How to Clean Sterling Silver Naturally?

Posted on December 7, 2023December 12, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

Learn how to naturally clean sterling silver. In the blog post shared, a comprehensive guide provides effective and eco-friendly methods to restore the brilliance of your silver items. Discover homemade solutions and techniques to remove tarnish and dirt from sterling silver without the use of harsh chemicals. From baking soda and lemon juice to vinegar and aluminum foil, we cover a range of natural cleaning methods. Our expert tips and step-by-step instructions ensure safe and efficient cleaning, preserving the beauty of your sterling silver. Visit our website now to explore our guide and keep your silver shining bright the natural way.

Do you have a tarnished sterling silver piece that you are hoping to clean, but don’t want to use any harsh chemicals? If so, you are in luck, as there are several safe and natural ways to clean sterling silver, many of which involve items that you already have in your home.

Cleaning Sterling Silver with Corn Starch

A quick search of your pantry might find you a great solution to clean your sterling silver. A mixture of cornstarch and water in the form of a paste can make your silver look like new again. Apply the paste with a damp cloth, then let it dry and rub it off with a mildly abrasive towel. If you don’t happen to have any cornstarch at home, cream of tartar could be a suitable substitute.

Vinegar

If your sterling silver jewelry or silverware has lost its shine and luster, try soaking it in a solution of ½ cup of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Allow it to sit for two or three hours, and then remove it and rinse with cold water. Make sure you dry off your piece thoroughly in order to prevent tarnishing.

Lemon Juice

If you want your silver to sparkle, a mixture of one tablespoon lemon juice with1 ½ cups of water and ½ cup of instant dry milk can be a good option. The end result will be silver pieces that shine, all without the use of chemicals or store bought solutions. Not only is it a good option for silver jewelry, but the lemon solution can also be beneficial for rusty knives and other silver pieces.

Tomato-Based Paste

Tomato-based pastes like ketchup are a good way to help restore your silver pieces back to their former glory. Use a small bowl and fill it up with ketchup, and then dunk in your silver piece of jewelry. To scrub the piece, use a toothbrush, as this can help to clean the areas that are hard to reach. You should only leave the ketchup on for a couple of minutes, and then use water to rinse it. A microfiber cloth is a good option for the final polish.

Baking Soda

Sterling silver will react with moisture in order to create a layer of tarnish. Baking soda that is activated by hot water can dislodge this tarnish when aluminum is present, leaving your jewelry shiny and clean once again. To try out this option, boil enough water that your sterling silver piece can be completely submerged, and then add in a tablespoon of baking soda along with a sheet of aluminum foil. Use a plastic or wood utensil to move the item around so that all surfaces will contact the aluminum. Finally, rinse and wipe down the piece of jewelry, and you should be left with a beautiful piece.

If you have sterling silver jewelry or antiques, you don’t have to go out and buy an expensive sterling silver cleaner. By using some common and natural household items, you can get the look that you want without spending a fortune.

Sterling vs. Britannia Silver

Posted on October 26, 2023November 21, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

Do you have a silver collection at home but aren’t sure of the silver composition? It is possible that your silverware or other antiques are silver plated, but you might also have something more valuable – sterling silver or Britannia silver. While Britannia silver is typically more expensive than sterling silver antiques, both can be indicative of valuable pieces, and it is important to know the difference between the two.

What is 92.5 Sterling Silver?

Sterling silver is a silver alloy that contains 92.5% silver by weight. The other 7.5% of its composition is made of other metals, mostly copper, and antiques often denote their sterling silver composition with a “925” or “sterling” hallmark. Historically, sterling silver has been used for a variety of eating utensils, flatware, and other serving items, and there are many sterling silver pieces that are prized as antiques today.

Sterling silver has long been heralded for its versatile applications and lustrous finish. Sterling silver is harder than gold, but it is considered to be one of the most pliable metals. This malleability makes it easy to use sterling silver to create various forms and shapes, and there are many prized antiques that are made from this metal.

What is Britannia Silver?

The Britannia standard of silver was developed in 1697 as a way to prevent British sterling coins from being melted to create silver plate. Unlike sterling silver, which is made of 92.5% silver, Britannia silver is composed of at least 95.84% pure silver. The other 4.16% of its composition is made of copper and other metals. Britannia silver is also more expensive and less robust than sterling silver.

There are several marks that can indicate a piece is Britannia silver. The Britannia figure is widely recognized and was the first of the Britannia silver marks introduced to indicate. 958 silver fineness. Later, a “lions head erased” mark was introduced for the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. The number “958” is also stamped on Britannia silver pieces.

Is Your Piece Sterling or Britannia Silver?

The hallmarks on your silver item are the best way to determine if your piece is sterling silver or Britannia. However, if you are unsure of the silver composition – or if you simply want to learn more about the value of your piece – there are resources that can help. An auction house, antique dealer, or appraiser can provide you some helpful guidance on what exactly you have with your silver piece.

