Silver Hallmark Guide: Sterling, 925, 800, and Antique Silver Marks Explained

Q: What does sterling silver mean?

Sterling silver is an alloy that contains 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals (typically copper, added for hardness). It is commonly stamped 925, sterling, or ster. The 925 standard is the most widespread silver fineness in the world and is the legal minimum to be called sterling in the United States, the United Kingdom, and most of Europe.

Q: What are the common silver fineness levels?

800 silver: 80 percent pure, common in continental European antique pieces. 835 silver: 83.5 percent pure, common in German and Dutch jewelry. 900 silver: 90 percent pure, used in coin silver (pre-1965 US coins are 90 percent silver). 925 silver: 92.5 percent pure, the sterling standard worldwide. 950 silver: 95 percent pure, French first standard and some Japanese pieces. 999 silver: 99.9 percent pure, investment bullion bars and coins.

Q: How do I identify antique silver hallmarks?

Antique silver typically carries multiple hallmarks: a fineness mark (showing purity), a maker mark or sponsor mark (the silversmith), an assay office mark (the city that tested the piece), and a date letter (the year of testing). The UK uses the most elaborate system: London is a leopard's head, Birmingham an anchor, Sheffield a crown or rose, Edinburgh a castle, and Dublin a harp. Date letters cycle through the alphabet in different fonts and shield shapes by office. Reference guides like Bradbury's Book of Hallmarks identify the year and city for any UK-marked piece.

Q: Which silver makers are most valuable?

Signed pieces from Tiffany & Co. (especially with Audubon, Chrysanthemum, English King, or other named patterns), Buccellati (any signed piece carries strong maker premium), Georg Jensen (Danish, with the Jensen oval mark), Cartier (signed silver), Hermès (signed silver), Gorham Martelé (early hand-hammered American), and English Sterling from major eighteenth and nineteenth century makers (Paul Storr, Hester Bateman, Paul de Lamerie). For most signed silver pieces the maker premium exceeds the melt value, often by many times.

Q: How do I test if silver is real?

XRF (X-ray fluorescence) testing reads the silver content non-destructively and is the most reliable method. Acid testing with silver-specific acid drops confirms purity but leaves a small mark. The magnet test rules out base-metal fakes (real silver is not magnetic). The ice test (silver is the best thermal conductor of any metal and melts ice quickly) is anecdotal but real. The ring test (sterling rings with a clear bell tone when struck) requires experience. Silver-plated pieces are typically marked EP, EPNS, A1, or SILVERPLATE and contain only a thin layer of silver over base metal.

Q: How does hallmark affect silver price?

For melt-value silver (unsigned sterling flatware, bullion, scrap), price is based purely on the silver content times the live silver spot price, minus a refining and handling margin. For signed antique silver (Buccellati, Tiffany, Georg Jensen, Gorham named patterns, English Sterling from major makers), price reflects collector and maker premium and is often many times the melt value. Country marks alone do not add value, but full hallmark stacks identifying maker, city, and date can substantially increase value on antique pieces.

Silver hallmarks tell you what your silver is made of, who made it, where it was tested, and often when. They are the most important pieces of information for determining what a silver piece is worth. This guide explains the worldwide silver fineness system, country-by-country hallmark conventions, the major collectible makers, and how hallmarks affect value when selling silver.

Silver hallmarking is far more elaborate than gold. The British assay office system in particular has documented every silver piece tested in the UK since the early 1300s. If you have inherited silver, the hallmarks on the back or underside are the key to understanding what you have. See the We Buy Silver in Miami page for the CJW silver buying process.

Silver Fineness: The Number That Tells You How Much Silver You Have

Fineness	Silver Content	Common Stamps	Where Used
999	99.9 percent	.999, FINE SILVER, 999	Investment bullion bars and coins
950	95 percent	950, .950, MINERVE (France)	French first standard, some Japanese
925 (Sterling)	92.5 percent	925, STERLING, STER, SOLID SILVER	US, UK, most worldwide jewelry and flatware
900	90 percent	900, COIN, COIN SILVER	Pre-1965 US coins, some European
835	83.5 percent	835	German, Dutch, some Scandinavian
800	80 percent	800, 0.800	Continental European antique (Italian, German, Russian)

Country-by-Country Silver Hallmarks

United States

The US never adopted a formal assay office system. American silver typically stamps STERLING, STER, or 925, accompanied by a maker mark. Common American makers include Tiffany & Co. (often with a pattern number, design year, and director code), Gorham (lion, anchor, G), Reed & Barton, Towle, International Silver, Wallace, Kirk, Stieff, and Towle. American coin silver (pre-1860s, before sterling became the US standard) was typically 900 fine and stamped COIN, COIN SILVER, or PURE COIN.

