Does 925 silver stick to a magnet?

Silver is a precious metal that is often used in jewelry for its beautiful white color and shine. One of the most common types of silver used in jewelry is 925 silver, which contains 92.5% pure silver mixed with other metals to increase its durability. But does this common alloy of silver actually stick to magnets?

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The Basics of 925 Silver

925 silver, sometimes stamped as Sterling silver, is an alloy containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. The copper is added to strengthen the silver and prevent it from easily deforming. This alloy blend was developed in the 13th century and has been the standard for silver jewelry and other decorative items since.

Pure silver in its raw form is relatively soft – it has a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale. The addition of copper to make 925 silver increases the hardness to around 3.5. This improved hardness makes 925 silver much more durable for daily wear in rings, bracelets, and other pieces of jewelry exposed to frequent use and friction.

Properties of 925 Silver

Here are some key properties of 925 silver:

Contains 92.5% silver

Contains 7.5% copper
Has a Mohs hardness of 3.5
Has a melting point of 893°C (1639°F)

Has a specific gravity of 10.4
Is stamped with 925 or Sterling

This blend results in an alloy that maintains the beautiful white color of pure silver while also gaining durability. Items made from 925 silver can last for many years with proper care.

Magnetism of 925 Silver

Now that we understand the composition and properties of 925 silver, the question remains – is this alloy of silver magnetic? Will 925 silver jewelry or decorative pieces stick to a standard refrigerator or craft magnet?

The short answer is no, 925 silver is not magnetic and will not stick to or be attracted to an ordinary magnet. This is because the primary component in 925 silver is actual silver, which is a non-magnetic metal.

Reasons Why 925 Silver is Non-Magnetic

There are a few specific reasons why 925 silver does not exhibit magnetism:

Silver is a non-magnetic metal in its pure form
Only ferromagnetic metals like iron are attracted to magnets
The 7.5% copper in 925 silver is also non-magnetic

The alloy blend does not produce any magnetic properties

Silver falls into a classification of metals called diamagnetic. Diamagnetic metals create an induced magnetic field in the opposite direction of an applied field, causing a repulsive effect. However, this effect is extremely weak in silver and not noticeable compared to the stronger forces exhibited by ferromagnetic metals.

Ferromagnetism in Metals

Ferromagnetic metals are ones that exhibit strong attraction to magnets and can be magnetized themselves. The most common ferromagnetic metals include:

Iron
Nickel
Cobalt

Gadolinium
Dysprosium

These metals generate sizable magnetic fields aligned with external magnetic fields applied to them. 925 silver does not have any elemental components capable of producing this strong ferromagnetic effect.

Testing the Magnetism of 925 Silver

The best way to see if a piece of silver jewelry or another item is made from non-magnetic 925 silver is to test it with a magnet.

Take any ordinary refrigerator magnet or craft magnet and see if it is attracted to the silver item. Pass the magnet back and forth over the surface of the silver. If the silver piece contains no iron or ferromagnetic metals, there will be no magnetic attraction.

Here is a quick test you can follow to check if your silver is repelled by magnets:

Obtain a silver item stamped 925 or Sterling silver.
Take a typical refrigerator magnet or disc-shaped craft magnet.
Pass the magnet closely over the silver item, covering all sides.

Check carefully to see if the magnet sticks or is attracted at all to the silver.
The magnet should slide smoothly over the surface without any pulling or sticking action if the silver is non-magnetic 925 or Sterling silver.

This magnet test should only take a few seconds and will verify whether or not the alloy is magnetic. Stainless steel may sometimes be mistaken for silver, so this fast check can confirm that a piece is truly 925 or Sterling silver.

How Else to Check for 925 Silver

In addition to the magnet test, there are a couple other methods you can use to verify an item is really 925 silver:

Look for 925 stamp – Authentic 925 silver is stamped with 925 to denote the silver content. Sterling silver may alternatively be stamped with .925 or Sterling.
Check for copper smell – Rub the silver item vigorously to heat it up. Copper has a distinctive metallic smell that may become noticeable with friction heat on 925 silver.

Use silver testing acid – Special acids can be applied to silver alloys to test silver purity. However, this should be done carefully by a jeweler to avoid damaging the silver item.

