample is not always a guarantee of high quality.
Thermal conductivity. Real silver instantly takes on the temperature of the body or the substance with which it comes into contact. Therefore, even in a jewelry store, you can do this check. Squeeze a ring or other piece of jewelry in your palms. If it quickly became warm, then the metal is natural. At home, you can immerse the product in very hot water.
Purity. Even blackened silver will never get your hands dirty. If you took the jewelry, and there are dark marks on your hands, then we are talking about silver plating. And the base metal is brass or copper.
To make sure that it is genuine metal, you can run the needle over an inconspicuous place of the decoration. If you see a dark, reddish or yellowish tint, then the metal is fake.
Ringing. If you have perfect ear for music, you can try tossing a piece of silver and listen to how it sounds. They say that the sound of real silver is comparable to crystal, the sound of which is sonorous and lingering, unlike ordinary glass.
Magnet. Silver, like other precious metals, is a dimagnet. Only in the presence of a large amount of impurities will it react to the magnet.

Determination of a sample of silver using reagents.

A more reliable result will give the determination of the sample using reagents. They will allow you to check silver for authenticity at home.

Sulfuric ointment

This ointment can be purchased at any pharmacy. Apply the ointment to the product and leave it on for a few hours. The quality is determined depending on the type of reaction. If the jewelry turns black, then sulfur has reacted with the ointment. This means that the product is real. If a red tint has appeared or no changes have occurred, then you are dealing with a fake.

Vinegar

It is not difficult to check the metal for authenticity with vinegar. It is enough to use 9% vinegar. If, when interacting with it, the metal does not react, then you have a genuine jewel in your hands.

Ammonia

It will not be difficult to check silver with ammonia. After all, the metal does not react with ammonia, so nothing will happen to it. This means that the metal is genuine.

Iodine

Iodine also react with copper impurities in the alloy. Therefore, if you drop it on a piece of jewelry, it will darken. A sample is determined depending on the degree of darkening. The more the product darkens, the higher the metal sample.

chalk

The authenticity of the metal can be determined with chalk. If you rub a piece of chalk on a piece of jewelry, dark streaks will remain on it. This suggests that silver is natural.

Nitric acid

You can test silver with acid. It can be purchased at the pharmacy. This method is fairly accurate. The main thing to remember about precautions. When it comes to checking a ring or earrings, it is best to do the test on the back of the jewelry. The place where you will drip the reagent must first be scratched. Then, put a couple of drops of acid on the damaged area. A green tint speaks of silver-plated brass or that it is cupronickel. A quality alloy will darken.

Ready composition

There are also ready-made compositions for testing silver for authenticity. It does not require any preparation, just follow the directions in the instructions. In addition, such a composition is safe for human health. You can buy it in jewelry stores.

How to calculate the sample at home

Of course, the simplest solution is to contact a specialist. But if you do not have such an opportunity or have a desire to carry out this procedure yourself at home, then you will have to resort to the use of chemical reagents and to the knowledge of physics.

Potassium dichromate

A reagent with such a complex name has a different name Chrompik. Before using it, you need to prepare the product itself. Degrease, clean and dry the jewelry. It is necessary to apply several drops of the reagent to the surface sequentially, with an interval of 2-3 seconds, wiping them with filter paper. If a brown stain appears, then you are dealing with a breakdown from the 500th to the 750th. If a red spot appears, then the sample is above 750. The deeper the red color, the higher the sample.

Chlorine nitrogen

This method is not as accurate as the previous one, but in general it is no less effective. The surface of the tested product should also be cleaned, degreased and dried. After applying the reagent, the reaction should be immediate. Only in this case it is not the object that reacts, but the reagent itself. And you need to look at the color of the drop. If it produces a very dark shade, then most likely we are talking about a high purity. The lighter the drop, the lower the sample. If the shade is yellow or brown, then you are dealing with aluminum or copper.

How to tell silver from other metals

From white gold

To distinguish white gold from silver, you must either be a professional or turn to it. Unfortunately, this is not possible at home. In a jewelry salon, you can visually distinguish white gold from silver only by carefully looking at some of the details. For example, white gold will shine more in light. In addition, it is several times more expensive than silver items. They are also designated by different sample numbers.

