Test for sterling

Jewelry Discussion
1

what is the teeth test for sterling??? I have not heard of this
one.

2

I haven’t heard of the teeth test but rubbing against the skin
on your cheek I have heard of. If it leaves a black line it is sterling.

3 
    what is the teeth test for sterling??? I have not heard of
this one.

One might take a good bite and if it is pewter, teeth marks will
be left. If it is sterling, a broken tooth might indicate that.

I haven’t got too many teeth left, so, my quick test is to
dissolve a tiny bit of the metal in nitric acid, add plenty of
ammonia and check the colour. If the drop of liquid is blue, then
the metal contains copper. Add a solution of table salt to the
original solution. A white precipitate that turns violet-grey in
sunlight indicates silver, and if the white precipitate dissolves
in excess ammonia, then silver is confirmed. The two positive
tests indicate sterling as opposed to fine silver. Simple, eh?