"Sterling Silver" is a hallmark of quality meaning the item is 92.5% pure silver. The remaining 7.5% is typically copper or another metal, which adds necessary strength to the piece. There are also English silver marks, which can be very different. Always check with us before you get rid of anything!

Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and has significant value, whereas silver-plated items have only a thin coating of silver over a base metal.
Silver-plated items often carry markings like 'EP' (Electro Plated), 'EPNS' (Electro Plated Nickel Silver), 'Quadruple Plate', or just 'Plated'. There are also certain makers who only did silverplated items and not sterling. If you are ever unsure whether an item is sterling or plated, please bring it in for a professional, no-obligation evaluation - we are happy to take a look for you regardless of the condition.

Coin silver is a standard often found in antique silverware or older coins. It is generally 80% - 90% pure silver, meaning it contains slightly less silver than sterling silver but still carries value.

No need! Please don't worry about polishing your silver or silverware. Just bring it as-is, and we'll handle the rest.