Of course! Here is a helpful answer based on the information you provided.
Absolutely! Sterling silverware is definitely worth something, and its value primarily comes from two different angles: its value to a collector and its intrinsic "melt" value based on the silver content.
First, think about its collector value. Certain brands and patterns are highly sought after by people looking to complete their sets. Brands like Tiffany, Gorham, and others can carry a premium, meaning a set might sell for much more than just the weight of its silver. The specific pattern and the overall condition of the set play a big role here.
The second, and more common, source of value is the silver itself. Sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% pure silver. This means it has a tangible melt value based on the current market price of silver. To figure this out, you would weigh all the sterling pieces (excluding parts like stainless steel knife blades), multiply that weight by 0.925 to get the pure silver content, and then multiply that by the current spot price for silver. A dealer will typically offer you a percentage of this melt value.
To know for sure if you have valuable sterling silver, you should look for markings on the pieces, such as the word "Sterling" or the number ".925". If it says "silver-plated," it unfortunately has very little monetary value as it's only a very thin coating of silver over another metal.
