Genuine Sterling Silver
93I ask you what on earth is Genuine Sterling Silver?
First of all let’s look at the words (Genuine Sterling) this must be British because sterling is the term used for noting British money, British Sterling.
So this means what, does it come from Britain?
I don’t think that is the case I think it means that the silver content has been quantified has having a content of silver to the value of 0.925 by a British Assay Office and will be stamped with a Hallmark to say so.
It will mean that it fills the British standard value of 0.925 it will not mean it is British silver and could have come from any country in the world.
It will have been tested by a British Assay Office and be stamped with a Sterling Hallmark like the one below.
Sterling Hallmark
There is more to this than just the British Sterling Hallmark for identification.
Please see a full Sterling Silver Hallmark dated 1796 below
Genuine Sterling Silver Hallmarks
1.Standard Mark, 2. City Mark, 3. Date Letter, 4.Duty Mark, 5. Maker's Mark.
As can be seen above these Sterling Hallmarks figure 1. do not exist on their own and are usually followed and accompanied by other identifying marks as shown.
Genuine Sterling Silver articles will have these marks stamped upon them for identification and authentication purposes.
All of these marks change over time but most notable are the city and date marks 2. & 3. shown above in the example, these change with time and place of testing.
Below please see a Genuine English Hallmark with the sterling mark in the centre, the crown and the lion in this order with the letter ( i ) would mean that it is a Sheffield City Hallmark of 1926.
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Sterling Silver Marcasite Watch By Chaylee
Price: $29.99
List Price: $100.00 |
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#147-1 Sterling Silver Quality Watch Chain w/Large Spring Ring - New Stock - Made in USA
Price: $86.00
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Avalon Ladies Fashion 925 Sterling Silver Watch # 7342
Price: $39.95
List Price: $150.00 |
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Sterling Silver Marcasite Square Band Watch
Price: $39.99
List Price: $150.00 |
Genuine English Silver Hallmarks
Sheffield City Assay Office is symbolized by the Crown and the Rose
There are two marks to look for to be certain that item(s) were assayed and marked in Sheffield they are symbolized by the Crown and the Rose. The Crown was used by Sheffield Assay Office to mark silver from 1773 up until 1973. In 1903, the Sheffield office was also allowed to mark gold as well as silver where the Rose was added as the gold mark. In 1973, after a period 200 years the Sheffield City Assay Office lost its Crown for marking silver and began to use the Rose for both silver and gold, which it does to the present day.
The two symbols of Sheffield Assay Office.
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New Genuine Emerald 925 Sterling Silver Post Earrings
Current Bid: $9.99
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GENUINE WHITE PEARL Cufflinks Cuff link STERLING SILVER
Current Bid: $34.99
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925 Sterling Silver Genuine Garnet Heart Pin Earrings
Current Bid: $14.00
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STERLING SILVER & GENUINE GEMSTONE MARCASITE PENDANT
Current Bid: $9.99
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Comments
Hi there, Sterling Sage,
0.925 is the silver ratio with 0.075 made up of other metal yes and 925 is often stamped onto the silver as well as the other Hallmarks but on it's own 925 does constitute any kind of assurance that it is anything only silver in color or tone if in fact it is. The assay mark or hallmarks are as far as I know the only real identification marks of sterling silver, 925 on its own does not identify any authorizing body or mark of assurance from anyone that it is anything. To add to this also there are so many counterfeit goods on the market today that it would be difficult to prove that even the marks themselves are real without being able to identify records at the assay office. That is the reason why it is there in the first place to try and stop people from passing off any old polished metal as silver and to set a standard.
Here below are some addresses for you to look at if you are interested in learning more.
http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/pseudo-silver
http://www.925-1000.com/foreign_marks.html
http://www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html
As for other metals being added I was always lead to believe that both silver and gold are not much good for anything on their own because they are too soft.
Hope this answers some of your musings and thank you for your comment.
Hi sophieqd,
Thank you for the thank you and your approval,
Gareth.
Hi sophieqd,
Interesting nugget about silver coins of the realm, British Silver Sterling or money as it once was in a fairly distant past, the coins where being trimmed because silver is soft. So as part of the devaluation of British Sterling Silver was to make the coins stronger to stop it being stolen from the Realm.
That seems like one of the early credit crunches perhaps.
Good Comment, thanks.
Hi I used to work in an Antique shop for about 6 yrs when I was young I feel in love with the old English silver not only the way you could trace the maker, year, even city. Here in the us you only get the word sterling or .925 So loved reading this hup thank you
Sterling Sage says:
8 months ago
FYI, most Sterling Silver products have a small stamp of "925" somewhere on them, even if there is no other mark. For example, the next time you think a spoon is made of silver, look at the back side of the handle. You can do the same with most jewelry.
Pure (fine) silver is too brittle for most applications and corrodes faster, too. "925" means that 925 parts out of 1,000 are silver and the remaining 75 parts are other metals like copper and tin. The addition of these alloy metals makes the silver easier to work with, more durable, and more resistant to corrosion.