The development of efficient methods for the detection of hazardous and toxic elements is extremely important for environmental security and public health. In this work, we developed a facile colorimetric assaying system for Ag+ detection in aqueous solution. Chitosan-stabilized platinum nanoparticles (Ch-PtNPs) were synthesized and severed as an artificial oxidase to catalyze the oxidation of the substrate 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and generate color signal. In the presence of Ag+, due to the strong metallophilic interactions between Ag+ and Pt2+ on the surface of Ch-PtNPs, Ag+ can weaken the affinity to the substrates and inactivate the catalytic activity of Ch-PtNPs, leading to decreased absorbance signal to varying degrees depending on Ag+ amount. Combing the specific binding between Ch-PtNPs and Ag+ with signal amplification procedure based on the Ch-PtNPs-catalyzed TMB oxidation, a sensitive, selective, simple, cost-effective, and rapid detection method for Ag+ can be realized. Ag+ ions in tap and lake waters have been successfully detected. We ensured that the proposed method can be a potential alternative for Ag+ determination in environmental samples.