Introduction
Real jewelry is jewelry that is made from precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum. These valuable materials have the properties of being nonmagnetic and are often used to create a more glamorous, luxurious aesthetic for jewelry. Although real metals may not attract a magnet, it is important to consider the fact that some alloys, such as stainless steel and sterling silver, may contain small amounts of ferromagnetic metals (metals with magnetic properties). This is why it’s always wise to investigate any potential jewelry purchase by testing its responsiveness to a magnet – because should the jewelry turn out to contain a ferromagnetic metal, the piece might not be genuine.
Types of Real Jewelry That Can be Affected by a Magnet
Not all types of real jewelry will react to a magnet. Items made from precious metals that have some degree of iron or steel within them, such as gold or stainless steel, will be the most likely to be affected by a magnet. If a piece of jewelry is comprised of mostly alloy portions, then the presence of ferrous elements can increase its susceptibility. In other words, if your jewelry has any traces of copper, zinc, iron, brass or nickel (the most common base metal alloys used when crafting jewelry) in it, then it may be more responsive to magnets than solid gold pieces without any steel-like metals in them. Also note that if your jewelry is higher in karat and contains a smaller proportion of alloy components then the chances of magnetism are greatly reduced.
What Types of Real Jewelry Are Not Affected by a Magnet
Not all real jewelry is affected by a magnet. Jewelry made from gold, silver and platinum are non-magnetic and will not be attracted to a magnet. This is because these precious metals have low magnetic properties and are unable to react to the magnetic force. Other metals such as brass, copper, nickel and stainless steel can also block magnetism as they contain iron which has a slightly greater attraction for a magnet than the other components of the metal. Additionally, base metal alloys that contain no iron or only a small amount ofiron may not demonstrate any Magnetism reaction either. In general, materials that insulate strongly against electricity can also help shield against magnetism such as rubber, lead, fiberglass and plastics like PVC or polyethylene.
How Magnets Interact with Real Jewelry to Alter its Properties
When a magnetic field comes into contact with real jewelry, it can alter the properties of the metals in the jewelry. This effect is most pronounced when ferromagnetic materials such as iron or steel are present in the jewelry. The results vary depending on how powerful the magnet and its field strength is, and which metals are present in the jewelry composition.
A stronger magnetic field will cause an increase in a metal’s permeability, allowing more of its electrons to move freely within the field due to increased electrical current. When exposed to a stronger magnetic force for longer periods, there could also be some alteration of the structure of certain non-ferrous metals (like gold or silver) present in the jewelry piece. As a result, there may be changes in color intensity or texture due to this realignment of molecules caused by magnetism. Additionally, noticeable physical effects on gems are possible; some cut stones can tend to move away or towards a magnet if their density differs significantly from its surroundings. Finally, magnets can cause gold-plated pieces to lose their luster as certain chemical reactions occur where clasps and buckles meet. Keeping these magnetism effects in mind can help you choose proper care for your precious jewelry pieces.
How To Utilize Magnetism to Test Real Jewelry Authenticity
When trying to utilize magnetism to test the authenticity of real jewelry, there are a few steps that can be taken. First, you will want to identify whether or not the material used in the jewelry is magnetic. If the material is magnetic, such as iron or nickel based alloys, it will be attracted to a magnet. If it does not move, or only slightly reacts at best, then it is most likely non-magnetic and composed of gold or silver. Additionally, many precious stones and diamonds will not react to a magnet either.
Second, use a tool called a loupe which has a 10x magnification to closely inspect the piece for signs of quality craftsmanship. Genuine jewelry should have crisp definition around any stampings with enamel colors that are uniform and not blurry.
Lastly, if you aren’t sure about a piece of jewelry bring it to an expert appraiser for confirmation. Usually, they have more experience than the average person and have been trained on spotting fakes as well as identifying marks that make it easier to find out if something is genuine or not.
Tips To Keep Your Real Jewelry Protected From Magnetism
No, not all real jewelry will react to a magnet. There are certain types of metals that are found in some pieces of real jewelry, like stainless steel and tungsten, that are not affected by magnets. However, there is an increased risk posed to jewelry items made from other metallic materials such as brass, copper and silver that can be attracted to a magnet.
In order to protect real jewelry from being affected by magnetic forces it is important to store your pieces in non-magnetic environments. It is also recommended to keep them away from electronic devices such as phones and computers, as well as any large appliance that could emit a magnetic field. Additionally, it is important to make sure you use the correct cleaners when cleaning your precious metals so as not to leave behind unseen areas of moisture or oil that could increase their attractive ability towards magnets.
Conclusion
From the reactions of real jewelry to magnetism, we can learn that not all real jewelry is made with magnetic substances. Whether or not a piece of jewelry is attracted to a magnet depends on the metal it is made out of. Magnetic metals like iron, nickel, and cobalt are easily pulled by a magnet but non-magnetic metals like gold, silver, and platinum do not react at all or have very weak responses to magnets. Knowing this information is important for identifying authenticity when recognizing and handling genuine pieces of jewelry.
Welcome to my jewelry blog! My name is Sarah and I am the owner of this blog.
I love making jewelry and sharing my creations with others.
So whether you’re someone who loves wearing jewelry yourself or simply enjoys learning about it, be sure to check out my blog for insightful posts on everything related to this exciting topic!
