How to Value Sterling Silver Flatwear

Few objects carry the cachet of value and beauty more than sterling silver. By law, sterling silver is an alloy defined as possessing a silver content of 0.925 percent and 0.075 percent of another metal, typically copper. The copper is added to lend stiffness to the otherwise soft silver. Placing value on sterling silver flatware can be a simple process assuming you are trying to determine the melt value of the metal. For this example, let's assume you have a mixed lot of sterling silver flatware and you are considering selling it to a precious metals buyer. What's it worth?

Things You'll Need

• An ordinary weight scale

Instructions

1. Using the scale, determine the weight of the sterling flatware. If it is more than a pound, translate the weight into ounces. As an example, if the weight is one-pound four-ounces; that translates into a total of 20 ounces.

2. Logon to the Internet and visit the website www.silverrecyclers.com. This site has an online sterling silver to pure silver conversion calculator. This site is one of many providing this type of information.

3. Click on the "Sterling Silver Melt Value Calculator".

4. Using the current silver spot price amount listed on the calculator, enter that amount in the text box in Step 1.

5. Select the weight type. In this case, select "ounces" from the dropdown box. Then enter the weight (20 ounces) in the text box located in Step 3.

6. Click the "calculate" button. The current melt value of your sterling silver is displayed on the far right side of the calculator.

Tips & Warnings

• The weight system we use every day is called the avoirdupois system. Under it, there are 16 ounces in a pound. However, troy weight is used to measure precious metals. The price for silver is based upon a troy ounce. For our 20 ounce example, the calculator converts the weight to 16.86 troy ounces.

• The calculator also factors in the difference between the 0.925 percent silver content in sterling and the 0.999 percent content of silver as sold on the spot market. If you do not own a scale, take the sterling to a friendly postal clerk and ask them to weigh it for you.

References

• SilverRecyclers.com: Silver melt value calculator
• Oneida Global Foodservice: Silversmith's glossary with the definition of sterling silver
• SilverPerOunce.com: Silver Value Calculator

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• LynnsCoins.com: Troy ounce