Sterling chains and earrings

[massdigr]

I have found a couple of .925 chains with my Q. when the coil swept over them they did not hit in the silver range they showed as nickel 14,15,16. I have also found 925 earrings to do this as well. I was wondering if anyone else has found this to be the case. If so do you know why?

HH Rick,

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

The reason is simple. When detecting chains, the machine only sees one link of the chain or more often, the clasp. The same is true with rings that are broken...they signal very weak, if at all. It's just the dynamics of the way most metal detectors function, as they are geared for coin-sized objects and other "solid" stuff. The exception with chains is when they're "balled up" in a little pile, which is why most of them are found. Stretch a chain out lengthwise and it takes a hell of a detector to get a signal off of it, sometimes even when waved directly over it. I have found several chains that I was about to just pass on due to crappy signal but for some reason pressed on and found a nice chain. So if it sounds even remotely like it might be a good signal, it pays to dig it.