How to Tell If Silver Is Sterling or Silverplate (Without Guessing)

If you’ve ever flipped over a piece of silver and thought, “Okay… what am I looking at?” — you’re not alone.

Silver can be confusing. Some pieces are solid sterling silver. Others are silverplate. They can look almost identical at first glance. But the difference matters — especially when you’re buying, selling, or valuing vintage silver.

Let’s break it down simply.

Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver. That’s why you’ll often see it marked:

• “Sterling”
• “925”
• Or sometimes traditional hallmarks (like a lion symbol in British pieces)

If it says “Sterling,” you’re dealing with solid silver content.

Now, silverplate is different. It’s a thin layer of silver bonded over a base metal (often brass or nickel). Silverplate was extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because it looked elegant but was more affordable.

Common silverplate markings include:

• “EP” (electroplated)
• “EPNS” (electroplated nickel silver)
• “Silverplate”
• Or just a company name like WM Rogers or Reed & Barton without the word “Sterling”

If you don’t see the word “Sterling,” assume it’s plate unless proven otherwise.

Now here’s where it gets tricky: weighted sterling.

You might see “Sterling Weighted” stamped on candlesticks or salt shakers. That means the outer shell is sterling silver, but there’s a filler material inside to give it stability. So yes, it’s sterling — but it won’t weigh as much in pure silver as a solid piece.

When you’re examining a piece of vintage silver, here’s what to check:

• Look closely for hallmarks
• Check areas of wear — silverplate may show brass underneath over time
• Feel the weight — sterling usually feels heavier for its size
• Use a magnet — sterling is not magnetic

Sterling silver carries intrinsic metal value because of its silver content. Silverplate, on the other hand, carries decorative and brand value rather than melt value. That doesn’t mean silverplate isn’t desirable — many beautiful antique serving pieces are silverplate and still highly collectible.

The most important thing? Transparency.

If you’re buying or selling vintage sterling silver or silverplate flatware, trays, or serving pieces, clear marking identification builds trust immediately.

Once you get used to spotting hallmarks, you’ll never second-guess a silver piece again.

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