United Kingdom

The UK has the most elaborate hallmarking system in the world. Every piece carries up to five marks: the sponsor’s mark (the silversmith or sponsor), the standard mark (a lion passant for sterling, Britannia for Britannia silver at 958.4), the assay office mark (city of testing), the date letter (year of testing, cycled through the alphabet by office), and sometimes the duty mark (a monarch’s head, used between 1784 and 1890).

Assay office marks: London uses a leopard’s head. Birmingham uses an anchor. Sheffield historically used a crown, now a rose. Edinburgh uses a three-towered castle. Dublin uses a harp surmounted by a crown. Glasgow (assay office closed 1964) used a tree, salmon, and bell. Date letters cycle through the alphabet (skipping some letters) in different fonts and shield shapes by office, so reference guides like Bradbury’s Book of Hallmarks identify the exact year and city for any UK piece.

France

French silver uses two standards: 950 first standard (marked with a Minerve head, which is the head of Minerva facing right) and 800 second standard (marked with a boar’s head for Paris or a crab for the provinces). Older French silver may carry the Vieillard (old man) mark (1819 to 1838). French maker marks are typically diamond-shaped lozenges.

Germany

German silver is stamped with the fineness (typically 800, 835, or 925) and often a crescent moon and crown mark (used after 1888) plus a maker mark. Pre-1888 German pieces use city marks varying by region. Common German fineness is 800, but higher-end pieces are 925.

Italy

Italian silver uses the 800 standard for most antique pieces and 925 for modern. Italian silver is typically marked with the fineness inside an oval or hexagon, plus a maker number in a diamond. Buccellati is the most collectible Italian silver maker.

Scandinavia

Danish silver (Georg Jensen, A. Dragsted, and others) is stamped 925S or .925 plus the maker mark. Swedish silver uses a three-crown mark (Tre Kronor) plus fineness and date letter. Norwegian silver uses 830 silver historically, now 925.

Russia

Imperial Russian silver was assayed in zolotniks: 84 zolotniks (87.5 percent silver), 88 zolotniks (91.6 percent), and 91 zolotniks (94.7 percent). Marks include a city mark (Moscow uses St. George slaying the dragon, St. Petersburg uses crossed anchors), an assayer’s mark, and a maker mark. Fabergé and other major Russian makers carry strong collector premium.

Major Collectible Silver Makers

Signed pieces from major silver makers carry collector premium far exceeding melt value. The strongest names in the secondary market in 2026:

Tiffany & Co. Audubon, Chrysanthemum, English King, Saint Dunstan, Wave Edge, and other named patterns. Period of John C. Moore II (Tiffany director 1854 to 1907) is particularly valuable. Pattern number and director code on the underside identify the period.
Buccellati. Italian master silversmiths. Any signed Buccellati piece (modern or vintage) commands strong maker premium. Look for the Buccellati script signature and 925.
Georg Jensen. Danish modernist silver. Stamped 925S or .925 plus the Jensen oval. Designer mark (Harald Nielsen, Henning Koppel, Arno Malinowski, others) on the underside identifies the designer.
Gorham. American Martelé (1897 to 1912) is the most collectible, with the GORHAM lion-anchor-G mark plus a Roman numeral year letter. Other named Gorham patterns (Chantilly, Buttercup, Strasbourg) also collect.
English Sterling. Major eighteenth and nineteenth century makers: Paul Storr, Paul de Lamerie, Hester Bateman, Peter and William Bateman, William Pitts, James Dixon & Sons. Authenticated pieces with full hallmark stacks command serious premiums.
Cartier silver. Less common than gold but valuable when signed.
Hermès silver. Small leather and silver accessories, equestrian-themed silver pieces. Signed and serial-numbered.

