GuideHow to tell if silver jewellery is real
The quickest checks: look for a 925 stamp, see whether a magnet pulls it, watch whether it darkens evenly rather than flaking, and feel whether it is dense for its size.
Five checks you can do yourself
- 01Find the hallmarkSterling silver usually carries a small 925, ster, or sterling mark inside a band or near a clasp. It is tiny and sometimes needs a magnifier.
- 02Try a magnetSilver is not magnetic. If a piece is pulled firmly towards a magnet, whatever is inside it is not silver.
- 03Watch how it agesReal silver darkens evenly as it reacts with air, and polishing brings it back. Plated pieces flake where they rub, showing a different colour underneath.
- 04Feel the weightSilver is denser than brass or aluminium. A piece that feels surprisingly light for its size is worth asking about.
- 05Look at a scratchIf a scratched surface is the same colour underneath as it is on top, the material is consistent all the way through.
What is not proof either way
A missing hallmark does not automatically mean a fake. Older handmade pieces were often left unmarked, and a stamp can wear away after repeated polishing. Equally, a stamp can be faked, so never rely on a single check.
Acid testing kits exist but they leave a mark on the surface. That is something for a seller or an assayer to do, not something to try at home on a piece you have already bought.
The simplest check of all: ask
Anyone who actually makes their own pieces can tell you the grade and the weight in grams without pausing to think. If that question gets deflected or the answer keeps moving, treat it as a signal.
One thing worth knowing when buying in Bali: pieces sold as silver in tourist areas are sometimes plated base metal. The checks above take under a minute and cost nothing.