The color of the platinum and silver jewelry are very similar, therefore is very difficult to see any difference between them. It’s very important to learn to recognize the differences because to do so could help you avoid being fooled when buying authentic pieces. You should note the following tips:
1. Recognize the mark on silver and on platinum
Depending on the type of jewelry it may have a different brand. In the case of silver usually have a mark with “S” or “silver” when they include the 92.5% silver with the brand of “S925”. This type is the most common brand in silver jewelry. If instead is marked “SF” means that there are 7.5% composition of metallic copper.
Platinum, on the other hand, has marks of “PT” or “PLAT”.
2. Compare the weight of the jewels
People can identify the type of jewel through weight, the proportion of silver is 10,49, while the platinum is 21,40 which makes silver nearly double lighter than platinum.
You can also try chewing a piece of the gem and see if it feels harder. This may not be appropriate in the jewelry store but it is a way to check which is which. Platinum is much denser than silver and you will feel if you bite it.
3. Contrast the hardness of their appearance.
When you look closely you may notice that silver is a white color with a soft texture usually changes to gray or black when oxidized, and could completely tarnish because its Mohs is 2.7. Instead platinum is a white and bright but with a grayish tinge, a harder texture without scratches, Mohs hardness is 4.3, making it harder than silver.
4. Use the burn method to identify it.
When exposed to fire, the jewelry can behave in different ways. Platinum has a good oxidation resistance, even when exposed to high temperatures. Its melting point reaches 1,770 ° C, its color does not change and is rapidly cooled.
Silver, in turn, changes its color to red or black depending on the amount, and this is because it has a melting point much lower than that of platinum.
5. Recognize it using the chemical method.
Platinum has chemical properties that make it resistant to corrosion, making it stable and does not react with any acids or alkalis. While silver has a poor corrosion resistance and may change shape or color to be exposed to the chemical.
6. Compare prices of both jewels
Another practical way to differentiate the jewelry is judging by its price. The genuine silver is always cheaper than platinum. It takes a lot less work to extract silver from the earth and is not as rare as the other metal. It can also help you see the size of the jewel as platinum only find smaller designs like wedding rings, earrings and necklaces due to its price. If the jewelry is too large then it is very likely to have been manufactured with silver.
Updated: 8/15/208