How To Tell If Your Silverware Is Plated or Solid

Have you inherited a box of old cutlery from a relative? Or maybe you picked up an elegant set at a yard sale? If you have silver flatware sitting in a drawer, you might be holding on to serious value. But before you start calculating its worth, you need to answer one key question: Is it solid silver or silver-plated?

At Hock Stars, we buy precious metals every day. Here is a quick guide to help you figure out what kind of metal you have right from home.

Look for the Stamps (Hallmarks)

The absolute easiest way to identify solid silver is by flipping the piece over and looking for tiny stamps, known as hallmarks.

Solid Silver: In North America, solid silver is usually stamped with "Sterling", "925", or "92.5%". This indicates the piece is pure silver mixed with copper for durability. Fine European silver might carry markings like "800" or "900".

Silver-Plated: Plated items are made of a base metal (like brass, nickel, or copper) covered in a thin layer of silver. Look for terms like "EP" (Electroplated), "EPNS" (Electroplated Nickel Silver), "A1", "Quadruple Plate", or "IS" (International Silver plate).

If you see words like "Sterling" or the number "925", congratulations—you have solid silver!

The Knife Blade Exception

When inspecting flatware sets, many people get confused by the dinner and butter knives.

Here is an important rule: Virtually all knife blades are made from stainless steel, not solid silver. Sterling silver is too soft to hold a sharp cutting edge.

In a solid sterling flatware set, the knife handles are often hollow sterling silver filled with cement, while the blade attached to it is steel. Even if the handle is stamped "Sterling," the entire knife is not solid silver. When valuing flatware, knives are weighted and processed differently than solid silver forks and spoons.

The Magnet Test

Precious metals like silver and gold are non-magnetic. Grab a strong household magnet and place it against your spoons or forks: If the magnet sticks firmly, the piece is iron or steel with silver plating.

If the magnet does not stick, it could be solid sterling (or silver-plated brass/nickel).

While a magnet won't give you a definitive answer on its own, it quickly filters out steel-based plated items.

Check for Wear and Tarnish

Silver-plated items eventually show wear. If you look closely at heavily used areas—like the back of a spoon bowl or utensil handles—you might see a yellowish or reddish base metal peeking through the silver coating. Solid sterling silver, on the other hand, will tarnish dark gray or black over time, but the metal remains uniform all the way through.

Bring Your Silver to Hock Stars!

Whether you have a complete sterling silver flatware service passed down through generations or just a few mismatched single pieces, Hock Stars buys them!

We purchase:

Full solid sterling silver flatware sets

Individual sterling spoons, forks, and serving pieces

Broken, bent, or damaged sterling items

Stop by one of our Hock Stars locations today for a no obligation offer. We’ll test your pieces, explain what you have, and offer cash on the spot!