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A silver item is normally made of a solid alloy of silver. Pure silver is too soft for use in most items that are subject to average wear (e.g. jewelry), so it has to be combined with a small amount of a harder metal such as copper. The fraction of silver is measured by a quantity called fineness. Normally it's expressed as a 3-digit number, and may or may not have an explicit decimal point. Regardless, it represents the amount of silver as a decimal fraction. For example, "925 fine" or ".925 fine" means that 925/1000, or 92.5% of the alloy is pure silver while the remaining amount is another metal or metals.
Because solid silver alloys can be very expensive, it's common to make an item such as a serving dish or silverware out of a less expensive "base" metal and then simply coat it with silver in an electrolytic bath. It still has the overall appearance of silver but because you're only paying for a coating, the item will cost less. Also if the item is subject to a lot of wear the base metal may be chosen for extra hardness; then it may be possible to have it replated if the silver coating wears off.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoSterling is silver with a content of 92.5% in purity. In Europe, silver that has a content of 80% is also referred to as Sterling.
In contrast, Silver Plate, is an electroplating or dipping process where very thin (several microns) layer of silver is coated on copper or other metals to form flatware (silverware, dishes, cups, etc.).
Sterling is worth 92.5% of the current Spot Price for silver, by weight in Troy ounces. Silver plate may have some emotional value, but the silver is realistically unrecoverable because it is in such trace amounts.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoSterling silver is a solid alloy of 92.5% silver and another metal (usually copper) added for hardness. Silver plate is a thin layer of silver applied to a base metal core.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoSterling is solid silver and plated is silver covered on usually copper
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What is the difference between oxidized silver and sterling silver?
Oxidized silver is not necessarily sterling silver but sterling silver can be oxidized. Oxidation is a finish on silver, otherwise known as tarnish. Sterling silver can tarnish and silver plate can tarnish, too.
How can you tell real silver form silver plated?
My grandfather taught me many years ago that for antique silver, true sterling has a "sweet" smell, while silver plate gives off a very faint sulfuric odor. I do not know if this is true for modern silver or not.
What does 966 mean on a silver ring?
silver is alloyed with other metals to strengthen it. most jewelry is sterling silver which is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, and noted as "925" "STR" or "SS" on the piece. Sometimes the silver mixture is a little more or a little less, depending on the amount of the other metal used in relation to the silver. Jewelry that is 99.9% silver is known as "fine silver 966 does NOT mean it is silver...ONLY 925 is sterling... the 966 marking is only sliver plate......
Can silver tarnish into green?
Sterling silver contains a little over 7% copper and silver plate often has a base of copper or an alloy containing copper. Copper corrosion and some copper salts are green, as in the popular verdegris patina on outdoor copper scupture or roofing. I have found green corrosion on some of my silver plate, which I believe is copper sulfate and due to the reaction of sulphur compounds (found in many foods and also found in newspaper, so don't pack silver in newspaper!) with copper exposed by the wearing away of the silver plate.
Is Sheffield silver pure silver or silver plate?
Some Sheffield silver is pure silver and some is silver plate. However, I think that a lot of Sheffield silver if pure and not plated.
What is difference between oxidized silver and sterling silver?
Oxidized silver is not necessarily sterling silver but sterling silver can be oxidized. Oxidation is a finish on silver, otherwise known as tarnish. Sterling silver can tarnish and silver plate can tarnish, too.
What is the difference between oxidized silver and sterling silver?
Oxidized silver is not necessarily sterling silver but sterling silver can be oxidized. Oxidation is a finish on silver, otherwise known as tarnish. Sterling silver can tarnish and silver plate can tarnish, too.
Silver bowl stamped sterling it is made by Rogers with an anchor on each side is it silver or silver plate?
If the bowl is stamped "sterling," it is genuine sterling silver, not silver plate.
Is Stratford Silver co Special silver plated or sterling?
silver plate
Did the standard silver co ltd Toronto produce silver plated or sterling silver dishes?
They did both genuine sterling and sterling plate, the genuine flatware and dishes will be marked Sterling.
Is Meriden b silver sterling or plate?
meriden b company is a sterling silver (hallowware) manufacturing company that made sterling silver pieces. They were established in the 1800's Can you always trust the 'sterling' mark on this company's silver?
What is the difference between tinplate and galvanized?
The primary difference between tin plate and silver plate is in what they are made of and their application. Tin plate is usually applied via electroplating and silver plate is applied via Tollen's reagent.
Is silver stamped sola 100 sterling?
No this is dutch mark for silver plate sola is maker
Are the silver presidential spoons sterling silver or silver plate?
I was told they are silver plated. I have a set of 37 I am looking to sell.
What year did Wallace begin silver Sleigh Bells?
Wallace began producing Silver-plate sleigh bells in 1971. In 1990, Wallace began crafting gold-plated sleigh bells as well. Then, in 1995, they produced both a silver-plate and a sterling silver and a gold plated version for the 25th anniversary of the production of sleigh bells. Since 1995, they have produced all three bells as part of their annual collection.You can determine the silver-plate from the sterling bells in two ways:If it is silver-plate, the annual number of the bell will be higher. For instance a 1995 silver-plate bell is a 25th edition while the sterling version is the 1st edition.The sterling bells will be stamped "Sterling" on the bottom of the bell.
How can you tell if a 1883 FBRodgers piece is silver or silverplated?
FB Rodgers was a manufacturer of silver plated products and did not produce any sterling. To tell if a piece of silver is sterling or plate, the word sterling or .925 or 925/1000 must be stamped somewhere on the piece. If it is not, it is plate or some other material.
What does the hallmark a1 mean?
A1 is an English term for silver plate. Items with A1 are not sterling silver.
