Identification guide · Metals & Alloys
How to Identify Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver is usually silver, white silver, and gray tarnish with a metallic luster and is opaque. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.7. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Its streak is silver-white. It is most often confused with Silver, White Gold, and Copper; the tests below separate them.
Sterling Silver identification checklist
| Color | Silver, White silver, Gray tarnish, Black tarnish | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Metallic | Turn it under a lamp: a true metallic shine reflects like polished metal and stays opaque at thin edges. |
| Transparency | Opaque | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 2.7 | A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. |
| Streak | Silver-white | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | None | |
| Fracture | Ductile to uneven | |
| Specific gravity | 10.3 | Very heavy, metallic heft (specific gravity about 10.3). |
Sterling Silver look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 2.7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Sterling Silver vs Silver →
Both sit near Mohs 2.7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Sterling Silver vs White Gold →
Both sit near Mohs 2.7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Sterling Silver vs Copper →
Both sit near Mohs 2.7, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
Field tips
- Look for bright white-silver metal with possible gray or black tarnish.
- Hallmarks such as 925, sterling, or ster can support the identification.
- Sterling silver is usually softer than stainless steel.
- Tarnish often collects in grooves, stamped marks, and textured areas.
Sterling Silver identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Sterling Silver?
Check the color (silver, white silver, gray tarnish, and black tarnish), the metallic luster, a Mohs hardness of 2.7 and a silver-white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Sterling Silver?
Sterling Silver has a Mohs hardness of 2.7. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
What is the difference between Sterling Silver and Silver?
Sterling Silver (Mohs 2.7, metallic luster) and Silver (Mohs 2.75, metallic luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Sterling Silver vs Silver comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Sterling Silver worth anything?
Entry-level Sterling Silver specimens sell for around $5, typical collector pieces about $75, and premium examples $1000 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Sterling Silver?
Sterling Silver is most often silver, white silver, gray tarnish, and black tarnish. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
