How can you tell how old sterling silver is?
Because Sterling Silver is 92.5% silver, the common purity mark used today is “925.” Most vintage Sterling Silver pieces have the older marks: “STERLING,” “STER,” or “STG.” Some modern jewelry today will use “STERLING” either with “925” or without it, usually in conjunction with the maker’s mark.
What marks are on real silver?
American sterling silver is marked with one of the following hallmarks: “925,” “. 925,” or “S925.” the 925 indicates that the piece contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. Sterling silver items made in the UK contain a stamp of a lion.
How is antique silver marked?
Silver hallmarks are one of the most important factors in identifying antique silver jewelry, flatware, and other items. These small stamped symbols on the back or underside of silver items can tell you the purity of the silver, the manufacturer of the piece, and sometimes even the date it was made.
How do you read silver?
The first symbol you may find is 800, which is a number only used for silver and indicates that 800 parts in every 1000 are silver, or in other words, the silver is 80% pure. Moving up in fineness, the next symbol you will find is 925. This number indicates the metal is silver and that it is 92.5% pure.
How do you test silver?
The Nitric Acid Test is used to check if silver is pure or plated. To do so, file a small part of the item in a discreet area where it cannot be seen. Apply a few drops of nitric acid. If the area turns into creamy white, the silver is pure or sterling.
When was the 925 silver mark first used?
In 1999, a new format of English hallmarking on objects of Sterling Silver was initiated consisting of a maker’s mark, the assay office insignia and a 925 symbol.
How do you identify silver?
How to Tell If an Item Is Made of Real Silver
- Look for markingsor stamps on the silver. Silver will often be stampedwith 925, 900, or 800.
- Test it with a magnet. Silver, like most preciousmetals, is nonmagnetic.
- Sniff it.
- Polish it with a soft white cloth.
- Put a piece of ice on it.
How do you Assay silver?
Silver is assayed by titration, gold by cupellation and platinum by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Precious metal items of art or jewelry are frequently hallmarked (depending upon the requirements of the laws of either the place of manufacture or the place of import).
Why are the date letters on silver marks changed?
Originally it signified the Assay Master responsible for testing and marking the silver. The date letters were changed on the day that the Goldsmith’s Guild wardens were elected, originally St Dunstan’s Day (19 May) until the Restoration (1660) and 29 May thereafter.
How do you date a piece of silver?
To date your silver from its hallmark first identify the assay office (e.g. anchor for Birmingham, leopard’s head for London, etc.). Then click on the appropriate link below to go to the tables of date letters. If you are unable to identify the assay office from one of the town marks below you may have a piece of imported silver.
When was the London assay mark first used?
This is the origin of the term “hallmark”. In 1544 the leopard’s head mark was adopted as the mark of the London Assay Office. A letter mark coinciding with the date of assay was first introduced in London in 1477.
When did Sheffield Assay stop using the date letter?
From 1780 until 1853 the Sheffield assay office used, on small items, a punch with date letter and crown combined. The Hallmarking Act of 1973 brought the remaining 4 British Assay Offices (London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh) into line with each other with the date letter now changing (from 1975) on 1 January each year.