SELLING SILVERWARE

Considering Selling Your Sterling Silverware or Silver Flatware?

While many gold and silver dealers may shy away from buying silverware due to testing difficulties, Canada Gold stands out with our state-of-the-art testing technology. This allows us to precisely evaluate the precious metal content of your silverware and offer you the best possible price. Whether your pieces are damaged or mismatched, visit any Canada Gold store for a free expert valuation—no appointment needed! See for yourself how much your items could be worth.

Understanding the Differences Between Pure Silver and Sterling Silver

Pure silver, also known as fine silver, is almost completely composed of silver — about 99.9%. This high level of purity makes pure silver quite soft and malleable, which is ideal for crafting intricate jewelry pieces but less practical for items that require durability, like utensils or everyday wear items.
Sterling silver, on the other hand, is an alloy made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper, although other metals like steel or iron can also be used. The addition of these metals enhances the hardness and durability of the silver, making sterling silver a popular choice for items like flatware, tea sets, and other household goods that need to maintain their shape under regular use.
One of the drawbacks of sterling silver is its sensitivity to air and water, leading it to tarnish more easily compared to pure silver, which is largely resistant to tarnish when exposed to the elements. This characteristic makes sterling silver require more maintenance to keep it looking its best.

What’s the Value of Your Silverware?

At Canada Gold, we determine the worth of your silverware with advanced density and x-ray fluorescence testing to verify the composition of your items, ensuring they are made of silver or other valuable metals. This testing is conducted right in front of you at no cost. Following a successful evaluation, we’ll present you with a no-obligation quote and an immediate offer to purchase your precious metals.
Before visiting, you might want to look for hallmarks indicative of silver content on your items, which you can find on our Stamps, Marks, and Hallmarks page.
Additionally, Canada Gold is interested in buying collections of silver jewellery valued over $50.

Does Canada Gold Purchase Silver Plated Items?

At Canada Gold, we primarily focus on purchasing items made of solid silver. Unfortunately, we do not buy silver plated items. Silver plated items consist of a base metal such as copper, nickel, or brass with a very thin layer of silver applied to the exterior. The cost of refining these items often exceeds the value of the recoverable silver. We do not purchase items marked with the following stamps, as they indicate silver plating:
● 90 – This number signifies German silver, which is not 90% pure silver but a
specific type of silver plate.
● Community
● EP, EPNS, EPC, EPB – These acronyms denote electroplated silver over nickel,
copper, or brass.
● Regency
● Rogers (bros, sons) – Most pieces will also feature the year 1847, which marks
the establishment of the company, not the manufacture date of the item.
● Any stamp that includes the word “plate”
If you are unsure about the material of your items, please feel free to contact us toll-free at 1 888 682 5832 or visit your nearest Canada Gold location for a free assessment.

Where Can I Sell My Silver Plated Items?

Some businesses specialize in recycling electroplated copper and brass flatware, potentially offering cash for such items. It’s crucial to conduct thorough research first, as some plated flatware should not be sold merely for scrap value. Depending on their age and condition, certain pieces of flatware and tea sets might be considered vintage or antique, potentially worth significantly more than their scrap value alone. For instance, although we at Canada Gold do not purchase plated items like Rogers flatware—which we see frequently—the Eternally Yours pattern from Rogers, dating back to 1941, is highly collectible. Consider selling these collectible items online to maximize their value.