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Is silver magnetic or not?
No, silver is not magnetic.
Genuine silver is diamagnetic and will not respond to a strong magnet even when said magnet is pressed against it.
Below you’ll find many more answer to common questions about silver’s magnetic properties, or lack thereof.
- Is Real Sterling Silver Magnetic or Not?
- Is Silver-Plated Jewelry Magnetic or Not?
- Is 999 Silver Magnetic or Not?
- Is 925 Silver Magnetic or Not?
- Is 958 Silver Magnetic or Not?
- Is 900 Silver Magnetic or Not?
- Is 800 Silver Magnetic or Not?
- Is Fake Silver Magnetic or Not?
- Is Nickel Silver Magnetic or Not?
- Are Silver Coins and Bars Magnetic or Not?
- Why Is Silver Non-Magnetic?
Table of Contents
Is Real Sterling Silver Magnetic or Not?
Real sterling silver, also known as 925 silver, is not magnetic.
Sterling silver is a metal alloy that’s 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper or zinc. Fine silver, copper and zinc are all diamagnetic materials which means they can’t be significantly magnetized under any circumstance.
Bottom line is that real sterling silver doesn’t magnetize.
Is Silver-Plated Jewelry Magnetic or Not?
Some silver-plated jewelry objects are magnetic, and some are not.
Silver-plated objects that are magnetic consist of silver plate which is diamagnetic (can’t be magnetized) and base metal which is magnetic. Three elemental metals that are magnetic are iron, nickel and cobalt.
Examples of magnetic silver-plated items are:
- an object (for example silver ring) that is silver-plated with iron as base metal.
- an object (for example silver bracelet) that is silver-plated with nickel as base metal.
- an object (for example silver necklace) that is silver-plated with cobalt as base metal.
Non-magnetic silver-plated objects are those with a silver plate and a base made of some other diamagnetic material.
Examples of non-magnetic silver-plated items are:
- an object (for example silver ring) that is silver-plated with real palladium as base metal.
- an object (for example silver bracelet) that is silver-plated with authentic platinum as base metal.
- an object (for example silver necklace) that is silver-plated with genuine gold as base metal.
Is 999 Silver Magnetic or Not?
No, 999 silver isn’t magnetic. 999 silver, also known as “three nines fine”, is the purest form of silver and is considered fine or pure. It’s often used precious metal investing.
Is 925 Silver Magnetic or Not?
No, 925 silver isn’t magnetic. 925 silver is the most common type of silver used in jewelry and is known as sterling silver. It’s 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper and zinc. Silver is non-magnetic, and so are both copper and zinc.
Is 958 Silver Magnetic or Not?
No, 958 silver isn’t magnetic. 958 silver is known as “Britannia silver” and is a popular standard in Britain. Britannia silver is an alloy of 95.84% silver and 4.16% copper or zinc. The copper gives the metal strength and durability and is non-magnetic.
Is 900 Silver Magnetic or Not?
No, 900 silver isn’t magnetic. 900 silver is known as coin silver and is often used for making coins and bullion. It’s an alloy made of 90% silver and 10% other metals.
These other metals are usually copper and zinc, both non-magnetic materials. 900 silver can also be made with nickel which is magnetic. However, that 10% of nickel is not enough to display a magnetic effect.
Is 800 Silver Magnetic or Not?
No, 800 silver isn’t magnetic. 800 silver is known as continental silver or European silver and is often used for making flatware, jewelry, coinage, and niello work. It’s an alloy made of 80% silver and 20% other metals.
These other metals are usually copper and zinc, both non-magnetic materials. 800 silver can also be made with nickel which is magnetic. However, that 20% of nickel is not enough to display a magnetic effect.
Is Fake Silver Magnetic or Not?
Yes, fake silver is magnetic when thin silver coating is covering a large base of some magnetic material. This is very common with cheap fake silver jewelry that looks genuine, but is actually made of fake silver.
Is Nickel Silver Magnetic or Not?
No, nickel silver is not magnetic. Nickel silver is a silvery, non-magnetic metal that is often used in applications where there are multiple metals present.
Typical composition of nickel silver alloy is 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc, but the composition can vary.
Are Silver Coins and Bars Magnetic or Not?
No, genuine silver coins and bars aren’t magnetic. Real silver is a diamagnetic material and will not magnetize no matter what.
I already explained in my article on testing silver how you can use magnets to test whether silver is fake or real.
Note: precious metal market is rife with scams and you want to make sure you buy genuine silver bullion when investing your hard-earned money.
I recommend you check out Augusta Precious Metals if you’re looking to open a silver IRA account  (or alternatively a gold IRA account) They’re a reputable US-based gold investment company that also sell a wide collection of IRA-approved silver coins and bars.
Why Is Silver Non-Magnetic?
Silver is non-magnetic because of its electronic configuration. Silver atoms have an electron configuration of [Kr] 4d^10 5s^1, where all the electrons are paired.
There are no unpaired electrons which means there’s no magnetic dipole moment, a property required for a material to exhibit magnetism.
Is Silver Magnetic at All or Not? What about Sterling Silver (Conclusion)?
Sterling silver isn’t magnetic at all.
Neither is any other type of silver.
Fake silver jewelry can be magnetic depending on the base metal used when creating that jewelry.
Have questions?
Shoot them in the comment section below!
Resources:
- Testing precious metals with magnets- TESTING PRECIOUS METALS (silver, gold, platinum)
AND OTHER METALS (Copper, brass, bronze)
WITH MAGNETS- https://www.quicktest.co.uk/blogs/testing-precious-metals/testing-precious-metals-with-magnets - Do magnets affect silver coins or metal objects?- https://www.quora.com/Do-magnets-affect-silver-coins-or-metal-objects
- Is a magnet a good way to tell if something is made of silver?- https://www.quora.com/Is-a-magnet-a-good-way-to-tell-if-something-is-made-of-silver
- Remember folks, only the purest of silver is magnetic- https://www.reddit.com/r/Silverbugs/comments/yy2azl/remember_folks_only_the_purest_of_silver_is/
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.
