Jewelry made of, or containing, iron, nickel, cobalt, neodymium, samarium, or gadolinium can be magnetic. However, gold and silver are not magnetic unless plated with a magnetic material.
Magnetic Metals in Jewelry
While gold and silver are commonly used in jewelry, they are not inherently magnetic. The magnetism in jewelry comes from other metals used in the alloy or plating. Here's a breakdown:
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Iron, Nickel, and Cobalt: These are the most common magnetic metals. Jewelry containing these metals will exhibit magnetic properties.
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Neodymium, Samarium, and Gadolinium: These are less common in jewelry but are also magnetic. If present, they will contribute to the magnetism of the piece.
Gold and Silver
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Pure Gold and Silver: In their pure forms, gold and silver are not magnetic.
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Gold or Silver Plated Jewelry: If a piece of jewelry is gold or silver plated over a base metal that is magnetic (like iron or nickel), it can be attracted to a magnet. The plating itself doesn't make it magnetic; it's the underlying metal.
Identifying Magnetic Jewelry
A simple test with a magnet can help determine if a piece of jewelry contains magnetic metals. If the jewelry is attracted to the magnet, it contains one or more of the magnetic metals mentioned above. If there is no attraction, it is likely made of non-magnetic metals like pure gold, silver, platinum, or titanium.
