How do you know its silver? by color? By weight? by condition? Sound? Smell?

[chukers]

When you find something that is silver/sterling but its not marked... how do you know with out having a tester?

For me I have 5 ways of telling....

#1 Its condition when it comes out of the ground
#2 How it reads on my detector usually a VDI of 80+ or more depending on the size
#3 the way it sounds when it drops
#4 its color and a lack of corrosion
#5 its weight... its usually heavier for its size same as gold but not as heavy.

This is what I found recently it actually was a few feet from my honker ring...

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/todays-finds/292284-its-huge-im-rich.html

it rang up as an 82+ on the VDI so I though it was a dime or quarter... I have hunted this area quite extensivly and have found dozens of clad quarters and dimes... so I assumed that what it was going to be. well out come this silver trinket and by the weight and condition I knew it was silver! its not marked but I just know it is. Its the weight of 2 silver dimes...


Chukers

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[chukers]

 

[Silver Searcher]

It looks like a Cow Tag.

SS

 

[hamiddetecting]

Congratulation!

 

[chukers]

It looks like a Cow Tag.

SS

Made of silver?

 

[Silver Searcher]

Made of silver?

None of your tests prove it's silver, but on second thoughts I don't think it's a cow tag either.

SS

 

[oldsalty19]

 

[N.J.THer]

By taste...

 

[boris]

A jeweler would file side and use some acid, red is good and greenish blue is unknown. see youtube as they are selling a lot of "knock offs" 925 is what I look for on white metal, some coins are even counterfeit as times are strange.

 

[N.J.THer]

Does it stick to a magnet? If so, not silver.

 

[chukers]

A jeweler would file side and use some acid, red is good and greenish blue is unknown. see youtube as they are selling a lot of "knock offs" 925 is what I look for on white metal, some coins are even counterfeit as times are strange.

it just so happens I do have a tester... but I already knew it was... but just to prove it... yeah I know it could be plated... but plating comes off and there is none missing on this thing.

Chukers

 

[chukers]

Does it stick to a magnet? If so, not silver.

yeah that is another way to test it... it didn't used to be that way... it does not stick.... I have had stuff that says .925 that stick... most of it says Italy...