Buy from a reputable jeweler or gemologist, and you won't need to be able to tell the difference. +5

you dont LOL, but can i kill you and make you a AB ghost?

the naked layman's eye cannot tell. +5

ALL sterling silver should have the mark __% or _% sterling ... if it does not ; don't risk purchasing something that is just Plated (coated) .. I am not for sure about Platimum ; BUt I believe there should be a "P" stamped on it ... ask a legitimate jewelry retailer ... +5

One thing is that Platinum is twice as dense as silver, so it should feel heavier in your hand for the same size of object, but if you are not experienced with it, that's a pretty subjective measurement.

Depending on the alloy composition of the metals, it can be difficult to tell the difference visually between silver, white gold, and platinum. The biggest way to tell the difference between silver and platinum is to weigh the object, and one of similar size that is made of silver. Platinum is significantly denser than silver, and will thus weigh more for the same sized object. Keep in mind, though, that gold alloys may weigh much closer to the platinum weight, for the same volume of metal. Also, if you are getting a suspected platinum object appraised, the value of platinum is significantly higher than that of gold. Currently, it's about 33% higher, but in the past has been as much as 3 to 4 times as high as gold. Note that I said the value of the PLATINUM is 33% higher than that of gold...the value of a particular piece of jewelry, however, doesn't just take into consideration the metals...it takes into consideration the "craftsmanship" or "artwork", if you will. But pawn shops are more likely to only give you the value of the metal, or not much more than that, unless it's obviously a valuable antique. In small amounts like a ring or necklace, you will find that you will likely NOT get much for the metal itself, as there really isn't much there. A Troy ounce is about 31 grams. So, for example, if you have a 14 karat gold wedding band, that weighs about 6 grams, that means there is only about 3.5 grams of gold in the ring (14 karat is 14/24 or about 58% gold). Spot price for gold is about $953 per troy ounce....so 3.5 grams will be worth about $107 dollars. If it were platinum (95%), at $1251 per troy ounce, 6 grams would be worth about $240. If it were silver (92.5% or higher), at $14 per troy ounce, 6 grams would be worth about $2.70. http://www.jewelrysalesbusiness.com/jewelry-guide/silver-platinum.html http://www.thebulliondesk.com/ Of note here: Gold and platinum prices have increased significantly the last nine years. http://www.midstatesrecycling.com/historystart.php So, if your appraisal ISN'T what you are expecting for an item you THINK is platinum, one of two things is happening: either you DON'T have a piece of platinum jewelry, OR the guy appraising it is shafting you BIG time. Go to a reputable jeweler...or two or three...BEFORE you take a suspected piece of platinum jewelry to a pawn shop. They will be able to tell you what it is and, maybe, weigh it for you. Then you can crunch numbers yourself and see what the approximate metal worth is.