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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 6:02 pm 
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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.

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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:10 pm 
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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.

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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:53 pm 
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good idea jason otherwise the test will give you a neg

:)

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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:46 pm 
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Ok, got the acid test kit. Sanded a portion of one of the chains and applied acid.

Plated brass. :(

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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 11:08 pm 
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Aren't you glad you got that testing kit. It will come in handy for many things. :D


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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 12:02 am 
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Yes. But, i'm not exactly happy how the chains turned out. LOL

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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:01 pm 
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yes

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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 11:21 pm 
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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.


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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 2:02 pm 
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Be aware quality stamps (925, STERLING, 14k, 750 etc.) can be purchased online and an unscrupulous "nogoodnik" can stamp anything.


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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:18 pm 
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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!


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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 7:03 pm 
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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.


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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:45 am 
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Alan F. wrote:
Another trick worth learning … .

Why don't you just measure the relative density?


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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:51 am 
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A drip of the acid dichromate solution is quicker and more certain, only silver gives the orange colouration.


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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:25 pm 
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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.


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 Post subject: Re: How to test for sterling
PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 3:18 pm 
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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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