anyone knows how can i tell silver plated, and reall silver...?

Question

is there any way to tell if silver is pure and if it is solid. and be able to recognice silver plated...

Answer 1

Hm...the previous answerer gave a lot of great information that seems mostly directed at silver servingware. It is true that silver servingware is generally marked.
If your question is about jewelery or misc. silver, it's a little trickier - I have been collecting jewelery from estate and yard sales for years and have lots of material that is fine or sterling silver that is not marked. Sometimes the only way to tell is to test it, there are acid metal testing kits you can use to identify metals - they're not cheap so aren't worth the expense for one or two pieces but if you collect, like me, you might want to invest in one.

Answer 2

Look for the hallmarks stamped into the piece; marks are required by law in most every country and have been for 300 years or so. 925 denotes sterling, plus the country of origin and a company or artisan mark or stamp will be there also.

Hallmarks can be found everywhere on the net for both old and new makers of silver pieces.

See this link for some of the hallmarks:

http://www.925-1000.com/

Plate tends to be lighter than sterling pieces. Solid silver items are very heavy (and rare), while sterling silver plated ones are less so. Most Sheffield plate (early bonded plate, like electroplating) items are about equal in weight to silverplate, but are usuallly worth more than current/new silverplate.

If you aren't sure, take the item to a reputable collector or a dealer to be sure. A reputable jeweler that deals in estate jewelry and fine collectibles, in most cases, can tell you, also.

Pawnbrokers may be able to tell you what your pieces are as well--they have mini, quick- test kits of chemicals for grading metals---but be advised they are in business to buy low and sell high. Meaning, they will undervalue the item to you, then buy it cheap and sell it for a much higher price, to their own enrichment. It's their business. It's what they do.

On older pieces, plating often has worn thin at the areas of frequent use (ie: handles, lids, rims) and if you see the brass or copper underlayment lightly shining thru or the silver has a yellowish cast or look to it, then you know it is plated.

It is very rare to find solid sterling silver pieces, in even the finest homes or auctions. They were rare after 1900; silverplate is found in even Queen Elizabeth's home today.

If it is silverware you have and it was purchased by your grandparents or parents after 1900, it most likely is plate.

Answer 3

decrease it in a million/2 and seem. If it have been mine, however, i could be greater susceptible to get the thank you to degree the quantity properly, Archimedes. If there's a serial quantity, i assume you need to write to Oneida and ask, yet that kind of feels like cheating.