We Buy Sterling Silver Flatware

Best Price Paid for Sterling Silver in Portland Vancouver

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Sterling Silver Flatware:

• Silver Dining Utensils
• Plates
• Trays
• Goblets
• Candle Holder
• Other Table Ware
  

 

History of Silver Flatware

American lifestyle has changed significantly.  Entertaining guests used to be a lot different.  This is clearly evident in the formalities of dining, especially in the choice of utensils.  Dining used to be a lot more ceremonial.  It is because of this, that for the best occasions, the preference was to use sterling silver utensils. These utensils, known as silver flatware, include knives, forks, spoons, plates, trays, goblets, candle holders, and all kinds of related accessories.  Nice solid  sterling silver flatware indicated family pride and affluence.  Of course, silver being a precious metal, not everyone could afford it.  Thus, silver plated flatware of various qualities is abundant. 

Sterling silver flatware has been continuously industrially manufactured and marketed to the rich since the 1800s.  However, it was the rise of the middle class what created the large scale demand.  It is to this market, the affluent upper middle class, which most manufacturers catered to.  American middle class affluence peaked in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Most of existing silver flatware in America dates to this time.  Now a day, even the financially well-off hardly ever use silver flatware.  The main reasons seem to be that dining is a lot less formal, and dishwashers tarnish silver.

Identifying Solid Sterling Silver Flatware

 

Solid Silver Flatware

The hallmark of quality solid sterling silver flatware is the deeply engraved “Sterling Silver” stamp.  If a utensil is not stamped “Sterling Silver”, it is most likely not silver. 

 

Silver Plated Flatware 

“Silver Plat” indicates that the item is silver plated.  The quality of the plating varies significantly.  High quality silver plated items can last a long time despite heavy use.  Lower quality silver plated items discolor a lot sooner.

 

Difference Between Solid & Plated Silver Flatware

Solid sterling silver flatware, with the exception of knifes and similar hard blade items, are sterling silver all the way through.  On the other hand, silver plated items are of base metal core with sterling silver coat.  The silver coat thickness depends on the quality of the item.   The core, which is most of the mass, is of a copper based alloy.

 

Silver Flatware Silver Content

Quality sterling silver is a precious metal alloy of which out of a total of 1000 parts, 925 parts are silver.  Thus “925 Silver” and “Sterling Silver” means the same.  Not everything stamped “Sterling Silver” is solid sterling silver.  There are plenty of counterfeits and fakes.  Reputable brand silver flatware has excellent, reliable, silver content.  See partial list below.  Other items may or may not be 925 parts per 1000 sterling.  There are also 900 and 800 parts per 1000 silver flatware alloys.  If there is any doubt about the silver content of an item, examine and test the item thoroughly.

Reputable Silver Flatware Brands

• Gorham
• Whiting
• International Sterling
• Westmoreland
• Lunt
• Reed & Barton
• Tiffany
• Towle
• Kirk Stieff
• Wallace
• Christofle
• Arthur Price
• Kerr & Co
• Various high end stores sold silver flatware under their brand name 

 

Hollow Silver Flatware Handles

Knives and other utensils with hard blades are not solid silver.  The blade is stainless steel.  The handle is hollow silver.  Inside the handle, which is the majority of the mass, are the knife’s shank, wax and lead.  Because of this, in only a small portion of the item’s weight is silver. 

 

Silver Flatware Grade by Silver Content

• Sterling Silver or 925 Silver –  Stamped “Sterling Silver” or “925”.  Indicates 925 silver parts per 1000.  Most common alloy. 
• Silver 900 –  Stamped “900”.  Indicates 900 silver parts per 1000.  Common in Europe
• Silver 800 –  Stamped “800”.  Indicates 800 silver parts per 1000.  Mostly central European, typically  Polish and German.
• Plated  –  Stamped “Plated”, “Plat”, "EP", "EPNS" or none of the above stamps.  This is silver plated flatware.  Its silver content is minimal and not recoverable.

 

Identifying Fake Silver Flatware

 

A fake item is an item that is not what it appears to be.  That at item is stamped “Sterling” or “925” does not guarantee that the item is solid silver.  The best way to identify fakes is to be intimately familiar with how silver feels, looks, and tests.  Below are some indications.

• Poor quality craftsmanship – If the manufacturer is saving in craftsmanship, most likely it is also saving in silver content.  Cheap looking items tend to be of low quality silver alloy, plated or plain fake. 
• No Stamp –  See above
• Fading Stamp –  Quality items have deep, clear stamps indicating the content.  A fading stamp means the item needs to be more carefully examined.
• Dis-coloration.  Other than tarnish, solid silver alloys are of uniform color.
• Does not feel right.  If it does not feel right, most likely the item is not silver.  Maybe it is pewter, aluminum, stainless or plated.  Examine well.

Bottom Line

• Solid sterling silver flatware is typically 925 parts per 1000 silver.  These items are always stamped “Sterling” or “925”. 
• Plated silver is not solid silver 
• Cheap looking items are often not silver

 

We Buy Silver Flatware  

Call Us at 971-222-3435

We are Very Interested

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Typical Silver Flatware Set