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sterling silver markings

by Prof. Kamryn Schultz Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

In the United States, sterling silver is classified as containing 92.5% or more silver, which is why you might see “sterling” or “925” stamped at the bottom of an authentic sterling silver piece. That's the key identifier that a piece is sterling silver.Mar 24, 2021

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How do you identify sterling silver marks?

Common Sterling Silver Hallmarks"Sterling""Sterling silver""925""925/1000""92.5% pure"Lion passant, or a lion with one paw raised, for sterling made in England.Thistle mark, for sterling made in Scotland.Crowned harp, for sterling made in Ireland.

What are the symbols for sterling silver?

Sterling silver (925): This is the standard for silver, identifying a silver item that is at least 92.5% silver mixed with copper to give it strength. Marks on these pieces include 925 or Sterling.

What are the 5 standard silver marks?

There are 5 standard marks found on British Silver:The walking lion for all sterling silver made in England.The standing lion for all sterling silver made in Glasgow.The thistle for for all sterling silver made in Edinburgh.The crowned harp for all sterling silver made in Dublin.More items...

What markings does real silver have?

International sellers of silver will stamp silver as 925, 900 or 800." These numbers indicate the level of purity of the silver. Sterling silver has a purity of 92.5 percent or higher.

Does sterling silver always have a stamp?

Search for a sterling silver quality mark.. In the US, it is not required to stamp precious metals with quality marks, but if you do have a quality mark, there MUST be a maker's hallmark alongside it.. The United Kingdom, France, and the United States of America each have a distinct marking system.

How do you read a silver mark?

The standard mark identifies your item as being silver. The mark for sterling silver is the lion passant or the lion passant guardant. Both look like a lion in profile. On earlier pieces of silver the lion is looking toward you, and this is a lion passant guardant.

What does C mean on silver?

By 1830 the words COIN, PURE COIN, DOLLAR, STANDARD, PREMIUM, or the letters “C” or “D” were placed on silver to indicate that it was 900 out of 1000 parts silver. The word STERLING was frequently used by 1860. STERLING means that 925 out of 1000 parts are silver. This is still the standard for sterling silver.

What does WP mean on silver?

BRITISH ELECTROPLATED SILVER - ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF MAKER'S MARKS: WA-ZZWIDE AWAKE under a 'eagle's head'George Barnsley & Sons (Cornish Works) - Sheffield - 1860-1919( WP ) inside a 'crown'William Page & Co - Birmingham - 1896( WP ) inside a 'lozenge'William Page & Co - Birmingham55 more rows

What does EP mean on silver?

Electro Plated Nickel SilverMany silver plated items bear the marks 'EPNS' that stand for Electro Plated Nickel Silver or 'EP' for Electro Plate.

Does fake silver have 925?

Cloth Test 925 silver oxidizes when exposed to air leading to chemical changes in its wake. Using a soft white cloth, rub a small part of the jewelry, if the surface produces a black mark it would mean that the product is sterling silver. On the other hand, the color change would be absent in fake merchandise.

How do you test silver at home with vinegar?

Some people try to save money by using vinegar instead of acid but vinegar won't give you accurate results. For this test, you just put a drop of acid on your silver item. If the acid turns the wrong color then it's fake. If it turns the correct color then the silver is real.

How can I check the purity of silver at home?

Just place a drop of bleach on the silver item. If it tarnishes after coming in contact with oxidising chemicals like bleach then it is real silver. Real silver will turn black when exposed to bleach.

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