How do you identify silver markings?

How do you identify silver markings?

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.

What are the stamp marks for silver?

Sterling silver (925): This is the standard for silver, identifying a silver item that is at least 92.5% silver mixed with copper to give it strength. Marks on these pieces include 925 or Sterling. Any mark indicating a higher silver content, such as 950, would also qualify as sterling.

Is Epns silver worth anything?

If you have a piece marked EPNS that is not antique, it has no monetary value, but save it if you can use it. If it’s damaged, toss it in the trash.

What do the letters mean on silver?

They include: 1) symbol for the town in which the silver content was certified, called an assay or town mark; 2) symbol for the year of manufacture called the date letter; 4) symbol for the standard mark guaranteeing the silver content. The English silver standard is also 925/1000.

How can you tell if something is solid silver or silver plated?

Check the colouring of the item carefully; genuine silver is generally less shiny and colder in tone than silverplate. If you see places where the silver appears to be flaking off or turning green, the item is silver plated. To investigate further, you can try cleaning the item with a soft cloth.

How do you read a silver stamp?

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 identify hallmarks?

The four components of a hallmark are: the sponsor or maker’s mark, the standard mark, the assay office mark and the date letter for the year. Hallmark identification should answer four important questions – where; what; when; who.

What is the difference between silver plated and Epns?

To identify silver plate, look for places where the thin layer of silver has worn away, revealing the base metal underneath. If the exposed base metal is a pale yellow, then the item is EPNS.

How do you remove tarnish from Epns?

1. Plug the sink and fill it with warm water.
2. Add mild dish soap and wash the EPNS cutlery or utensils thoroughly.
3. Run the EPNS through warm water to wash off the soap residue.
4. Take the utensils or cutlery and dry them with paper towels or soft cloth kitchen towels.
5. Drain the soapy water from the sink.

How do you test silver with vinegar?

Some people try to save money by using vinegar instead of acid but vinegar won’t give you accurate results. For this test, you just put a drop of acid on your silver item. If the acid turns the wrong color then it’s fake. If it turns the correct color then the silver is real.

How can you tell the difference between sterling silver and silverplate?

Silver plate is just that – a thin layer of silver plated over another metal such as copper, brass or nickel. Often silver plated items will be marked with an EP, EPNS or Silver on Copper or have no mark at all. American sterling silver is always marked Sterling or 925, and is 92.5% pure silver.

How do you read sterling silver hallmarks?

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. Silver that is marked with 925 is known as Sterling Silver. Sterling Silver is commonly used in jewellery, cutlery (such as silver spoons), and other products because of its durability.