Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Shopping > Fashion > Jewelry > How can you tell if an antique is sterling silver or silver plated?

How can you tell if an antique is sterling silver or silver plated?

In: Jewelry, Antiques, Gold and Precious Metals [Edit categories]

Answer:

American sterling silver products made after 1850 are always stamped with the word "sterling," and sometimes also include the numbers .925, indicating the silver is 92.5% pure.
British sterling carries 4-5 stamped hallmarks identifying the company, the location, date of manufacture, etc. These can be matched with photos in the silver hallmark database. Similarly, American manufacturers employ hallmarks or sponsor's marks that can be identified by matching photos.
The first patent for silver plating was issued in 1840. Older pieces are sterling, although they may not be stamped as such.
Some of the early makers of silverplate flatware were Rogers Bros, Rogers & Bros. FB Rogers Silver, Wm Rogers, the Meriden Britannia Company, Middletown Plate Co. (Superior Silver Company) and others. Many of these names were used well into the 20th century. In 1898, this group of companies formed International Silver Company.
Some of the silverplate manufacturers also released sterling patterns, but these are stamped "sterling," whereas the plate is not. Many of the sterling pattern numbers are recorded in a database or databases.
Some of the stamps used to distinguish silverplated tableware are: IS (International Silver), IC, Brittania, EPNS (Electical Plated Nickle Silver), A1, Triple Plate, 3x, Quadruple Plate, 4x, Silver on Copper, EP, EP on Copper, and a whole host of initial and pictorial marks that can be matched with pictures in the silverplate database.
Myth: Silverplate is magnetic; silver is not. In truth, neither is magnetic. Stainless steel shows varying degrees of magnetism.

Myth: Silverplate doesn't tarnish like genuine silver. In truth, both will tarnish, because both are genuine silver. The difference is, sterling is sterling silver all the way through; plate only has a thin skin of silver over a base metal. Stainless steel doesn't tarnish.
Silverplate has no scrap value. Even the thickest plate is only about .20mm (8/1000th of an inch) thick, and refineries won't buy it because the process of reclaiming silver from plate is too expensive.

First answer by Marcia1061. Last edit by Marcia1061. Contributor trust: 879 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 39 [recommend question].

[report abuse]

Sources and related links: [Edit]

Answers.com: silver plate

Can you answer these Jewelry questions?

	How much is a pearl necklace?	Answer it!
	Where can you find the ring worn by Bridgett Moynahan in the Garnier commercial?	Answer it!
	What does silver mean on a clasp?	Answer it!
	What did colonial wear in Maine?	Answer it!
	What is the difference between a Pandora bracelet and an European Pandora bracelet?	Answer it!

Relevant answers:

How can you tell 925 stamped silver is silver or silver plated?
925 is the Sterling Silver mark of purity. It can only be used for silver, never ever for plate. If it was asseyed in England for example it would also, by law have to be stamped with the Assey...
Can sterling silver be gold plated?
The simple answer to this is yes. My Brother-in-Law was foreman at a well known UK plating works for over 40 years, he informs me that silver is an ideal metal to gold plate. Absolutely. Gold over...
What is rodium plated sterling silver?
Rhodium, from the platinum family, is a metal that does not tarnish. It is plated over silver so that you do not have to clean it as often. It is much shinier than silver though, a true lover of...
How can you tell if sterling silver is real?
An easy way to tell if the Sterling Silver is real is by putting a magnet to it. If the magnet attracted to it, it isn't real. Don't rely on just a stamp, they can still be fakes. My sister works at...
Is sheridan silver plated or sterling?
Sheridan silver is copper plated with silver.