From cupronickel

Cupronickel and silver products are very easy to confuse. This is very often used by scammers. However, cupronickel has nothing in common, except for the visual component, with silver. Cupronickel is an alloy of lead, copper and nickel. There is no sample on the cupronickel product. On it there is only an abbreviation of the alloy components - "MNTs". The difference between silver and fake will appear when interacting with water or a lapis pencil. Cupronickel, when immersed in water, will leave a greenish tint on it. Lapis pencil - will leave dark spots. Also, iodine will give out a fake. Cupronickel will not interact with iodine; a dark shade will appear on silver.

From aluminum

Silver from aluminum is more difficult to distinguish, however, such cases are not uncommon. As with other tests, one of the simplest is the diamagnetic test. Silver of a high standard is not attracted by a magnet, aluminum - easily. You can carry out such a check even at the stage of purchase right in a jewelry store. It is also worth remembering that silver conducts heat very easily and quickly, which cannot be said about aluminum. If both metals are immersed in hot water, silver heats up much faster and stronger than aluminum. A simple experiment at home can be done with acetic acid. If you put a silver piece in it, it will not react in any way. If you do the same with aluminum, it will oxidize and dissolve.

How to check a coin for silver

If you find a find in the form of a silver coin in your old chest, you can check its authenticity at home. A coin for silver can be tested in several ways, which are applicable to common jewelry:

Chalk. If you rub chalk over the surface of the coin, it will leave dark marks. In this case, the coin is real.
Bleach. Since you don't have to worry about the aesthetic aspect of the coin, pour bleach on it. If the metal is real, it will darken.
Sulfuric ointment. The principle of operation is the same as with jewelry. If the coin reacts with the ointment, it is genuine.
Lapis pencil. If a reaction occurs, then the coin is real.

From technical silver

Technical silver is a metal that is not used in jewelry making. It has a 999 fineness and, despite the high concentration of the precious metal, can cause allergies in humans. This alloy is used exclusively in the technical field. If they are trying to sell you a 999-carat piece of jewelry, do not get fooled. It's a fake.

From palladium

You can distinguish palladium from silver with chalk or a lapis pencil. These methods will reveal the authenticity of the precious metal.

From tin

Tin from silver will also help to distinguish with the help of a pencil or sulfuric ointment.

From steel

Steel is more difficult to distinguish from silver than from other metals. In this case, methods with chalk, a needle, and a lapis pencil will be effective.

From jewelry

The main difference between precious metal and jewelry is the presence of a sample. If it is not there, then you are dealing with jewelry.

Science in our modern age of technological progress does not stand still, because every day more and more new ways are being invented to turn it to the benefit of humanity in general and specific people in particular, including those who are not the most clean in terms of relations with the law and conscience - scammers selling silver, silver-plated and made "silver" jewelry. In order not to become their victims, you need to resort to the services of specialists, or at least know how to determine silver at home. This is what our article will be devoted to.

First you need to know the properties of the material itself, from which women and men jewelry are made. Silver is a noble metal with high thermal conductivity properties, bends well and does not magnetise. Knowing this, you can offer several ways to determine silver at home:

jewelry, rings and silver cutlery easily absorb the warmth of the hand, and if a part of the product is dipped in hot water, then very quickly everything will become as hot as this water;
if you bring a magnet to a product made of real silver, then it will continue to lie in its place, since magnetization is not characteristic of noble metals;
the third method refers to a kind of extreme measures, which it is better not to resort to without - unlike a brass counterfeit, a product made of real silver can be bent.

In addition, there are a number of other ways to identify silver at home, such as:

rub the silver in your hands - if the product leaves traces, it means that it contains zinc, which indicates the low quality of the metal;
scratch with a needle - if the silver slides, exposing the base of another metal, then you have a fake in front of you;
rub with chalk - after contact with real silver, the chalk begins to turn black (it also works with silver-plated objects);
anoint one sold in any pharmacy - real silver darkens when it comes into contact with sulfur (as in the previous case, it can also work when the item is simply silver-plated). The color is restored after boiling the object in a solution of soda with a piece of aluminum foil;
drip with iodine - when in contact with it, the silver turns black, and the higher the sample, the faster the reaction will occur. Another thing is that such blackness cannot be washed off later;
check the chemical reaction - drop it and then drop it with a solution of sodium chloride, as a result of which a curdled precipitate of silver chloride should appear in the drop (viewed under a magnifying glass). If the precipitate is crystalline, then we have lead chloride, and the object is a fake.

