How can you tell if flatware is sterling or stainless steel?
Determine if the flatware is sterling silver, silver plate or stainless steel. Look for this information in the same location as the manufacturer name–down the handle of a teaspoon or on the back of the bowl. Sterling flatware may be marked with English hallmarks or the word “sterling.”
How can I tell if my sterling silverware is vintage?
Older or foreign vintage sterling flatware may not be hallmarked, but it may be identified by maker’s marks and patterns. If all these methods fail or you want to verify the silver content of your flatware, have it tested. Look for a hallmark on the backside of your piece of flatware with the magnifying glass.
Where can I find the pattern of flatware?
Use an identification book like Tere Hagan’s “Silverplated Flatware” or Harry Rinker’s “Silverware of the 20th Century: The Top 250 Patterns” to identify the flatware pattern. Identify stainless patterns on the Replacements or Silver Collect website or on the website of the manufacturer.
How can I tell if my silverware is double or triple plate?
Silver plate is usually marked with the word “plate” and may be Electroplate on Nickel Silver (EPNS) or Standard Plate, Double Plate, Triple Plate or Quadruple Plate. Use an identification book like Tere Hagan’s “Silverplated Flatware” or Harry Rinker’s “Silverware of the 20th Century: The Top 250 Patterns” to identify the flatware pattern.
How do you identify sterling silverware?
In order to identify if flatware and other items are sterling silver, the items must be identified with a hallmark or stamp that states “sterling” or “925”. The stamp is usually small and placed on the bottom of bowls and plates or at the end of flatware items.
What does A1 mean on silverware?
With that being said, the marking of “A1” on your pieces usually indicates that what you have is silver plate and not sterling. The symbol “A1” on silverware is a marking used to indicate the number of ounces of pure silver used in the plating process. While this is a higher grade of silver plate (from what we understand),…
What is sterling silverware?
Sterling silver is a popular metal for jewelry, silverware, and decorations. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver that consists of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of other metal, usually copper.
What do markings on silver jewelry mean?
Certain markings on silver indicate where the silver originated from or where it was manufactured. For example, the lion marking indicates British sterling and since the mark has changed over the years, the lion mark actually indicates a specific time period of silver dating.
