Is your silver worth more than you think? Wentworth Lifestyle explains how to spot real silver, read hallmarks and know when to seek a valuation.

Somewhere in your home there is very likely a little silver. Perhaps it’s a canteen of cutlery passed down from a beloved grandmother, a tea service that only ever came out at Christmas, or a handful of curious trinkets in the back of a drawer. Most of us have polished it, admired it or simply ignored it for years without ever wondering what it might be worth.

The answer may surprise you. Here’s how to find out.

First, is it genuinely silver?

Not everything that gleams is solid silver. Many beautiful pieces are silver plate, a fine layer of silver over a base metal, and these are generally worth far less.

Turn your piece over and look for a small stamp on the underside, the handle or the rim.

925, “Sterling” or “Sterling Silver” means solid silver of the standard purity.

800, 830 or 835 points to continental European silver, which is still genuine.

EPNS, EPBM, “A1” or “Silver Plate” means plate rather than solid silver.

A simple magnet offers another clue. Silver isn’t magnetic, so if a strong magnet clings firmly, the piece is not solid silver. A magnet that doesn’t stick isn’t proof on its own, however, as some plated items won’t attract it either.

Reading the hallmarks

If your silver was made in Britain, its hallmarks are a small piece of history, telling you who made it, where, when and to what standard. A full set usually includes:

The maker’s mark, the initials of the silversmith or retailer.

The standard mark, such as the lion passant, a walking lion that denotes sterling silver.

The assay office mark, such as a leopard’s head for London, an anchor for Birmingham, a rose for Sheffield or a castle for Edinburgh.

The date letter, a single letter that reveals the year the piece was made.

The marks can be tiny and worn, so a magnifying glass, or the zoom on your phone, will help. The assay offices’ websites are a good place to decode what you find.

The maker matters

There are two sides to the value of silver. What the metal is worth by weight, and what a collector would pay for the piece itself. The second can be far greater.

Pieces by celebrated makers, among them Georg Jensen, Garrard, Mappin & Webb, Elkington, Hester Bateman, Paul Storr and Tiffany & Co., can be worth many times their weight in silver. Even lesser-known makers can command a premium when the craftsmanship is fine.

What makes a piece special?

Several qualities tend to lift the value of silver:

Age. Georgian and early Victorian pieces are especially sought after.

Rarity. Vinaigrettes, snuff boxes, wine labels, novelty items and early tea services often attract more interest than everyday cutlery.

Completeness. A full, matching set, ideally in its original box, is worth more than odd pieces.

Condition. Dents, repairs and worn patterns can lower the price, though not always dramatically.

Provenance. Receipts, paperwork or a well-documented family story add real appeal.

A word of caution before you polish

It’s tempting to bring out the silver polish, but resist. Vigorous cleaning can wear away delicate detail, strip the soft patina collectors prize and even blur the hallmarks you need for identification. A gentle wash in warm, mildly soapy water, dried well with a soft cloth, is all that’s needed.

Seeking an expert opinion

If you suspect you have something rather special, a professional view is well worth having:

Auction houses often provide free valuations, frequently from photographs.

Specialist silver dealers and antiques dealers can tell you how a piece might fare on the retail market.

Independent valuers can prepare a written valuation for insurance, probate or sale, usually for a fee.

If you’re considering selling, take more than one opinion, and be wary of anyone who hurries you or names a price without examining the piece properly. “Cash for silver” buyers in particular tend to pay close to scrap value and may overlook a piece’s collector appeal.

And if it’s “only” worth the metal?

Even a plain, unremarkable piece of sterling silver has value as a precious metal. Its worth depends on its weight, its purity and the day’s market price, which moves constantly, so check the current rate before agreeing to any sale.

Your quick checklist

Is it stamped 925, Sterling or marked with a lion passant?

Can you spot a maker’s mark or a famous name?

Is it old, unusual or part of a complete set?

Has it been left unpolished and in good condition?

If you can answer yes to several of these, it’s well worth having your silver professionally valued. You may find that the tarnished teapot you’ve been meaning to throw out is a treasure after all.

This article is intended as a general guide. Hallmarks and values vary, so always seek expert advice before selling or insuring valuable pieces.