Some people are able to identify silver by its smell, but now this method has to be relied on less and less, because the scent of this metal can be imparted to the product by a fragrance.

We considered several options for how to determine silver at home, however, each of these methods allows a certain error, especially if they are applied by a layman. Therefore, to determine the sample and quality of silver, we advise you to contact a specialized jewelry store or pawnshop, where for a small fee they will give you an accurate answer to the question of whether the item is silver, silver-plated or a fake.

It is easy to distinguish a real silver product from a fake and the article will help us understand all the nuances. Let's get acquainted with the most effective ways to determine the authenticity of silver.

Brand and test

Each product with a high content of precious metal has 2 hallmarks - the manufacturer's name and the assay mark. Their presence indicates that the product is legally sold in the country.

The assay mark is placed on:

The state mark consists of several elements:

Right profile of a lady in a kokoshnik;
The letter code of the state assay supervision inspectorate in the lower left corner;
Try;
Standard frame.

Pay attention to the shape of the frame, it is an oval with cut sides. Let's say the option when the image is outlined in a circle, and the sample is printed side by side in a rectangular frame or oval with cropped edges.

Foreign-made jewelry may have other marking methods adopted by the laws of the country of origin. For example, the traditional English brand - a walking lion, French products were stamped with the head of Minerva, a boar, and a crab.

In order for a soft noble metal to acquire strength, impurities of other metals, usually copper, tin, nickel, are added to the alloy. Therefore, a sample is necessarily put on the finished product - a number reflecting the percentage of the content of the noble metal. The most common samples of silver are 750, 800, 875, 916, 925, 960 and 999.

To create jewelry, 960 and 925 tests are most often used:

925 sterling silver is called sterling, it does not lose its original appearance for a long time, does not darken even with prolonged wear.
The 800th purity is considered a coin alloy, used in the production of coins, cutlery, quickly loses its presentation.

Nameplate is an abbreviation that allows you to find out the manufacturer, place, year of manufacture. May contain letters and numbers. Antique items are decorated with the master's initials.

If the sample was not found, this does not mean that you are faced with a fake. Perhaps you have 800 silver in front of you. Products from it are allowed to be released without an imprint. Some imitators of silver are stamped MSC, which means "magnesium-nickel-zinc". A fake sample is not evenly applied and is easy to recognize with a sample.

Thermal conductivity

Among all metals, silver has the highest thermal conductivity, that is, it quickly changes temperature under the influence of the environment:

Lean the cool ring against your skin, it will instantly take its temperature.
Dip the chain or necklace in a container of hot water, and then remove it immediately. The jewelry will not have time to change the temperature.
An ice cube is suitable for testing. If the item is large enough, place ice from the freezer on top.

Place the cool ring on your skin, it will instantly take its temperature

Physical properties

Consider the quality of the coverage.
Sterling silver should be white, with a bright polished luster.
Blackened stylized antique and shines less brightly.
Over time, antique jewelry becomes covered with a black and gray coating. If the plaque is red or brown, there is another alloy in front of you, for example, brass or cupronickel.
Silver can be matte, but it shouldn't have any tint. A reddish tint is a sign of a large amount of copper in the alloy.
Throw the ring, earring or coin on the table.
When falling, a ringing sound should be heard, melodic, clear sound.
Silver spoons you can knock on each other.
Copper fakes knock dull, cheap alloys make a metallic sound like small coins.
Rub the object with your palm.
Zinc-doped fakes leave dark traces.
Silver plated can be rubbed gently to see the color of the matte.
Place the jewelry in a glass of water for a few days. Genuine silver will remain pristine, but fake silver will rust.
Smell. This method requires you to have a sample.
Those who had silver dishes, remember their special, specific smell.
If there is coating, scrape it off. Cupronickel, like other copper alloys, smells like copper.
Taste it.
In brass, cupronickel, nickel silver without spraying will have a metallic taste.
Noble metals are tasteless.
Weigh it. There are reference manuals for numismatists that contain data on old and modern coins. Weigh your sample, compare the resulting weight to the indicated weight.

