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A new paradigm in testing silver

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Author	Topic: A new paradigm in testing silver
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 06-24-2001 05:26 PM June and I saw this eBay listing describing how they tested for silver..... It was too outrageous & funny to post anywhere but here: quote: FREDERIKSVAERG DENMARK, DANISH SILVER SERVER Item # 1440080767 FREDERIKSVAERG (Frederiksværk) DENMARK Silver Flat Serving Piece It is approximately 6 3/8" long. I do not know the grade of the silver used in this piece. It is not marked sterling or 925. I do know that it is NOT silverplated. It contains a high enough percent of fine silver that when I dipped the tip in warm water the warmth traveled up the handle. This is a wonderful property of sterling flatware that makes eating with it such a pleasure. .............. What do you think of this method of testing silver? IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 06-29-2001 10:27 PM Having some extra time, I dipped a silver and a silverplated fork in some warm water. Both were approximately the same size. There was only a slight difference in temperature between the two forks after three or four minutes. And here is another method for testing silver, if you don't care to use warm water... From eBay #1159247932 (a bowl): "It is not marked but you can tell that it is sterling because of size* and weight.* " Apparently, if a metal bowl is 2" high by 5" across, it is in fact sterling. IP: Logged
wev Moderator Posts: 4121 Registered: Apr 99	posted 06-30-2001 12:27 AM I knew a dealer, now retired, who swore he could smell the difference. i never dared test him -- he was known to throw things at people! [This message has been edited by wev (edited 06-30-2001).] IP: Logged
June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1326 Registered: Apr 93	posted 06-30-2001 01:35 PM We have heard a fair number of folks claim they can smell the difference between sterling and silverplate. Maybe we should sponsor a "Smell Off!" IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 07-03-2001 06:44 PM This isn't silver related, but it is equally dumb. On "Collectible Treasures", the HGTV program, they had a "expert" telling the host how to distinguish between old majolica and new majolica. Among other things, she said to note the weight of the piece. Older pieces tend to be heavier, because of the lead in the glaze! I assure you, lead in a pot glaze adds nothing to the weight. The thickness of the body and the type of clay determine the weight. Anyway, so much for expert opinions! IP: Logged
Fitzhugh Posts: 136 Registered: Jan 2002	posted 02-02-2002 08:32 AM Sure, you can smell the difference! The odor of the base metal in plated wares has a distinctly different odor compared to solid silver. There's also a taste difference. Yes, when in doubt, I've been known to touch a piece with the tip of my tongue. Strange, perhaps, but generally accurate. IP: Logged
clark collins Posts: 7 Registered: Mar 2002	posted 04-24-2002 06:19 AM This is neat, as an avid metal deceting nut I have always said that I could smell the real gold ...also one should try smelling a real silver quarter from a clad one .....you gotta love this ..I'm in total agreement with the SNIFFERS...lol IP: Logged
ringboxlady Posts: 95 Registered: Mar 2002	posted 07-09-2002 08:04 AM I have to agree with the "Sniffers" as well, This is a trick my Meme taught me. There is a distinct differnce when comparing sterling to silver plate. I also helps to be a little "smell" sensitive which she was and I still am. It's another vote for the sniffers. IP: Logged
Louise Posts: 22 Registered: May 2001	posted 09-07-2002 05:38 PM Hi Everyone, The sniffers defiantley have the advantage. You can really tell the difference in the smell when polishing a piece. I use Hagerty's spray polish, when I polish a piece of silver plate the smell is 3-4 times stronger than sterling. I guess all of the sniffers have fine tuned our noses. IP: Logged
John McGlynn unregistered	posted 10-15-2002 03:07 PM Re: The heat test - it works! Don't pooh-pooh the heat method of telling whether something is sterling or not! Done correctly, this works and is non-destructive to the silver. The original posting did not tell how to do this correctly. BOIL some water. Let it cool a moment. SIMULTANEOUSLY partially submerge (1) the object of unknown silver content (2) a similar object (if the unknown is a teaspoon, use a teaspoon, a fork, use a fork, etc.)known to be sterling. Set a timer for 45 seconds. At 45 seconds, feel the unsubmerged ends. You can compare the feeling of heat you get between the sterling and your unknown. Sterling heats up fast - it's a good conductor - plate and stainless, much less fast! Try it! It works! pljohn@aol.com IP: Logged
Anuh Posts: 190 Registered: Jan 2003	posted 01-29-2003 08:32 PM quote: Originally posted by wev: *I knew a dealer, now retired, who swore he could smell* the difference. i never dared test him -- he was known to throw things at people!** I swear Sterling FEELS different. But I can also smell the tarnish on silver and often find sterling goodies in the bottom of a pan of stainless. Of course, I also find any silverplated pieces there. The smell of tarnish is quite distinctive. ------------------ Anuh IP: Logged
Marc Posts: 414 Registered: Jun 2002	posted 02-09-2003 04:29 PM Hi there everybody, I cannot wait till a silver expert on the "Road Show", sniffs a piece of silver or tastes it on camera. Will it then become the "in" thing to do? As well known, those of us who have been in the business forever, find that a hard burr on the end of a dremmel tool will go right through silver much faster then it will through silver plate. The real test is 9 or 10 drops of a nitric acid and Potassium Iodide solution placed around the hole and allowed to remain for 1 minute. If the solution turns brite red, the piece is usually silver. The reality of it is that this is how some folks used to (and still do) test silver, so when you find that Asa Blanchard beaker with a dime sized silver patch inside and out, you will know what happened. Thanks. Marc Cutcher IP: Logged

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