Determining whether old cutlery is solid silver or merely silver-plated involves a careful inspection for specific markings and, in some cases, simple physical tests. The most definitive method is to identify the hallmarks stamped onto the piece.
Official hallmarks are a guarantee of silver purity. In Great Britain, for example, a complete set of hallmarks typically includes a standard mark, an assay office mark, a date letter, and a maker's mark. The most crucial of these for identification is the standard mark. A Lion Passant indicates the item is sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure. Other countries have their own systems; for instance, French silver often features a Minerva head. Many pieces are also explicitly stamped with the word "Sterling" or the number "925" to denote the same sterling standard.
Conversely, it is equally important to recognize markings that indicate silver plating. If you find stamps such as "EPNS" (Electro Plated Nickel Silver), "A1," or "Triple Plate," the item is not solid silver. These marks signify that a base metal has been coated with a thin layer of silver. The absence of any sterling or purity marks, coupled with the presence of these plating indicators, is a clear sign that the cutlery is not solid silver.
If the markings are worn or absent, a couple of simple, non-destructive tests can provide further clues. Silver is not magnetic, so if a magnet sticks to the cutlery, it is certainly not sterling silver. However, since other non-magnetic metals are used in plated ware, this test is only conclusive if the magnet attracts the item. Another method is the ice test. Due to silver's high thermal conductivity, an ice cube will melt significantly faster when placed on a solid silver item compared to a silver-plated or stainless steel one.
