Many people think that sterling silver refers to silver that has a British hallmark. Although this is true in Britain, sterling silver does not have to be British.
How do you tell if the metal you are looking at is real sterling silver?
Picture the scene!
You are looking at a pair of expensive silver candlesticks at an antique fair.
The colour is tarnished and although they have a great shape, you are concerned that you might be about to “get done”. The stall holder assures you that they are sterling silver but, sterling silver goblet
But what does this actually mean?
Many people think that sterling silver refers to silver that has a British hallmark. Although this is true in Britain, sterling silver does not have to be British. It can come from any country of origin but should carry a maker’s mark or assay office stamp to guarantee it is authentic.
Sterling silver is the good quality solid silver that we think about when considering silver. It is not pure silver. Pure or fine silver is too soft for most uses – it can wear away and be bent out of shape. Sterling silver keeps it’s shape and is hardwearing for most uses such as jewellery or any kind of object or implement such as the candle sticks that you are considering
What is sterling Silver (part 2)
