Some may be surprised by the fact that jewelry is rarely made from pure material. This is due to the properties of the precious metals themselves, and the fact that pure gold or silver can rarely be mined. Clean products often have a different color and have different characteristics.
What silver samples come from and where did they come from?
Silver, like other precious metals, can be diluted with alloying materials almost to infinity. Undoubtedly, this worsens its value. Visually distinguishing quality silver from “diluted” is not so simple.
In order to somehow distinguish a fake from a real product, a sample system was introduced. It has been operating since 1927 and is relevant today in Russia and the CIS countries. According to the metric, the quality of a precious product is determined by the capacity of pure material per 1000 grams. That is, if the sample of the product is 925, then this means that in a kilogram of such an alloy 925 grams of silver and 75 alloy metals.
Looking ahead, we will inform you that the highest fineness of silver is 960. But why not 1000? Silver itself is a very soft material, and therefore it has to be “strengthened” with nickel, copper, zinc or aluminum. The most commonly used copper. In alliance with such metals, it gains strength. It is worth noting that in Russia 80% alloys are officially considered non-precious.
Technical silver
Silver without a sample, that is, a percentage of capacity below 80, is called technical metal. For the manufacture of jewelry such material is not used. But talking about its poor quality is not entirely correct. The fact is that it has increased strength. Due to its physical properties, metal is an ideal material for the manufacture of parts for radio engineering. Silver is used in the manufacture of relays.
It received these privileges due to light reflection and high electrical conductivity.
Theoretically, you can also make jewelry from such silver if you are not interested in the test. But then it should be noted that metal is not considered precious.
Types of silver samples
Details of silver samples (what are silver samples) let's talk further.
Metal considered to be precious is marked as follows:
- 800 - for cutlery;
- 830 - is used for the manufacture of dishes and inexpensive jewelry;
- 875 - household;
- 925 - jewelry, a common form;
- 960 - maximum sample;
- 999 - sterling silver.
Details about silver samples
What are the samples of silver, we found out. Now consider their purpose.
- Silver with the 800th “mark” means that it contains at least 80% pure metal. It is highly durable and has high-quality casting properties. But there is a minus - it is quickly oxidized in the open air. That is why such silver is not used for the manufacture of jewelry. Another reason - it has a yellowness characteristic of copper, so it easily differs from jewelry varieties.
- Obviously, the addition of three percent silver to the alloy does not change the physical properties of the finished product too much. Therefore, the main purpose of this test is the manufacture of forks, spoons and knives.
- If you list silver samples - what types are there - then the 875th is used for jewelry . Ornaments of such a plan should be called the "economy class". The fact is that the cost of products is lower, and because of the increased strength, compared with pure silver, it is difficult to make the work filigree.
- The 925th test of silver is the most common in jewelry. Firstly, the low capacity of other metals gives the characteristic pure silver shine. A rather soft consistency makes it possible to make amazingly beautiful jewelry. With all this, this silver retains its shape perfectly.
- The 960th test is typical for jewelry. Visually and in physical properties, it is similar to the 925th. However, it is more susceptible to mechanical damage. The only advantage is that it practically does not oxidize and, as a result, does not blacken.
Silver samples: what are and what are they used for? The question is quite specific. Everyone must independently decide what properties a product that he is ready to buy should have.
Pure silver
Now you know the types of silver. What are the samples of silver and what sample is put on the finished product - found out. Next, let's talk about pure metal.
Silver marked with the 999th breakdown is soft. This is pure metal, so it is not used for the manufacture of jewelry. It is very easy to bend or break. If you make a jewelry made of pure silver, in addition to quickly losing its shape, its color will instantly change: the metal will quickly oxidize and become dull.
Pure silver is used for smelting ingots or
collection coins. By themselves, these items are not used in everyday life, which minimizes surface damage.
How to determine the quality of silver at home?
Modern technology allows you to fake jewelry so that it is almost impossible to distinguish them from real ones. But still, no one canceled the return of the product within 14 days, therefore, having come home and diminished the enthusiasm for the new trinket, we advise you to conduct simple tests that will help determine the composition approximately.
Now you know what silver samples are. But how to determine the authenticity of the product?
- The first and one of the most effective tests is a magnet test. Real silver will not be attracted. However, this is far from the only metal that ignores the “attractiveness” of the magnet. So an extra test should be done.
- You can play on thermal conductivity. Silver quickly takes over the ambient temperature. Simply put, it instantly heats up in the hand and cools quickly in cold water.
- Alternatively, iodine can be used as an indicator. A drop of iodine will leave a dark spot. But it should be taken into account that it will not be so simple to clean this stain.
We do not recommend bending and incising the product. If this is a fake, then it will not be possible to return, and to leave a damaged product for yourself is to throw money away.
Now we all know about this metal: what kind of silver samples are, where are they used. So, when buying a product we can make the right choice.