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How Do I Know if a Tray is Sterling Silver?

I really need to know how to tell if a piece is truly sterling or if it is just silver plated? I did the white cloth test and it did turn black. I read on line also that a magnet would not stick to sterling silver. Is that true? It is stamped with the #'s 05601 D4 23 and the words Reed and Barton and Regent and the elephant for the year 1952.

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By Tangie from Springville, AL

How Do I Know if a Tray is Sterling Silver?
 

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Silver Post Medal for All Time! 418 Posts
April 23, 20110 found this helpful
Best Answer

All of the sterling silver I have ever seen has sterling engraved on it. This is a beautiful tray.

 
September 25, 20191 found this helpful

In the USA, The National Gold and Silver Marketing Act does not require precious metals to be marked with quality. However, if a quality mark is used, the mark must be accompanied by a manufacturer's hallmark that is a registered trademark or the name of the manufacturer.

 
April 25, 20112 found this helpful
Best Answer

Sterling silver always (without exception) will be labeled with the word sterling so since yours does not include that, it is silver plated. Silver plate can wear off whereas sterling is solid (sterling knives have hollow centers). All silver tarnishes whether it is sterling or plated.

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As long as it looks good, enjoy using it. You just need to use a quality tarnish remover of some type. Outside of sneaking a look on the back of flat wear at friend's place, check whether sterling or not by sticking spoon in hot drink. The sterling will heat up rather rapidly.

 
November 13, 20161 found this helpful
Best Answer

Anything after approximately WWII will be stamped. Before then, metals weren't required to be labeled, according to the company that valued my great grandmother's silver for my insurance.

 
Anonymous
August 17, 20170 found this helpful

Not true. Other countries Use different markings.

 
June 16, 20180 found this helpful

This is widely known to be false . Many older pieces have hallmarks meaning Sterling silver without the words or .925 mark which itself is often unaccompanied by the word Sterling . The lion passant and also the crown hallmarks often mean Sterling Silver and / or other grades of silver even pure silver with no copper at all .

 

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June 16, 20181 found this helpful

There are many, many, many markings for Sterling silver. I have seen and sold items with some of the more common ones, including a " lion passant" mark and a mark Mexican 95, but there are hundreds if not more out there.

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The best way to verify if you have silver is to take it to a no obligation jewelry store or place like treasure hunt. They can test/validate actual vs plated. Good luck with your pieces!!

 
January 4, 20201 found this helpful

Albeit most of the time sterling made in the USA is marked sterling or 92.5 or 925. Sometimes 94 or 95. The remainder is commonly copper alloy that allows the silver to be more hard and less pliable. However not all solve is marked sterling. In fact, most sterling silver is marked with symbols or initials from its maker especially sterling from other countries from many years ago 80 to 300 years ago very little was marked as sterling outside of the USA as each country/manufacturer had their own standard and/or markings to identify its quality. Therefore, if you cant really tell, you should do your own research on the markings or ask a professional whos familiar with the various markings/symbols used.

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You might be pleasantly surprised that some might be 84% silver 90% or 92.5%. Do you really care that its 84% vs 92. My opinion is no. Its mainly silver polish it nicely and keep it well maintained. The lower amount of silver can be an advantage too as it will be harder and more scratch resistant over time but the silver shine may be slightly less but not obvious to the human eye. Hope this helps. Trust but verify! Hey

 
September 5, 20200 found this helpful

Not all sterling is marked with the word sterling.

 
April 16, 20230 found this helpful

Not sure where you got that information but to say 'ALL'Sterling silver is 'DEFINITELY' stamped couldn't be further from true, also I'm going to assume that since you believe that you also believe any silver that Is stamped is 'DEFINITELY' real? This is also not true.

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I've had some very valuable pieces with no markings and some pieces that were marked that were almost laughable lol just remember the best way to tell for me is by the sound. You can just recognize something distinct about the sound of pure silver being struck, the specific 'TINGGGGG'

 

Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 108 Feedbacks
April 23, 20111 found this helpful

I agree with Hate Litter, the tray is beautiful. My suggestion is to go to the Replacements, Ltd, out of Greensboro, NC, website and you can email them and send a photo of the tray. They will look it up for you and either call you or telephone you with what they find. I have done this many times and they are so nice to deal with.

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I have lots of sterling silver pieces but also have some very beautiful and heavy silver plated pieces that I use right along side my sterling. As long as it looks good to me, I use it. Good luck!

 

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April 25, 20110 found this helpful

Take it to a good jewerly store and they will tell you. If you want it appraised they will charge for that service.

 

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April 25, 20110 found this helpful

Magnets will not stick to sterling, but they also do not stick to aluminum, pewter, tungsten, platinum, brass or copper as well as alloys of these.

 
April 26, 20111 found this helpful

I was watching show that was verifying antique sterling silver vs silver plate & the man said to sniff the tray. Sterling silver has a sweet smell but plate has a bad almost rancid smell up close.

 
February 7, 20170 found this helpful

If your tray also has a C encircling an A, that symbol began being used in 1945 and indicates it is silver plate over a Copper Alloy base metal.

 
September 13, 20190 found this helpful

My says 1882 and 1886

N4

 

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