Understanding the Worth of Your Silverware

When you inherit or discover a beautiful chest of old flatware, you might wonder what it’s truly worth. Over our decades of evaluating precious metals, we’ve found that understanding your silver doesn’t have to be intimidating. Many people feel overwhelmed by the subtle stamps and heavy boxes, but we are here to walk you through exactly how to appraise and sell your sterling silverware with confidence.

The Secret is in the Hallmarks

The very first thing we do during an appraisal is look for the hallmarks. Turn your spoon or fork over and look closely at the back of the handle. Do you see the word “Sterling”, the number “925”, or perhaps a tiny stamp of a walking lion—known in the industry as the Lion Passant?

These marks are excellent signs. They are the manufacturer’s guarantee that the piece consists of 92.5% pure silver. If your pieces carry these stamps, you possess genuine sterling silver, which holds substantial intrinsic value on the precious metals market.

Beware of Silver-Plated Flatware

One of the most common questions we receive involves silver-plated items. It can be incredibly disappointing to bring in a massive, heavy box of beautiful antique flatware only to learn it holds almost no precious metal value. To save you that frustration, here is what we look for: if you see the letters EPNS (Electroplated Nickel Silver), the words “International Silver”, or phrases like “A1” or “Quadruple Plate”, you are looking at silver-plated pieces.

Silver plate is essentially a base metal—like copper or brass—covered in a microscopically thin layer of silver. Because the actual amount of silver used is practically non-existent, these pieces do not hold any meaningful intrinsic value and unfortunately cannot be sold for silver content.

The Reality of Weighted Handles

If you’ve ever picked up a sterling silver butter knife, a large carving set, or an ornate candlestick and felt surprised by its satisfying heft, it is important to know that it is likely not solid silver. Because pure silver is a relatively soft metal, everyday items that require structural strength must be reinforced.

Manufacturers solve this by creating a thin outer shell of sterling silver and filling the inside of the handle with cement, pitch, or resin. You will often see the word “Weighted” or “Reinforced” stamped near the sterling mark. When we assess the intrinsic value of these items, we calculate the estimated weight of the thin silver foil surrounding that core, rather than weighing the heavy cement inside.

Appraising Complete Sets vs. Individual Pieces

Whether you have an extensive flatware set, a stunning vintage tea service, or a mismatched collection of spoons, we evaluate each scenario uniquely. If your silver is broken, deeply tarnished, or severely dented, do not worry—we determine your payout based purely on the raw intrinsic value of the 925 silver. However, if you bring us a complete, highly-desirable flatware set or an intact, ornate tea service in excellent condition, these pieces may command a premium beyond their pure metal content due to collector demand.

We pride ourselves on offering transparent, honest appraisals. We will gladly sit down with you, sort the plated pieces from the genuine sterling, factor in any weighted handles, and explain exactly how we arrive at our final offer.