By Rocco Clayfield, Founder & Director, GoldPaid Ltd · Published 24 August 2026
Start with the hallmark — the fastest honest test
Most UK silver over 7.78g must carry a UK Assay Office hallmark. A legible stamp tells you almost everything you need to know:
- 925 or the lion passant: sterling silver (92.5% pure).
- 958: Britannia silver (95.8% pure) — softer, higher fineness, less common.
- 800: continental European silver (80%). Common in German and Italian pieces.
- EPNS: Electro-Plated Nickel Silver. Not silver. A thin silver layer over nickel.
- A1 or "silver on copper": silver-plated. Not solid silver.
For the fast way to decode a mark, see how to read a hallmark in 60 seconds — the layout logic is the same on silver: standard, town, date letter, maker.
The magnet test — a negative test only
Silver is not magnetic. Hold a strong neodymium magnet against the piece: if it sticks, the core is a ferrous metal and it is definitely not solid silver. That is genuinely useful.
The catch: copper, brass, aluminium and lead are also non-magnetic. So a piece passing the magnet test has not proved it is silver — it has only proved it is not iron or steel. Treat it as a screen that eliminates the obvious fakes.
The ice test — a genuinely good screen
Silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. Put an ice cube on a silver coin at room temperature and it starts to melt visibly faster than the same cube on a copper or brass disc of the same size. It is not a lab measurement, but the difference on a flat sterling piece is obvious to the naked eye within about 15 seconds.
The test works best on flat objects — coins, ingots, spoons. It works poorly on hollow items and plated items (the surface conducts, the core does not). Use it as a confirmatory screen alongside the hallmark reading.
Not sure how any of this applies to your own items? Send a photo on WhatsApp and ask. We answer honestly, there is no obligation, and nothing is posted until you decide. Or call 07944 014111, 8am to 9pm, 7 days a week.
The acid test — risky, approximate, damaging
Silver acid test kits are sold cheaply. They work by applying a drop of nitric-acid-based reagent to a small scratch on the piece; the colour of the resulting mark indicates approximate fineness. They will tell you 925 vs 800 vs plate in most cases.
The downsides are real: you have to scratch the item to reveal fresh metal, the acid burns skin and fabric, the reagents degrade over time, and the result is a colour judgement, not a number. For a chain you plan to keep, the damage may cost more than the certainty is worth. For a piece you plan to sell for scrap, XRF is free at our end and does not scratch anything.
What XRF settles
X-ray fluorescence reads the elemental composition of a metal in seconds and reports percentages: silver, copper, zinc, gold, lead. It does not damage the piece. It sees through moderate surface tarnish. It will distinguish sterling (925), Britannia (958), continental (800) and plate reliably.
We test every parcel by in-house XRF as part of our standard process. There is no charge and no obligation to sell. See sell sterling silver for how we quote and pay.
A short decision tree
- Read the hallmark first. If it says 925, 958 or 800 with an Assay Office mark, you are almost certainly holding silver.
- If no legible mark, run the magnet. If it sticks, stop — not silver.
- If no mark and non-magnetic, run the ice test. Fast heat transfer is a strong indicator.
- Still unsure? Send it to us for XRF. Free tracked return if you decline.
Patterns worth knowing
- Victorian teaspoons stamped 925 with clear Assay marks — nearly always sterling.
- Bright, uniformly-shiny cutlery sets marked "A1" or "EPNS" — plated, not solid.
- Continental brooches marked 800 with a maker's cypher — genuine 80% silver.
- Modern chain marked 925 with a laser stamp — sterling; ice test confirms in seconds.
- Bullion coins (Britannias, Maples) — 999 silver, weight and stamp match published mint specs.
When to skip home testing entirely
If the piece is antique, signed by a known maker, or looks like it might be Georgian or earlier, do not test it yourself. Acid and scratch tests damage marks that carry the value. Send us photographs first; if it belongs at specialist auction rather than at our bench, we will tell you.
Common questions
Does the ice test work on hollow items?
Not reliably. Hollow candlesticks and thin-walled trays give a confused signal. Use it on flat, solid pieces.
Is sterling always stamped 925?
In the UK, sterling carries either "925", the lion passant, or both, plus an Assay Office town mark. Foreign sterling may only have the number.
What is Britannia silver?
A higher-fineness silver standard: 958.4 parts per thousand. Softer than sterling; used on some UK bullion coins and higher-end silverware.
Can XRF miss plated items?
A plated item reads as its base metal underneath if the plating is thin, or as a suspicious silver percentage with lots of copper or nickel. Trained operators see it immediately.
Do I need ID to sell silver?
For higher-value consignments, yes — we take standard AML ID (passport or driving licence). Small parcels do not need it.
Can I clean silver before sending?
No need. Tarnish does not affect XRF readings or the scrap price. Cleaning risks damaging the surface for no gain.