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 Replies: 17 / Views: 4,344 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
863 Posts |
Could anyone give me an estimate on this. Is there a value to it more than the silver. The ladle says sterling. I'm not sure the amount of silver for the rest. Someone messaged me on CL saying she wanted 25 for them. I fell that would probably be ripping her off. If possible id rather pay her a fair price. Does anyone have any information about the different types and values of silver
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
863 Posts |
Sorry I forgot to include the picture. Hope you can see the markings on the back now that I had to make it smaller  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
It all depends. Is the ladle the only sterling item? Sterling is supposed to be 92.5% silver but on average runs about 91%. With spot at $29 a troy ounce of silver would be $26.39 in silver value. I'd guess the ladle is between 1.25-1.5 troy ounces so it looks like you would be ok at $25. You have to keep in mind that when selling sterling that has to be refined you will be doing well to get 90% of melt.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Sorry, can't make out the markings. Sterling silver flatware should be marked as "Sterling" or as "925". If it is not so marked, it can be difficult to tell whether or not it really is Sterling silver. Measuring the volume so you can calculate the density is not easy either, given the irregular shapes involved.
If these items really are Sterling, though, they should be worth around $27.50 or so per oz. of flatware. I agree that getting 90% of that or $24.75 would be typical.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
863 Posts |
She wants 25 for the entire thing. so if there are a few more sterling pieces it seems like a pretty decent price
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Its worth being aware that unless the items have a Britih Assay mark it is possible to stamp 925 on any material. If you see a mark that says EPNS stay well clear (it mean Electro plated nickel steel)
'German' silver is 50% silver and 50% nickel, Brittania standard is 95% silver but was replaced with the sterling silver 92.5% standard.
A weight would be useful to determining a value but without handling them and using the benifit of some experience its difficult to tell you exactly what to pay. Though I can see you want to be fair with the lady if she took them to a jeweller or pawnbroker they would probably try to get them as cheap as they possibly could and then send them to melt. You don't have to give 100% of the melt value to her because you are taking a little risk that they are all exactly what they are supposed to be.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
863 Posts |
So I met up with the lady today. She told me that she was fine with 30 for them I bought three pieces all say sterling. She is moving and it just trying to get rid of stuff. Are there companies that are more desirable to own than others. The ladle says sterling F&H The large spoon says sterling with a patent date of 1913. there is also a stamp of a ship Anchor on it. Makers mark? The small spoon says wolfenden sterling TWR the total in troy is 3.974 oz which I found once I got home  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
830 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
863 Posts |
Thanks Amida. That is what I understood German silver to be as well
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Ahh... sorry I got confused :S I used to use some stuff which was a 50% silver and 50% nickel mix (used to train on it making victorian style jewellery like Double-Clips) and I thought they used to refer to it as german silver, perhaps they did incorrectly or perhaps my memory of this (15 years ago) is incorrect.
Anyway, it looks like you got a good deal :) congratz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1903 Posts |
Ya....German silver is a silver simulant that is actually a COPPER alloy! Mostly copper with nickel and sometimes zinc. Is more or less what copper clad coinage is made from. Also known as "nickel silver"
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Quote:
If you see a mark that says EPNS stay well clear (it mean Electro plated nickel steel) It is rather easy to test such pieces with a small magnet. Both nickel and iron are magnetic. Silver is not, including Sterling silver. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1119 Posts |
Ed- easy way to calculate volume buy a plastic graduated cylinder at a photography or chemical supply store and channel your inner Copernicus. Only thing is with some thicker handled items there may be a hollow handle at which point I think we would all SOL. I see several of you beat me to the German silver thing. To the OP keep in mind for any sterling flat ware purchases in the future that the blade on butter knives are stainless steel more often than not. Not sure about the cheese knife type items but they seem to have a sterling blade most times.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1119 Posts |
I would be careful with the pattern all the way to the left I have seen stainless in the same pattern. Correctly marked as stainless. It appears the iced tea spoon you purchased is a similar or same pattern. But as long as it is marked sterling I would have no problem buying it. Even would be fine risk without the British Assay mark. And any mark can be counterfeit including the British Assay mark.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4008 Posts |
Quote:
Ed- easy way to calculate volume buy a plastic graduated cylinder at a photography or chemical supply store and channel your inner Copernicus. Yes, I know the basics of science. Being a retired research chemist, I have some experience with density measurements. That said, if an object is of a sufficiently odd size it can be difficult to fit it into a volumetric cylinder such that the change in water volume due to the immersion of that object can be measured. A 500 ml graduated cylinder, for example, is typically less than 2" in diameter. If these objects will fit into that space, all well and good. If not, then it can get rather tricky with only typical home equipment. A shorter but fatter graduated cylinder could be the answer, such as the plastic one here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040X3IZM...f_B0040X3IZMIt will be slightly harder to read and a little less accurate than a narrow one but it should suffice. |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 4,344 |
Posted 08/22/2012 4:36 pm
