Simple tests you can do yourself to check whether silver is real.
None of these home tests are as certain as a jeweler’s XRF machine or a professional acid test, but together they give you a fast, reasonably reliable read on whether a piece is likely real silver before you go further.
Look for a small stamp like 925, 900, 800, or 999. It’s not proof by itself — stamps can be faked — but a piece claiming to be silver with no stamp at all is worth extra scrutiny. See the Silver Fineness Guide to check what a given stamp means.
Silver is not magnetic. Hold a strong magnet near the piece — noticeable attraction means it’s not solid silver, or is silver-plated over a magnetic base metal. No attraction doesn’t confirm silver on its own, since many non-silver metals also aren’t magnetic, but a strong pull rules it out.
Silver conducts heat better than almost any other metal, which makes this test fairly distinctive: place an ice cube on the piece and on a piece of ordinary stainless steel or another metal for comparison. Ice on real silver melts noticeably faster, since the silver pulls heat from the surrounding air and your hand much more efficiently.
Gently tap a silver coin or solid piece and listen. Real silver produces a bright, clear, sustained ring — sometimes described as a bell-like tone. Base metals and plated fakes tend to produce a duller, shorter thud instead.
Real silver naturally tarnishes over time, developing a dark or black film where it reacts with sulfur in the air — a light gray-black tarnish that cleans off is actually a decent sign of genuine silver. Metals that never tarnish at all, or that show flaking, greenish, or uneven discoloration, are more likely plated or fake.
Acid testing and XRF analysis are more definitive but involve hazardous chemicals or specialized equipment — best left to a jeweler, pawn shop, or refiner. If a piece passes the tests above and you’re considering selling it, a professional test also confirms the exact fineness, which you can run through the Silver Calculator for an accurate value.
Yes, over time — pure silver and sterling silver both react slowly with sulfur compounds in the air. A total absence of any tarnish after years of exposure can actually be a sign a piece isn't real silver.
Only if the base metal underneath is also non-magnetic, like brass or copper. If the base is steel or another magnetic metal, the magnet test will catch it even through a thin silver plating.