How to tell silver from aluminum at home?
I got a spoon from my grandma, can't see any hallmarks on it. How do I figure out if it's silver or aluminum?
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The most reliable way is to use a special reagent for testing silver, you can buy it at jewelry shops. Or just take it to a jeweler, they usually do appraisals for free.
Silver is noticeably heavier than aluminum. Plus silver gets darker over time, while aluminum gets covered with a whitish coating. Drag the spoon across white paper: aluminum will leave a gray streak.
The guys already wrote it mostly right. Weight is the first sign, silver is definitely heavier. But there's another simple way: get a magnet. Aluminum doesn't magnetize, silver doesn't either, but if the spoon magnetizes a little or reacts with the magnet in any way - it's probably stainless steel or some other alloy, not pure silver. Silver doesn't react to a magnet at all.
Also check the sound. Silver rings with a clearer, longer sound if you tap the spoon against glass. Aluminum makes a dull sound. Plus look at any chips or scratches if there are any. Under a scratch aluminum will be light gray, but silver will stay shiny and white.
But if you seriously want to know - just take it to a jeweler. It's a free procedure, they'll figure it out in a minute. They'll drop some reagent on an inconspicuous spot and everything will be clear. Why guess when you can know for sure?
Over 21 years I've seen a lot of old stuff, and here's what actually works - take a regular magnet and hold it up to a spoon, aluminum won't be attracted at all, and silver won't be magnetic either, but that won't help you! What will help is weight though - now that's the thing, silver is noticeably heavier, you'll feel the difference in your hand right away, and also silver darkens over time with this noble black patina, not this grayish film like aluminum gets - that's the most reliable visual sign!
Actually, weight and appearance alone can be misleading! I'd first check the spoon with a magnet - if it's magnetic, then it's definitely not silver or pure aluminum, but some kind of alloy or stainless steel. If it's not magnetic, then yeah, weight will be the main clue (silver is three times denser!), but the most reliable way is still to take it to a jeweler or pawn shop, they'll check it in a minute, no questions asked!
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