Antique jewelry over time becomes covered with a black and gray bloom

Checking with improvised means

If, after inspecting the product, you still have doubts, you can conduct several tests using available tools:

Be careful, traces of iodine are very difficult to wash off the surface of the jewelry. Most likely, the stain will remain forever.

Sulfuric ointment:

Apply the ointment.
After 30 seconds, wipe off with a cloth or tissue. The application site should darken.

Sulfur ointment is one of the most proven and safest test methods. It works against skin inflammation so it can be applied without gloves. Sold at any pharmacy.

Lapis pencil:

Wet the tip of your pencil.
Put on a small drop.
If the drop has turned black, you have a fake in front of you. Lapis consists of silver nitrate and does not react with either silver or gold.

Lapis was once widespread, but now it is not sold in all pharmacies. This is an outdated remedy for cauterization of warts and papillomas, if it gets on open skin, a black spot will remain for a long time.

Take office chalk, rub the decoration with it.
Set aside.
Check the result in a few minutes. If the chalk turns gray, this is a real noble metal.

Bleach:

It is believed that if you pour a small drop of bleach and wait a few minutes, the product will react with acid and darken. But a lot depends on the composition of the bleach. Silver is a low-reactive metal, so household chemicals may have no effect. The imitation can be irretrievably ruined, especially with chlorine.

Vinegar:

Silver is a low-reactive metal, so household chemicals may have no effect

According to the electrochemical series of metal activity, silver is an inactive metal, therefore it does not react with 9% vinegar. Most alloys will not react with such a weak acid without heating.

Copper also belongs to low-activity metals, so vinegar will not damage products with a high copper content. Cupronickel cutlery is even recommended to be soaked in acid if plaque has formed.

Needle:

Scratch deeply with the needle.
Look carefully to see if the color of the core differs from the coating.
A yellow or red tint indicates spray applied.

Magnet:

Take a strong magnet and hold it over the surface of the object.
Silver has almost no magnetic properties, but a fake made of steel or nickel will immediately be attracted.
It should be noted that metals with a high copper content are also non-magnetic.

Nitric acid:

This option is only suitable for those familiar with chemistry.

Under the action of nitric acid, a violent reaction occurs with the release of gas, silver dissolves, an aqueous solution of silver nitrate and nitrogen oxide are formed.
At home, such an experiment should not be carried out.

The most reliable ways to determine whether your jewelry is of jewelry value can be called checks with iodine, sulfuric ointment, lapis pencil, needle, chalk.
Iodine is unsafe for the product, stains remain for a long time, they are almost impossible to wash.
Lapis pencil is very comfortable, the reaction comes quickly, but it will have to be specially ordered, since it is not sold in all pharmacies.
With the help of a needle, you can find out if a spray has been applied, but the scratch can no longer be removed.
The chalk does not spoil the product.
The darkening remaining after the sulfuric ointment can be wiped with ammonia or put in a soda solution. Another option is to boil with a piece of regular aluminum foil.
Not everyone can determine the taste, sound or weight of silver. It also requires a large specimen, such as a ring or a coin.
Checking with a magnet will not give the desired result if the main alloy material is copper. So, cupronickel, brass will not be attracted to the magnet.
Bleach and vinegar turned out to be useless, nitric acid is not suitable for home use.

The most reliable chemical test is a professional probe. The simplest kit for testing precious metals costs less than 1000 rubles. It can be purchased at jewelry workshops, some pharmacies, online stores.

Reacting with silver, the substance turns blood red, black or green on a fake. The reagents are convenient, they penetrate the spraying of any thickness. Be careful, the probe is very caustic and may irritate the skin.

Silver products are very popular among people, and this applies not only to jewelry, but also table silver. In addition, this metal is also used in industrial production and is called.

To evaluate silver, a measure such as a sample is used. It shows the quantitative content of metal in 1 kilogram of the alloy. For the production of jewelry and cutlery, silver with a fineness of 875, 916 and 925 is used. But how to define technical silver? It's simple - it has the highest standard of 999, besides, the technical metal is very ductile, so it lends itself to deformation.

