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How to test for sterling
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Author:  ROM [ Thu Jun 20, 2013 6:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Yes. If they're rhodium-plated they're probably solid Sterling (my opinion). Rhodium's usually used on Sterling to prevent tarnishing. It doesn't make sense to me to plate with Sterling first, followed by Rhodium.

Author:  Jason [ Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Thanks Rick. I'm reasonably sure they're solid sterling, but i got them so cheap and they're so nice I had my doubts at first. Now I just want to make sure all my bases are covered before I start to sell them.

Author:  George Sharen [ Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

good idea jason otherwise the test will give you a neg

:)

Author:  Jason [ Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Ok, got the acid test kit. Sanded a portion of one of the chains and applied acid.

Plated brass. :(

Author:  Barbra Voltaire, FGG [ Sun Jul 07, 2013 11:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Aren't you glad you got that testing kit. It will come in handy for many things. :D

Author:  Jason [ Mon Jul 08, 2013 12:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Yes. But, i'm not exactly happy how the chains turned out. LOL

Author:  TerryB3399 [ Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

yes

Terry B

Author:  alisato [ Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

If the sterling silver ornament you are planning to purchase is made from real sterling, it will surely have a mark indicating the purity of the material. Check the item carefully and if it's a high quality piece, it will surely have the number 925 imprinted on it. Jewelries which do not hold the telephone number can have S, SS or "sterling" imprinted upon them, all of which appears as being the testimony of the reality that this product you might be buying is made utilizing silver.

You can also work with a magnet to learn if the parts you would like to acquire are authentic sterling decorations. The magnet you employ for this specific purpose ought to be a robust a single. Take the magnet and manage it on the merchandise. Objects made out of sterling silver is not going to bring in the magnet to it.

Author:  Barbra Voltaire, FGG [ Mon Jan 05, 2015 2:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Be aware quality stamps (925, STERLING, 14k, 750 etc.) can be purchased online and an unscrupulous "nogoodnik" can stamp anything.

Author:  Alan F. [ Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Now you have established that the chains sold to you as sterling silver are, in fact, plated brass, I suggest taking them to your local Trading Standards Department together with the receipt and getting them to haul the guy into Court. Won't get you your money back, but you'll get a lot of satisfaction from hearing the squeals!

Author:  Alan F. [ Sat Jul 25, 2015 7:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Another trick worth learning is using the solution to give a reasonable indication of quality. Make up your solution, say 15% nitric acid in water, then add, say 10 grams per 100 ml of Potassium Dichromate. Obtain, from a reputable source, so you know its good, pieces of fine silver (1000/1000), Britannia silver (957/1000), sterling silver (925/1000), coin silver (900/1000) and 800/1000 silver. Apply a drop of the solution to each piece and note the differences in colour. A little practice and you will be able to determine purity fairly accurately.

Author:  Bill Hanneman [ Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Alan F. wrote:
Another trick worth learning … .

Why don't you just measure the relative density?

Author:  Alan F. [ Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

A drip of the acid dichromate solution is quicker and more certain, only silver gives the orange colouration.

Author:  Alan F. [ Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

As a complete side issue, it is interesting to note that Archimedes discovered and developed the whole science of specific gravity to solve a similar problem. The king of Syracuse (at the time a Greek colony) had commissioned a new crown from a group of goldsmiths and given them a quantity of gold for the job, when complete the goldsmiths gave the king his crown and the unused gold, showing that the weight tallied with the weight of gold originally given to them.
Archimedes, as top scientist of Syracuse, was given the job of checking whether the crown was the quality of gold that had been provided, or whether it had been debased. To determine this he came up with the idea of specific gravity (or, as it used to be called in my younger days "Archimedes Principle").
This shines a light on Greek mental attitudes, since the Egyptians has been using fire assay for at least a thousand years before his time. Clearly the Greeks did not like getting their hands dirty. Incidentally, the goldsmiths had had their hands in the till and met a most unpleasant end.

Author:  Barbara O. Ellis [ Sun Jul 26, 2015 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to test for sterling

Any truth to the Disney version that Archimedes was in his bathtub when he discovered the principle and that he shouted "Eureka!" ? 8)

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