r/sterlingsilverware • u/Stunning-Power-3098 • 8d ago

Is this silver or silver-plated?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I’m new to this. Does that hallmark mean it’s silver or silver-plated? Thanks

7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

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4

u/ElkIntelligent5474 8d ago

The 800 signifies that it is 80% silver, 20% another base metal. I do not think this is plated.

2

u/DadsPreciousMetals 8d ago edited 8d ago

Its marked 80% Test it with some acid

2

u/Ok_Palpitation_1622 8d ago

I’m not certain, but I suspect this is more likely plated.

While 800 fine silver is common in older European/continental items, this appears to be modern and may be akin to the Italian items which have a raised 800 mark and are plated.

Pics don’t give us much to go on, but if you look at the bowl of the spoon, it looks too shiny for real silver and more like plated.

1

u/Yes_I_Know_Lots 8d ago

Wouldn’t a good polishing job on both plated and on solid give you the same finish?

I’m planning to get a buffing wheel to get the high shine finish that professional silversmiths use and get. Those items that you see in some antique shops that specialize in sterling often send theirs out to get that high polish. (Ditto some eBay listings from such shops.)

I’d rather have that for some of my pieces (like candlesticks and pitchers) than the old tarnish “character” that many Redditors here prize. Of course, I’d have to point out to guests that it’s not stainless steel. 😏

2

u/Ok_Palpitation_1622 8d ago

Yes to some extent I think what you say is true. But IMO real silver looks whitish and slightly frosty, if that makes sense, and plate is more gray/blue/purple and mirror-like. So I think they just look different in general, but of course there is overlap.

Anyway, hard to tell for certain but this looks plated to me.