Rounder results.

[tom hansen]

I think Dietrich is right on this point here. However, having made the nick, I think that the reagent should be applied. Here is why. Can someone tell me on this photo where the plating ends on the neusilber begins? I cannot tell at all, as there is no demarcation and it all appears silver. But under SEM, the top part of the beading where there is some wear (which is not apparent at all to the naked eye) has neusilber below. Everything appears silver, but the nuesilber is revealed only through SEM.

[Dietrich Maerz]

Tom,

I know it will forever be hard to convince you. Even if I would apply the reagent you might ask me whether the reagent was correctly applied, maybe outdated or whatever.

I ask you to believe me when I tell you that I tested my cross, I 'drilled' a fairly deep hole in it: It is silver, not neusilber, not brass, not tombak nor anything else but solid silver!! End od subject!!!

Dietrich

[tom hansen]

Dietrich-

I really do believe you. Keep in mind that neusilber will look like silver and on the schickle piece above, I cannot see any demarcation lines at all on the border of where the silver plate stops and the neusilber begins. That is probably in a large part due to wear, such that the thin plating at the margins will not show a clear separation point. I would assume that by drilling a hole, that if there were plating, there would be a slight demarcation or separation line that would be apparent under loop. Again, I very much believe you that the piece is silver and not silver plated and I applaud your efforts. Just to dot the "i"s and cross the "t"s, the reagent would without a doubt confirm what is strongly suspected there.