Silverware sets are one of those things that tend to get passed down for generations within a family. In many instances, families may own silverware and flatware that is over 100 years old. While baby boomers and members of older generations often kept silverware sets as a family heirloom, people of younger generations are less interested in keeping them. Large sets of silverware and flatware take up space and require polishing if they have become tarnished over the years.
Fortunately, flatware and sterling silverware sets can be worth a good amount of money, making it worth your time to sell your unwanted silverware. Gold and silver buyers like PGS Gold & Coin offer top dollar for sterling silver flatware, hollowware, tea sets and candlesticks. The price of a silverware set can vary widely due to a number of factors including age, weight, manufacturer, design, and the current market price for silver. If you have decided to sell a sterling silverware set that you no longer want, the following tips will help you prepare your flatware for the sale and get top dollar for your items.
As with anything else you want to sell, you must decide definitively that you are ready to sell your sterling flatware set. Since these items are often passed down as a family heirlooms, the decision to part with the set can be difficult. You must decide for sure that you would rather sell the set than pass them down to another generation in your family.
The pieces of a silverware set are either made from real sterling silver, or they are made with a different metal and plated with silver. It is important to figure out whether your flatware is sterling silver or plated silver before trying to sell it. The easiest way to determine this is to look at the markings from the manufacturer on the individual pieces. Pieces that are silver plated are typically marked with phrases such as “silver plate,” “plated,” “EP” for electroplated, or “EPNS” for electroplated nickel silver. If there is no marking on the silverware, the pieces are most likely silver plated.
Sterling silver flatware is virtually always marked as such. American made sterling flatware is typically marked with the word “sterling” or the shortened “ster.” Silverware made in other countries is often marked with the number 925 which refers to the 92.5% concentration of silver in sterling silver objects. Some flatware may also be marked with the word “coin” which means that the pieces are made from melted coins. Flatware marked “coin” is usually about 90 percent silver.
If your flatware set is silver plated, it is best to keep it and use it. Silver plated flatware has very little resale value because it is expensive to remove the silver plating. If you determine that your set is sterling silver flatware, then you must dig a little deeper to get a better idea of the set’s true value.
Just because your flatware is sterling silver does not mean it is worth a lot of money. There are other factors to take into account when trying to gauge the value of your sterling flatware:
If you would still like a better idea of the value of your silverware after considering the above factors, you can look online for silverware sets that are similar to yours. Check several different websites, not just eBay, and compare the prices to get an average. This process will give you a good idea of the value of your silverware set before you try to sell them or have them appraised by a professional.
When you are ready to get an appraisal for your flatware, bring your set to a trusted sterling silver flatware buyer like PGS Gold & Coin. Our precious metals specialists will weigh and evaluate your silverware and immediately offer you a fair price based on the condition of the set and the market price of silver. We are ready to offer top dollar for sterling silver flatware sets as well as tea sets, holloware, candlesticks, and vintage or antique silver items.