No, silver isn't magnetic. Pure silver is very weakly diamagnetic, which means a magnet gently pushes it away instead of pulling it in. If a magnet sticks firmly to something sold as silver, it's almost certainly made from, or contains, another metal.
A magnet is a quick, free way to check silver at home. But it can only rule things out. Here's how the magnet test works, what it can tell you and what it can't.
No. Silver is not magnetic. Scientists call it diamagnetic, which means it's very slightly pushed away by a magnetic field. The push is so weak that you won't feel it.
Gold and copper behave the same way. Iron, nickel and cobalt are different. They're ferromagnetic, so a magnet pulls them in strongly. Most steel is made mainly from iron, which is why most steel sticks to a magnet.
No. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver, and the rest is usually copper. Copper isn't magnetic either, so a piece of sterling silver (stamped 925) shouldn't stick to a magnet.
If a sterling silver item does pull towards a magnet, check where it's pulling. The springs inside clasps, brooch pins and the blades of silver-handled knives are often made from steel. The silver itself still won't be magnetic.
It depends on the metal underneath. Silver plate is a thin layer of silver over a cheaper base metal.
If that base metal is steel, a magnet will stick. But a lot of silver plate is made from nickel silver, which is a mix of copper, nickel and zinc. Despite its name, nickel silver contains no silver, and it isn't magnetic. That's why many plated items, often stamped EPNS, pass the magnet test.
You'll find a full list of plate marks on our sell silver page.
Here's how silver compares with other metals you might find in jewellery, cutlery and coins.
| Metal | Does a magnet stick? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Silver (including sterling silver) | No | Weakly pushed away by a magnet |
| Gold | No | Behaves like silver. Read is gold magnetic? |
| Copper | No | The usual metal mixed with silver in sterling |
| Brass | No | Often used for fake or plated items |
| Nickel silver (used under EPNS plate) | No | Contains no silver at all |
| Aluminium | No | Far lighter than silver |
| Stainless steel | Some types | Many kitchen and jewellery grades don't stick |
| Iron and most steel | Yes | Strongly pulled in by a magnet |
| Nickel | Yes | Strongly pulled in by a magnet |
You'll need a strong magnet. A fridge magnet is too weak to show much. A small neodymium magnet, sometimes called a rare earth magnet, works best.
The slide test works best on thicker, flat pieces. Thin chains and small rings are usually too light to show it.
Silver is the best conductor of electricity of any metal. When a magnet moves over silver, it creates tiny swirls of electric current in the metal, called eddy currents. These currents make their own magnetic field, which pushes back against the magnet and slows it down.
Copper is also a very good conductor, so it slows a magnet down in the same way. That means the slide test can't tell silver and copper apart.
Passing the magnet test doesn't prove your silver is real. Plenty of fakes and plated items are made from metals that aren't magnetic, such as copper, brass, nickel silver and some stainless steel.
A magnet also can't tell you how pure your silver is. Sterling silver, continental 800 silver and fine 999 silver all behave the same way near a magnet.
It can't help with old British coins either. Coins dated before 1947 contain silver, while those from 1947 onwards are cupronickel. Neither type is magnetic, so check the date instead.
For a definite answer, have your silver tested by a specialist. At Gold Traders, we use non-destructive methods to confirm the weight and purity of every item we buy.
If your silver passes these checks, it's worth finding out what it's worth. We buy all grades of solid silver, in any condition, by post or face to face.
See today's rates on our scrap silver prices page, or find out how to sell silver to Gold Traders.
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We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions. If there's something we haven't covered, please call us & we'll be happy to help. Read all FAQs.
No. Genuine silver coins aren't magnetic. But British cupronickel coins made from 1947 onwards aren't magnetic either, so a magnet can't tell an old silver coin from a newer one. Check the date instead.
It depends on the base metal under the silver. Plated steel will stick to a magnet, but plated copper, brass and nickel silver won't.
No. Like silver, gold is diamagnetic, so a magnet won't stick to it. Find out more in our guide, is gold magnetic?
No. 925 silver, also called sterling silver, is 92.5% silver and usually 7.5% copper. Neither metal is magnetic, so genuine 925 silver won't stick to a magnet.
The most common reason is a steel part, such as the spring inside a clasp or a brooch pin. If the whole piece sticks to a magnet, it's probably silver-plated steel or not silver at all.
Not on its own. A magnet can show that an item isn't solid silver, but many fakes are made from metals that aren't magnetic either, such as copper, brass and nickel silver. Check the hallmark too, or have the item tested.
No. Real silver isn't magnetic, so a magnet won't stick to it. If a magnet sticks firmly to an item sold as silver, it's made from, or contains, another metal such as iron or steel.
