Sell sterling silver flatware and silverware sets
An old canteen of silverware can be solid sterling, plated, or a mix of both. The back of each handle tells you which. This page explains the marks, what the common pitfalls are, and what to photograph before you send anything.
Short answer: Turn a few forks and spoons over and read the back of the handle. "STERLING" or "925" means sterling silver. "EPNS", "A1", "Silverplate" or "Triple plate" means plated. Send photos of those marks, the pattern, and the whole set to (858) 247-2017 or use the form below, and we tell you what looks like a fit. We make one offer after we see the pieces, and you are free to say no.
How do I tell sterling from silverplate?
Sterling marks
Look on the back of the handle or the base for STERLING or 925. Some older pieces carry a maker's mark and a number such as 925/1000 instead. Use a magnifier and good light.
Plated marks
EPNS, EP, A1, Silverplate, Triple plate, Quadruple plate and a maker's name with no sterling mark point to plating. Plated pieces are not a fit for metal value.
British hallmarks
A small lion passant, a town mark, and a date letter on English silver indicate sterling. Photograph each mark close up in even light.
Unmarked pieces
No mark does not always mean plated, but an unmarked piece needs to be tested before anyone can say. Say so and we ask for more photos.
A magnet is only a rough check. Silver is not magnetic, but plating over steel can also hide it, so rely on marks and testing, not on a magnet alone.
Why can knives and some pieces confuse a total weight?
Not all of a piece is silver, and a scale will not tell you the difference.
- Sterling knives usually have hollow handles filled with a resin or cement, and a stainless steel blade
- The words Weighted or Reinforced mean a thin sterling shell around a filler, so the total weight is not silver weight
- Candlesticks and some holloware are weighted at the base for the same reason
- A set that looks heavy may have a lot of stainless in it, so sort by piece instead of weighing the whole canteen
Does the pattern or a monogram matter?
- Well known patterns from makers such as Gorham, Reed and Barton, Towle, Wallace and International can be of interest as complete sets and as individual pieces
- A complete matched service is easier to place than a few odd pieces
- A monogram or engraving usually narrows interest, but a period monogram on important English silver can be part of its history, so mention it
- Serving pieces such as ladles, tongs and pie servers are worth listing separately
What should I do with a set before I send photos?
- Lay out the pieces by type and photograph the whole set together
- Photograph the pattern on a spoon or fork and the back marks on one of each type
- Count the pieces and note any that are bent, dented, or have worn plating
- Keep the chest, felt cloth, and any original paperwork with the set
- Do not buff or dip the silver. Tarnish is fine and is not a problem for review
What we look at
- Sterling flatware sets, full or partial, with a sterling or 925 mark
- Sterling serving pieces, trays, and tea sets
- Mixed estate silver that includes both flatware and jewelry
- Single pieces from a broken set
What is usually not a fit
- Silverplate, EPNS and other plated pieces
- Stainless steel flatware
- Pieces with no marks that cannot be tested
- Items with heavy corrosion that has eaten through the metal
Careful notes on selling silver
- Do not ship silver anywhere before you have a written offer and know how the shipment is insured.
- Be careful of buyers who weigh a whole canteen and quote by total weight without separating knives and weighted pieces.
- Do not use dips or abrasive cloths. They can damage the pattern.
What photos should I send?
Good photos get a faster and more honest answer. Natural light and a plain background are enough.
- The whole set laid out together
- The back of one fork, spoon and knife handle in sharp focus
- The pattern, from the front, on one piece
- Any maker's mark or hallmark close up
- The chest, felt wrap, or case it came in
How an offer works
We make one offer for the whole lot after we see the items. You are free to say no.
Step 1
You send what you have
Photos and a few details are enough: what it is, roughly how many, and what condition. A form, a text, or a call all work.
Step 2
We tell you if it is a fit
We reply with whether we buy it and whether we can come to you or you should mail it in. If it is not a fit, we say so.
Step 3
We look at the items, then make one offer
We do not quote a price from photos. Once we have seen the items, you get one offer for the lot, and we can explain what drove it.
Step 4
You decide
Say yes and we complete the sale. Say no and you owe nothing.
What moves an offer
- Which exact items, titles, or models are in the lot
- Condition and completeness, such as boxes, manuals, and all the parts
- Whether it works, if it is a device or a console
- What similar items are selling for right now
Who you are dealing with
DeKlutterNow is a small business based in Oceanside, California. You can ask questions before you send anything: text (858) 247-2017 or email hello@deklutternow.com.
Get an offer
Send photos of your flatware
The more you tell us, the faster we can say whether it is a fit and what happens next. We do not quote a price from a form. Final offers come after we look at the items. You can also text photos to (858) 247-2017.
What to send
- • One photo of everything together, then close ups of the best pieces
- • Titles, brands, model numbers, or marks like 14K or 925 when you can read them
- • Boxes, manuals, papers, or graded labels if you have them
- • Anything that is broken, missing, or not working, so we can price it honestly
- • Your city and zip so we know if we can come to you
What we do not buy
- • Plated, gold tone and costume jewelry with no collector interest
- • Replica and counterfeit designer pieces
- • Anything you suspect is stolen
- • Unmarked pieces that cannot be tested
Not sure? Send it anyway and we will tell you. See the full list.
Questions sellers ask
- Do you buy sterling silver flatware?
- Yes, sets and single pieces with a sterling or 925 mark. Plated pieces are not a fit.
- Why are knives treated differently from forks and spoons?
- Sterling knife handles are usually hollow and filled, and the blades are usually stainless steel, so the total weight is not all silver.
- Does a monogram lower interest in a set?
- It often narrows it, but it does not rule a set out. Tell us about it and show it in a photo.
- My set is tarnished. Should I polish it?
- No. Tarnish does not stop a review, and aggressive polishing can wear a pattern. Send photos as they are.
- Can I mail in a flatware set?
- Yes, after we agree on an offer from photos. We send packing instructions and a prepaid label with insurance outlined.
- Do you also take silver coins and jewelry?
- Yes. See our gold and silver page for jewelry, coins, and bullion, and the inherited silver coins page for coin collections.
Keep reading
- Inherited silver coins
- Jewelry in Orange County
- Inherited and estate jewelry
- Sell gold and silver nationwide
- Guide: what to do with inherited jewelry
- Prepaid mail-in
Questions before you send anything? Text DeKlutterNow at (858) 247-2017.