When is Silver Not Silver?

Everyday we are contacted by clients looking to sell silver items that they believe are "hallmarked". Our first response is to check the veracity of that belief as quite often the kilograms of "silver" that has been pulled out of the loft or elsewhere is not as it seems. This is especially true of table ware and cutlery which is often silver plated and not solid silver. Manufacturers used to great lengths to create an illusion of solid silver with elaborate markings, letters, animals, symbols of all kinds which are not hallmarks at all. Even the use of the word "silver" does not guarantee anything... "Nevada Silver" and "Brazilian Silver" are trade names for silver plated items.

Watch out for the dead giveaways - "EPNS / EP / EPWM / EPBM" and similar are all references to "Electroplated Nickel Silver" - in other words, base metal items that have been plated with silver on an electro-chemical basis. With very few exceptions any such items have very little or no value as a metal with occasional instances of their value being in the collectors market but only if really very special.

The marks you are ideally looking for are the UK standard, 925 silver hallmark known as the "Lion Passant" - see the image attached. It is a highly reliable indicator that any item is really silver of UK origin or that it has been assayed in the UK. Obviously there are many other marks from all over the world which would take a great deal of space to explore but this is a good place to start. Pieces marked "Sterling" or "Sterling Silver" or sometimes just plain old "Silver" are usually true to their word as well.

Bottom line though it is all a bit of a trap for the unwary so perhaps the thing to do is call us in to take a look. We have a wealth of experience and some very sophisticated testing equipment. We usually ask for some images first so we can check that it is not plated but thereafter we will come to you and appraise the items with a view to offering you a fair price - paid on the spot of course.

So why not get in touch? We are usually able to get to you in a few days but can offer useful advice on the phone, whatsapp. messenger or via email. We work in the whole of South Devon and South East Cornwall as well as West Devon - broadly in a big loop ranging from Exeter to Okehampton down to Launceston and Liskeard, sweeping back up via Saltash to Plymouth then onto Totnes, Torbay and all stops in between.