Gyrogami Blog - Precious Metals, Jewelry, Artwork

Silverplated or Sterling - Part 2

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Categories: Instruction and information

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As a warning, sometimes it's best to assume the (silver, gold) you are buying is fake.

Silverplating is an electrochemical process that deposits pure silver onto an item. The substrate is some type of metal or electrically conductive material. The plating thickness can be as thin as a few molecules. Thicker plating means it will last longer and theoretically look more silvery. However, there is no such thing as "sterling silver plated."

Sterling overlaid, gilt, or sterling filled generally have a thicker layer of sterling than plated stuff and do not rely on electrochemical processes. The Sheffield process uses a thin sheet of silver bonded to another metal core, usually copper, to give it the look of sterling at a cheaper cost with a greater durability than silverplating. Sterling overlay is common on glassware.

'Clad' is mainly used for coins, medals, and ingots. It's another term for something that isn't solid silver but has a silver coating or outside. USA half dollar coins from 1965-1969 and select other coins, all of which have 40% silver, are an exception.

The word "mils" or "mills"means it is worthless (click here for more info). But it still ain't sterling plated so understand the terminology.

Silver soldered. Anything with 'EP' in the marking. 'Silver' alone as a marking. A number like '800' or '900' without any other markings...most of it is suspect. Two-digit numbers...likely junk but there are exceptions (i.e., don't confuse the Russian '84' zolotniki for the French '84' silverplate mark).

Plating means it is a microscopic covering. V-E-R-Y thin coatings are measured in microns. Depending on the thickness, it may be referred to as silver flashed, washed, or dipped; silverplated; plated; federal plate; A1 plate; triple plate, deepsilver; and a host of other terms.

How does sterling compare to silverplated when it comes to value? Let's say you are selling an item for $100. You send it to the buyer who then pays with $100 cash...in money from the Monopoly board game! After all, it is $100...right? Likewise, if you are purchasing a supposed sterling silver item and get a silverplated one, it's like Monopoly silver.

For now, if someone says they have a piece of silver that they "tested," it is my experience that at least 98% of the time it is worthless silverplate and bears a hallmark stating this fact. Even if you point out the hallmark, sellers will still say whatever's necessary to get your money.

More about identifying silverplated junk and sterling silver hallmarks will be in a future entry.

Posted by M: August 6, 2014

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