How to Verify Purity in Silver Keychains?

Being stylish, tough, and sentimental, silver keychains can have a lot to offer. However, ensuring you have real silver and not just a fake metal that's coated in silver is the first step. The purity of silver is based on its past as well as how it reacts to simple testing. In this article, we will show you how to easily verify the purity of your silver keychain.

Understand the Basics of Silver Purity

Silver is often alloyed with other metals to enhance its strength. Pure silver is also known as "fine silver", which contains 99.9% silver. Most artefacts, such as keychains, however, are made of sterling silver, which is made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metal, usually copper. This is why so many silver articles will have a stamp on them that says, for example, "925". 

These numbers matter! If your keychain has one, there is a good chance that it is a real piece of sterling silver. But not every piece of genuine silver has a stamped marking, and not every piece of fake silver carries a fake stamp. So it is good to test it on your own!

Look for the Hallmark or Stamp.

The easiest way to begin is by checking for a small marking or stamp on the keychain. This is usually in a hidden spot, such as on the ring or the base of the design.

The common stamps to look for are:

• 925

• Sterling

• .925 These numbers show the percentage of silver used. If your keychain has these, it may be pure, but this alone is not enough. Some sellers may copy these stamps even on fake items.

Try the Magnet Test

Silver is non-magnetic. So if you bring a magnet near your keychain and it sticks or pulls away, then it likely is other metals. 

To do this test, you will take a small magnet from your fridge, for example, and bring it close to your key chain. If your keychain moves towards the magnet or gets pulled, you don't have 100% silver. Also, this is a simple and quick test, so long as there is always the possibility that some fake metals are also non-magnetic.

Use the Cloth Rub Test

Silver can tarnish over time and leaves black residue on a white soft cloth when rubbed against it. This happens when silver reacts with air.

Take a white cloth and rub any area of the keychain gently. If a black mark appears, then your keychain has silver as part of it. 

If your keychain is made of only fake metals or silver-plated stuff, it will usually leave no mark.

Perform the Ice Cube Test

Silver is an excellent heat conductor. If you place an ice cube on a silver keychain, it will melt faster than on a conventional metal surface.

Give it a try at home and put an ice cube on your silver keychain or a steel spoon and see which one melts faster. If the ice cube melts faster, it is a good indication that your keychain is real silver.

Smell the keychain

This may seem odd, but it can be useful. Real silver does not smell. If your keychain is giving off a metal or coin smell or has an unpleasant odour, chances are it is not solid silver. Additionally, fake silver sometimes has nickel or iron mixed in with it to create the metal smell. 

So, take the time to smell the keychain. If you're getting a strong metal smell, then be extra careful. That could be a cheaper metal, or it is simply silver plated.

Use a Silver Testing Kit

If you want a more reliable result, you can order a silver testing kit online or get one at a jewellery store. Generally these kits come with some solution which will react to the metal.

To use it, you just put a drop of the solution on the keychain, and if it then changes colour (like red or brown), that indicates the presence of silver. Just be sure to take care when using the solution and just follow the directions given with the kit.

Take It to a Jeweller

If you are still not sure, the best way to confirm silver purity is to go to a professional jeweller. They have tools to check the metal deeply without damaging the design.

A jeweller can use machines like XRF testers or acid tests that give accurate results. This is especially useful if your keychain is valuable or part of a sentimental gift.

Be Cautious with Price and Weight

Real silver keychains will not be extremely light in weight. Silver has a solid feel, so if your item feels too light or hollow, it may not be pure.

Also, if the price of the keychain was too low for a silver item, then it might not be genuine. Silver has a market value, and sellers usually price it according to weight and design.

Final Thoughts

Testing the purity of your silver keychain at home can be done by using the magnet test, hallmark test, and rubbing test. These tests are straightforward and safe and can provide real insight into whether your item is real. 

But if you want to be sure, the best way is to have a jeweler evaluate it. Understanding the purity of your silver keychain will help you not only know its value but also prevent you from falling prey to fake products. 

Always purchase your silver keychains from reputable sellers, and examine the marks, weight, and price before committing to the purchase. A little due diligence will go a long way in saving your money and keeping your collection genuine.