- 1). Rub a piece of flatware gently with the soft cloth. Sterling silver oxidizes, which coats the metal in a black patina. This patina can easily be rubbed away from the metal and generally will not form on silver-plated metals. Cleaning the piece will also help you to see any hallmarks or damage to the flatware.
- 2). Examine the surface of the flatware carefully. Sterling silver is a soft metal and will scar and dent with use. The metal will be consistent all the way through, however. If you see chips in the surface with a different type of metal underneath, the flatware is silver-plated.
- 3). Use the magnifying glass to look for a hallmark. A hallmark is an identifying mark placed on jewelry and flatware pieces to identify the metal content. Sterling silver will typically have a stamped ".925" or "ster" to identify it as sterling. You may also see other stamped images or words which would identify the company that forged the piece. If you are not able to find these marks, you likely have a silver-plated item.
- 4). Take the flatware to a reputable jeweler. If you are still in doubt as to the metal content of your flatware, a jeweler can test the metal for you. The test involves dropping an acid onto an inconspicuous part of the piece in question to see how the acid reacts with the metal.
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