What is sterling silver and how much is it worth? What much money will I get for my sterling silver jewelry?
Sterling silver is worth 92.50% of the value of pure silver metal. To calculate how much sterling silver is worth, multiply the weight of your sterling silver by the spot price, and then by 0.925.
If you’re looking for a valuable, durable, hypoallergenic alloy for items such as jewelry and kitchenware, consider sterling silver. This article offers critical details worth knowing about it.
Sterling silver’s worth is dependent on the silver spot price. Therefore, like the latter, it changes over time. You can use a sterling silver calculator to determine the worth of sterling silver.
Sterling silver is available in various forms. Before you purchase this alloy or an item that comes with it, identify it first. This guarantees you your money’s worth.
What is Sterling Silver?
Sterling silver is a metal alloy that most people perceive as a symbol of prosperity and elegance. It holds 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, in most cases copper or zinc. This alloy’s minimum millesimal fineness is 925, explaining why some people dub it sterling silver 925.
When you compare sterling silver with an alloy like stainless steel, it is brighter and lighter. It is also more malleable and valuable.
Americans used sterling silver for commercial purposes in the 12th century. By the 17th century, most of them had already accepted it as a currency.
Today, sterling silver makes an array of commodities, thanks to its strength and durability. These include:
- Jewelry (bracelets, rings, earrings, chains, and anklets)
- High-end kitchenware (plates, spoons & forks, coffee sets, knives)
- Musical instruments (saxophones and flutes)
- Cigarette cases
- Paper clips
- Perfume and powder bottles
Sterling silver products last long, but you must take care of them to prevent corrosion. Clean the items with a soft cloth and anti-tarnish solutions. In addition, store them in dark, dry areas.
It’s essential to learn how to differentiate silver-plated items from those that make use of sterling silver. When a commodity is “silver-plated”, a smith has used another metal to craft it and placed a sterling silver layer atop it.
The Worth of Sterling Silver
It’s impossible to state the exact worth of sterling silver at any given time. This is because it is dependent on the silver spot price, which constantly fluctuates due to various factors. Examples include demand and supply, global economic trends, oil prices, and the U.S. dollar’s strength.
Whenever you’re purchasing a sterling silver item, aim to pay a little less than the silver spot price. Most buyers bargain to settle up for only the percentage of pure silver in the commodity. They disregard the value of the other metal in the alloy.
Since a large portion of sterling silver is pure silver, investing in it can be worthwhile. But don’t do it blindly. Always consult a competent investment professional, especially if you’re buying sterling silver in large quantities.
Calculating Prices of Sterling Silver
Feel free to use a sterling silver melt value calculator to work out the value of this alloy’s products. You’ll need the item’s weight and the current spot price of silver per troy ounce. Note that this calculator will only give accurate results if the item’s weight is 92.5% silver.
If you don’t want to use a sterling silver melt value calculator, there’s another option. Follow the steps below to determine the price of a sterling silver piece.
- Confirm that the item comes with 92.5% silver. Check if it has a hallmark indicating so.
- Weigh the commodity and record its weight. The price of sterling silver is measured in ounces. If your weighing scale only reads grams, you’ll have to convert them into ounces (oz) (1 oz = 28.3495 grams).
- Find out the amount of silver in the commodity. So, let’s assume that your silver sterling bracelet weighs 25 grams. When you convert this into ounces, it becomes 0.88 oz.
Then, multiply this weight by the silver percentage in sterling silver (0.88 x 0.925). You’ll get 0.814 as the amount of pure silver in the piece.
- Determine the silver value. To do so, multiply the current silver spot price per ounce by the amount of silver in the piece. For instance, if the former is $26.06, the value of your sterling silver bracelet will be $21.21 (26.06 x 0.814).
Worth of Sterling Silver in Different Forms
Sterling silver is categorized as a precious metal, but it’s not as valuable as pure silver or gold. Its worth largely depends on how it is applied. Mostly, sterling silver is available in different forms, and this may affect its worth. Some of these are:
Jewelry
All sterling silver jewelry pieces don’t have the same worth.
For instance, let’s say we have two sterling silver earrings. One is from the 18th century and is an antique. The owner has taken the best care of it, so it’s still shiny.
The other one has just entered the market recently, and it looks new. Although this earring could be worth a lot, its value is not as much as that of the antique silver sterling piece.
Therefore, the worth of silver sterling jewelry such as rings, earrings, pendants, and brooches varies. It depends on aspects like the condition of the pieces, their age, and sizes.
Coins
An antique sterling silver coin’s value could be incredibly high. Centuries ago, in Great Britain, smiths made a pound sterling with sterling silver. Its worth was almost equivalent to that of pure silver.
Things have changed, though. Nickel-silver and other metal alloys make pound sterling coins today. Their worth is considerably lower than that of the Great Britain sterling pound and their currency value.
Musical Instruments
There are also sterling silver musical instruments such as flutes, trumpets, and saxophones. Most of them are unbelievably valuable, but their worth differs.
For example, a sterling silver saxophone that the legendary Harold Land played could have a very high collector’s value. Why? It comes with a unique history.
The worth of this musical instrument is undoubtedly more than that of another without provenance.
Identifying Sterling Silver
Are you thinking about buying sterling silver? Identifying this alloy first enables you to make a better purchase decision. Here are the top factors to consider to recognize sterling silver.
Purity
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver. The remaining 7.5% comprises copper, zinc, or another metal. These elements help to strengthen the alloy since pure silver is too soft.
Hallmarks or Assayer’s Marks
It might be tricky to tell if an item is sterling silver if you have not calculated its purity. That’s the primary reason behind the existence of hallmarks. Smiths brand silver commodities with their purity content to help buyers identify them.
If a sterling silver piece is authentic, it has “925” or “sterling” stamped at its bottom. Silversmiths may also include the date when they manufactured it or their own mark.
Some people refer to hallmarks as Assayer’s marks. These are figures, animals, or other things that show the origin of the sterling silver pieces. Hence, an item could come with the name “Hibernia” to mean that it is from Ireland.
Chemical Composition
You could also check the chemical composition of an item to confirm that it’s sterling silver. If you know this alloy’s purity, it should be easy. 92.5% of sterling silver is pure silver. The rest is another metal, which in most cases is copper.
Conductivity
Testing the conductivity of a metal or a piece of jewelry is another way to know if it’s sterling silver. Silver’s thermal conductivity is higher than that of other metals.
If you’re performing the conductivity test at home, follow these steps:
- Place an ice cube on top of the ‘sterling silver’ piece
- Place another ice cube on an item with another metal or alloy
- If the ice on the ‘sterling silver’ item melts faster than that on the other alloy, your piece is sterling silver. If it doesn’t, the commodity is a fake.
Difference between Sterling Silver and Pure Silver?
Some buyers and sellers often confuse sterling silver with pure silver, but these two are different.
For starters, pure silver holds 99.9% fine silver and only 0.01% other elements. On the other hand, sterling silver has 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% other metals. Also, the hallmark on sterling silver is usually “925,” but pure silver’s is “999”.
Another difference between sterling silver and pure silver is their usability. The chemical composition of the former makes it ideal for crafting jewelry, cutlery, and other items. Pure silver’s softness renders it inconvenient for the same.
In addition, sterling silver is more durable than pure silver, owing to the extra metals in it. Even so, it is more susceptible to tarnishing than fine silver
Is Sterling Silver 925 Worth Anything?
Yes. Sterling silver has its worth, which is dependent on its current form, age, and condition. For instance, antique sterling silver has a higher value than scrap silver. However, this alloy is less costly than other precious metals such as platinum and gold.
