How do I know if my 950 is silver or platinum?

If the jewelry is stamped with the number 925 or the letter S, it is made of sterling silver. If it's stamped with the letters PLAT, PT, or the word Platinum, it is platinum jewelry.
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How can you tell if its platinum or silver?

Silver and platinum both have gray undertones, unlike white gold which has a warmer, yellow undertone, but platinum is much brighter and shinier and silver has a duller, gray appearance. The difference in durability is really no contest between platinum, white gold and silver.
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Can silver be marked 950?

Common Silver Alloys and Their Markings

Brittania silver (950): Brittania silver is an alloy made of 95% silver, which exceeds the requirement for sterling silver. It is most often marked 950. This silver qualifies as sterling, but it is slightly softer than sterling pieces marked 925 or simply sterling.
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Is platinum marked 950?

950 platinum is real platinum with a high purity. The number 950 refers to its level of purity, and it means that your item is 95% platinum and 5% alloy. This number system is an easy way to tell an item's purity. Another example is 900 platinum which is equal to 90% platinum.
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What metal is marked 950?

To protect American consumers, a high-content platinum alloy will be marked 950Pt, 950, plat or platinum, meaning that it's at least 95% pure, elemental platinum. It's also the only platinum alloy that can simply bear the “Platinum” stamp to identify that it's 95% pure platinum.
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Difference Between Silver, White Gold, and Platinum



How can I tell if my ring is platinum?

Pure platinum jewelry, or jewelry that is at least 50% platinum, is typically marked with a stamp (also known as a hallmark). Usually, this mark will include a number like 850 followed by “plat or “pt”, which indicates the piece is 85% pure.
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What is the difference between platinum and 950 platinum?

Chemical Composition of Platinum vs White Gold

Most striking is the purity of Platinum. 950 Platinum is 95% pure, whereas 18ct White Gold (stamped 750) is 75% pure. Other metals add to the overall composition of both metals. Typically Platinum alloys contain either Iridium or Cobalt.
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How can you tell Pure platinum?

If you're examining a piece of jewelry forged from a precious metal, look for the hallmark as a way of indicating its purity. Pure platinum is often marked simply with the letters 'PLT', 'PLAT', or 'PLATINUM', which indicates that the piece consists of at least 95% platinum.
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Is platinum magnetic yes or no?

The quick answer is no, Platinum on its pure form is not magnetic (a paramagnetic metal).
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How do you test platinum with hydrogen peroxide?

You can buy hydrogen peroxide at most drugstores or grocery stores. Step②: Wait for the chemical reaction to occur. The precious metal platinum is a strong catalyst for hydrogen peroxide. If the precious metal is pure platinum, the hydrogen peroxide will immediately start bubbling white.
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What does platinum look like?

Platinum is a metallic white to silver-gray colour. Its streak is a shiny silver-gray.
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How do you identify silver markings?

The standard mark identifies your item as being silver. The mark for sterling silver is the lion passant or the lion passant guardant. Both look like a lion in profile. On earlier pieces of silver the lion is looking toward you, and this is a lion passant guardant.
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Does platinum have a hallmark?

Platinum is a very rare and expensive metal. Therefore, all platinum jewelry will be marked to show authenticity. Look for the words "Platinum," "PLAT," or "PT" followed or preceded by the numbers "950" or "999." These numbers refer to the purity of the platinum, with "999" as the most pure.
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How do you test platinum jewelry?

Answer. The simplest tests are heating and discoloration. If the item is heated, for example, in a Bunsen flame, platinum will be more difficult or impossible to melt and the platinum will not discolour. The effect of acid is another basic test.
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How do I test silver at home?

This method is ideal for testing silver coins and other silver items with flat surfaces. Place an ice cube on a silver coin or flatware. If the ice cube melts quickly, then the metal you own is real. Silver has the highest thermal conductivity and when you place an ice cube on silver, it will melt at a faster rate.
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How is platinum stamped?

Platinum jewelry should be stamped “PT” for pure platinum or “PT900” or “PT950,” indicating the number of parts per thousand that are pure platinum.
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What is the symbol of platinum?

Platinum is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the atomic symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Platinum is used in jewelry, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts, dentistry, and automobile emissions control devices. Platinum: Symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78.
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Does platinum stay shiny?

To be considered platinum, a piece must contain 95% or more of the metal, making it one of the purest precious metals you can buy. Over time, platinum will fade in a different way. It won't turn yellow, like yellow gold; but, it will begin to lose its shiny finish and build a natural patina (more on this in a bit).
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Why is my platinum ring not hallmarked?

Platinum pieces which weigh less than 0.5 grams, 18ct Gold and Palladium pieces weighing less than 1.0 gram and Silver pieces weighing less than 7.78 grams are except from hallmark. The law of hallmark was instituted in the early 1300's by King Edward I.
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Is 950 platinum better than gold?

Is Platinum Better Than Gold? Platinum lasts longer and can require less upkeep than gold. It's pure, hypoallergenic, and a classic option. However, gold is more malleable, scratch-resistant, and affordable.
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What is 950 platinum mixed with?

The 950 platinum and palladium alloy is therefore 90 per cent platinum and 10 per cent palladium by volume. Likewise, platinum 950/50 cobalt would be approximately 87.5 per cent platinum and 12.5 per cent cobalt by volume. Ruthenium (12.45g/cm3) also has a surprisingly larger presence on a volume basis.
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How can I tell what metal My ring is?

6 Ways to Identify Metal Jewelry
  1. Hallmarks. Hallmarks are markings that are struck into the metal of rings and other jewelry. ...
  2. Magnetism. Another way to tell if your jewelry -might- be made from precious metals is to test if it is magnetic. ...
  3. Color. ...
  4. Weight. ...
  5. Acid Testing. ...
  6. XRF Spectrometer Analysis.
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How can you tell platinum from other metals?

Inspect for a bright, white appearance, few scratches, and no tarnish. Compared to silver, white gold, and palladium, platinum has a brighter and whiter color. Compare to another piece of metal to see the difference. It is also more scratch-resistant, although it can still be scratched.
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How can I tell if my ring is platinum or white gold?

Stampings and Markings

If you find a marking that contains the letters PT, Pt or Plat, you have found an item that is made of platinum. If you see a karat marking like K or k, usually accompanied by a number, the item is made of white gold.
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