Due to the fact that a large number of precious jewelry offered on the jewelry market is fake, everyone should know how to check silver for authenticity. Often, fraudsters intending to cash in on the gullibility of citizens, under the guise (and at an appropriate price!), Offer customers jewelry made of cheap metal, but covered with the thinnest layer of precious metal. However, knowing the properties of this metal, with the help of some tests, one can easily distinguish a jewel from a fake. Moreover, many such methods are easily implemented at home using improvised means and substances (iodine, vinegar, etc.).

Silver or not: how to recognize?

Visual and tactile silver testing can be done at a jewelry store before purchasing a piece, but you need to know what real silver should look like. It is easy to find out the authenticity of jewelry made of this metal - just squeeze it in your hand. It is known to conduct heat, so it will take up to a minute to heat it up.

To get rid of aluminum, which is used to make fakes, it is enough to hold the jewelry in your hand. A precious piece will be weighty, while an aluminum piece will amaze with its lightness. Nevertheless, this method is more suitable for evaluating massive products.

The main sign that the jewelry is not precious, but only zinc, is the presence of a slightly dark coating on the skin of the hands after contact with such a product.

When buying any product made of precious metal, be sure to pay attention to the mark of the sample. It itself should have clear boundaries, and the numbers should be easily visualized. The stamp with the test on a genuine product is located symmetrically in relation to its edges.

Answering the question of how to determine the authenticity of silver, one should mention the household methods:

Magnet Test: Silver at home is easily tested with a rare earth neodymium magnet. The thing is that silver is not attracted to the magnet, which can be used for. To perform the test, you must bring a piece of magnet to the product. If it gets under the influence and attracts, then you can be sure - this is a fake. With the help of a magnet, the authenticity of not only products, but also silver ingots is tested. Take 1 ingot, tilt it at an angle of 45 degrees and put a piece of magnet on it so that it slides down. If the magnet is delayed on the ingot, there is a 100% guarantee that the sample of the ingot is lower than the stated one.
Ice Test: This method is suitable for coins and bars. For the test, you only need 1 ice cube. It should be placed on the surface of the ingot and monitored to see how the ice melts. Since silver has excellent thermal conductivity, the process of ice melting will take a couple of seconds.
Iodine Test: This home test for silver should be done with caution, as iodine leaves dark spots on real metal. To test the authenticity, but not to spoil the product, iodine should be applied to the inside of the jewelry, and this must be done pointwise.
Sulfur ointment test: This product is available from a pharmacy. A small area of the product must be rubbed with sandpaper and greased with sulfuric ointment. The result is evaluated in 15 minutes. If a stain remains at the site of acid application, then you can be sure - the jewel is real. But metals such as nickel and stainless steel will not interact with acid, so there will be no stain on products made of such metals.
Chalk test: how to determine silver at home? Easy enough - you should take a piece of chalk and rub the product with it. If dark stripes remain on the chalk, then such a sign will indicate the authenticity of the jewelry.
Boiling water test: if there are doubts about the quality of the jewelry, you should prepare a glass of boiling water and put the product into it for just a second. Silver jewelry will become hot in a second, which cannot be said about other metals.
Needle test: just take a thin needle and lightly scratch the jewelry with it. There will be no trace of a needle on a real jewel.
Lapis pencil test: You can buy such a pencil at the pharmacy. This device is used for testing precious metals at home. It is enough to wet the product and make a stroke on it with such a pencil. If the trail changes color, it will be a sign of a fake.

Sulfuric ointment

Chemical method

How to check silver at home? You can buy a chemical test kit from a jewelry store. When working with reagents (acids), hands should be protected with gloves. To test the product, scratch it and then apply acid. To evaluate the test result, you should read the instructions for the kit. For example, on pure silver, a scratch under the influence of acid will acquire a bright red color, but the yellow, blue and brown tint of the scratch will indicate a fake.

In order not to become a victim of scammers and not to spend a colossal amount of money on a trinket, positioned as a precious piece of jewelry, all such purchases should be made in specialized stores. It is advisable if these are outlets selling branded products.