Why 925 Silver is Used for Jewelry

Now that we know 925 silver is non-magnetic, you may be wondering why this alloy is so popularly used in jewelry. Here are some of the reasons 925 silver is ideal for rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other decorative pieces:

It is more durable and resistant to damage than pure silver by itself.

The color stays bright white over time unlike lower silver content alloys.
It is harder than pure silver, allowing details to hold longer under frequent wear.
The cost is lower than 90-99% pure silver jewelry.

It can be easily polished to maintain its shine.
The copper content does not cause skin irritation or rust issues.

Sterling silver or 925 silver provides the optimal balance between purity, durability, appearance and affordability for silver jewelry. The non-magnetic property is also useful since strong magnetic clasps can be used without interacting with the silver piece itself.

Common Uses of 925 Silver

Here are some of the most popular uses of 925 Sterling silver:

Jewelry – rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pendants, etc.
Flatware – forks, spoons and knives

Tea sets
Decorative items – bowls, trays, picture frames, etc.
Collectible coins or ingots

Magnetic Metals Used in Jewelry

While 925 silver itself may not be magnetic, some types of jewelry do contain magnetic metals:

Steel jewelry – Stainless steel and carbon steel jewelry can be attracted to magnets since they contain iron. Steel is commonly used for rings, bracelets, and men’s jewelry.
Tungsten jewelry – Tungsten rings and bands are magnetic since tungsten is ferromagnetic. It is a popular contemporary metal for men’s wedding bands and rings.

Cobalt chrome rings – Rings made of cobalt chrome alloys are magnetic due to their nickel and iron content. This blend of metals is valued for strength, hardness and scratch resistance in jewelry.

So while silver itself won’t stick to a magnet, other types of jewelry commonly will. Smart shoppers can use a simple fridge magnet to quickly identify these metals.

How Magnets Are Used in Jewelry

Aside from testing jewelry, magnets also have practical uses in jewelry wear and design:

Magnetic clasps – Jewelry chains, necklaces and bracelets often use tiny but strong magnetic clasps to securely close.
Magnetic earrings – Earring backs will sometimes have a small magnet to keep the earring securely on the earlobe.
Jewelry cleaning – Gentle magnetic cleaning tools can be used to attract dust and particles from silver without scratching.

So magnets play a helpful role in jewelry use even though the silver itself is non-magnetic.

Other Metals that Aren’t Magnetic

Aside from 925 silver, there are number of other metals that are also non-magnetic. These include:

Aluminum – Abundant light-weight metal used in foil, cookware, machinery.

Brass – Alloy of copper and zinc used for decorative objects.
Gold – Popular precious metal for jewelry, coins, and decoration.
Titanium – Very strong, corrosion-resistant transition metal used for implants.

Platinum – Valuable silvery-white noble metal, commonly used for fine jewelry.
Tin – Element used to coat and protect other metals like steel from corrosion.

All these metals have no magnetic properties whatsoever, although impurities or alloy blends may change their characteristics. But in their pure forms, they are completely non-magnetic just like 925 silver.

Paramagnetic Metals

Some metals are weakly attracted to magnets due to a property called paramagnetism. These include:

Aluminum
Platinum

Tungsten
Tantalum
Calcium

Osmium

Paramagnetic metals don’t retain magnetic properties when the external field is removed. They are slightly attracted but not to the degree of ferromagnetic metals. So paramagnetic metals like aluminum and platinum are still considered “non-magnetic” for practical purposes.

Conclusion

In summary, 925 silver and sterling silver do not stick to magnets or exhibit magnetic attraction. This is because the silver content itself is a non-magnetic metal, as is the 7.5% copper blended into the alloy. 925 silver can be quickly tested with a fridge or craft magnet sliding smoothly over the surface.

925 silver makes excellent jewelry due to its strength, brightness and affordability. But other metal jewelry types like steel, tungsten and cobalt are magnetic, so testing with a magnet can identify them. While silver itself may be non-magnetic, magnets can still be practically used for jewelry clasps, ear backs and cleaning tools.

Knowing the magnetism and metals content of jewelry helps shoppers make informed purchasing decisions. So take a magnet along to test any metals that should be attracted or repelled. This simple trick can verify the quality of silver, steel, tungsten and other metals used in jewelry pieces and decorative objects.