Secrets About Silver That Appraisers Don’t Want You to Know

Posted on April 18, 2023May 15, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

Learn the secrets of silver appraisal that experts don’t want you to know. Our comprehensive guide illuminates the complexities of valuing silver items, including the factors that influence their value and how to identify genuine pieces. We cover everything you need to know about antique silver appraisal, from hallmarks to patina. Our team of expert appraisers provides valuable insights and tips on how to maximize the value of your silver collection.

Taking your silver in to be appraised requires some homework on your part if you want to get the best price. Here are some secrets of the trade that many silver appraisers won’t tell you.

While they may look the same, there is a difference between sterling silver, Britannia silver, and other types. Most silver utensils and other things for use around the house as well as jewelry are not pure silver. In fact, pure silver usually only comes in bars and is used in international trading or investing.

The reason pure silver is not used to create household items is because pure silver is soft enough that it would bend easily and quickly lose its ability to be used for anything. To strengthen it, the silver is mixed with other metals such as copper. The allows the metal to be shaped and gives it the strength to hold its shape during use.

The purity of the alloy varies, and as you can probably imagine, the purer the form of silver, the more it is worth. If you take some Britannia silver in – not knowing that it is Britannia – The appraiser may give you a price for sterling silver.

Silver plated pieces have value, too

If an appraiser tells you that your piece is only worth a few dollars because it is plated and not solid, you should get another opinion. The value of a given piece comes from a few factors, and one of them is the thickness of the plating. If your piece has plating that is twice as thick as others, it would stand to reason that it is worth more. After all, it has more silver in it.

Google a term such as “Antique silver buyers near me” and go find another appraiser. Remember, you don’t have to settle for the first offer, and it is a prudent thing to obtain multiple valuations anyway. You may spend a few dollars more in appraisal fees, but if the end result is a several hundred dollar increase in the price you sell it, you come out far ahead of the game.

Some appraisers are influenced by their own bias

Appraisers are people too. This means that they can be – and often are – influenced by things such as whether they personally like the look of a certain piece of silver jewelry. This can be completely unintentional: an appraiser may truly believe he or she is giving you an honest appraisal, but it may be lower (or higher) than it should be just because he or she dislikes (or likes) the way a piece looks.

For this reason, and others, it’s always a good idea to get no fewer than three appraisals. That way you can identify one that seems to be an outlier and either reject any offers in that range or snap them up if they are higher than the other appraisals. So, take your time, get multiple appraisals, and then decide what you want to do.

A Brief Look Into The Elegant World Of Antique Silverware Collectibles

Posted on March 4, 2022July 27, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

Last time, we discussed the history and significance of antique silver tea sets. As I previously stated, and as we all know, antique things are exquisitely constructed and designed by skilled artisans. These intricate pieces are the great inspiration of historical artworks, which can never be matched with the modern world.

We’re talking about silverware, which is meticulously engraved to create stunning designs on the surface of silvery tea sets. Let’s take a look at some examples of silvery tea sets that may be purchased or sold.

What is the Best Place to Sell Sterling Silver Flatware for a nice profit?

Antique and modern sterling silver tea sets for sale or flatware’s can be found in a number of ways. For the modern shopper, online auction houses like ebay, Live auctioneers & many more which can be an excellent resource.

At eBay, you can find many trusted dealers who deal with every kind of antique, vintage, and estate sterling silverware. Additionally, you can expect a seamless selling experience and get the expected amount when selling sterling silver flatware online.

If you are looking for a dealer in your area or want to directly contact dealers online, there is also the Silver Queen website, which is the top-most dealer in Florida. Here, you can sell and also buy sterling silver items. I’ve always preferred visiting local antique shops and digging for secret treasures.

What is the current market value of selling or buying silverware?

I’m often asked by my friends, “What should I expect to pay for this or that?” or, “What is the current silver tea set value ?” These questions makes me smile a bit because there are countless things to consider -I’ve outlined some of them here – but I also understand my friends confusion and concerns.

The truth is, a silver tray can range anywhere from $35 to $80,000 & also the market value(shopping) of silver per ounce is $24.49. Apart from these, A silver buyer can readily pay $800 to $1,200 for a standard 32-piece sterling silver flatware set.

It really comes down to a few simple questions: Are you looking for something highly collectible or just something you would enjoy having in your home? And the other question is, how much are you willing to spend? There is really no difficulty in finding these answers if you have proper knowledge of market value of silver and gold items.

Learn about one of the most beautiful historical silverware set- Salver Tray

An Etruscan black pottery tray(Salver tray) from the 7th or 6th century B.C.E. is the earliest example of a tray that we have been able to date (Pre-Roman times). The Etruscan tray may not be the oldest in existence, but it does imply that the existence of a tray is centuries old, having existed millennia before becoming widespread in aristocratic and rich crafting..

Many different styles of design and decoration have emerged over the years, from the simple salver and the handled tray are lined with beautifully crafted brims are the simplicity of the modern era. If you have one and want to sell it, you can easily contact us and get profitable amount also appraisal of the items.

Sell Your Silver Flatware Set to the Trusted Buyers Near You

There are many expert antique dealers in your area who will be more than happy to take the time to walk you through what they have in their collection and, hopefully, have some very interesting stories to tell you about it’s history, condition & worth.

Category Archives: Making Money from Antiques