How to Test if Silver Is Real

XRF Testing

X-ray fluorescence reads the silver content to within 0.5 percent in seconds, non-destructively. The gold standard for professional silver testing. CJ William tests every piece of silver on XRF in our Surfside showroom.

Acid Testing

Silver-specific acid drops applied to a small inconspicuous area react with the silver content. Reliable but leaves a small mark.

Magnet Test

Real silver is not magnetic. If a piece is attracted to a magnet, it contains ferrous metal and is plated or fake.

Silver-Plated Markings to Recognize

Pieces marked EP (electroplated), EPNS (electroplated nickel silver), A1, SILVERPLATE, SHEFFIELD PLATE, or QUADRUPLE PLATE are not solid silver. They contain a thin layer of silver over base metal and have no melt value, though some Sheffield Plate antiques have collector value as objects.

How Hallmarks Affect Silver Price

For unsigned sterling flatware, bullion, and scrap, price is calculated on silver content times the live silver spot price, less a refining and handling margin. Typical payout is 78 to 96 percent of melt value depending on purity and form (investment bullion at the high end, scrap at the lower).

For signed antique silver from major makers, price reflects collector and maker premium and often exceeds melt value by many multiples. A signed Buccellati centerpiece, a Tiffany Chrysanthemum tea service, a Georg Jensen sterling pitcher, or a Paul Storr serving piece is worth far more intact than as melted silver. Selling these pieces to a melt-only buyer destroys most of their value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does sterling silver mean?

Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver alloyed with 7.5 percent other metals (typically copper). It is stamped 925, sterling, or ster. The 925 standard is the most widespread silver fineness in the world.

What does 925 mean on silver?

925 is the parts-per-thousand stamp indicating sterling silver, meaning 92.5 percent pure silver. Functionally identical to the words sterling, ster, or solid silver.

What are the common silver fineness levels?

800 (80 percent, antique European), 835 (German/Dutch), 900 (coin silver), 925 (sterling, worldwide standard), 950 (French first standard), 999 (investment bullion).

How do I identify antique silver hallmarks?

Antique silver typically carries a fineness mark, a maker or sponsor mark, an assay office mark (the city), and a date letter (year). The UK system is the most elaborate. Reference guides like Bradbury’s Book of Hallmarks identify year and city for any UK piece.

What about American silver hallmarks?

American silver typically stamps STERLING, STER, or 925 plus a maker mark. The US never adopted a formal assay office system. Major American makers: Tiffany, Gorham, Reed & Barton, Towle, International, Wallace, Kirk, Stieff.

Which silver makers are most valuable?

Tiffany & Co. (named patterns), Buccellati (any signed piece), Georg Jensen (designer-signed), Cartier silver, Hermès silver, Gorham Martelé, English Sterling from major eighteenth/nineteenth century makers (Paul Storr, Hester Bateman, Paul de Lamerie). Maker premium typically far exceeds melt value.

How do I test if silver is real?

XRF (X-ray fluorescence) is the most reliable non-destructive test. Acid testing confirms purity but leaves a small mark. The magnet test rules out ferrous fakes. Silver-plated pieces are marked EP, EPNS, A1, or SILVERPLATE.

How does hallmark affect silver price?

For unsigned sterling and scrap, price is silver content times spot price minus refining margin. For signed antique silver from major makers (Buccellati, Tiffany named patterns, Georg Jensen, Gorham Martelé, English Sterling), maker premium often exceeds melt by many multiples.

Selling Silver in Miami

CJ William buys silver in every fineness, every form. XRF testing in our Surfside showroom. Maker premium on signed pieces from Buccellati, Tiffany, Georg Jensen, Gorham, and English Sterling.

We Buy Silver in Miami

Call (347) 510-0668

This guide is part of the CJ William Knowledge Library. See also Gold Karat Guide, Platinum Identification Guide, Diamond Certification Guide, Watch Reference Number Guide, Antique Silver Identification Guide, Diamond Certification Guide, Hermès Birkin Authentication Guide, Luxury Asset Liquidation in Miami, and We Buy Silver in Miami. CJ William, 9573 Harding Avenue, Surfside, FL 33154.