How and Where to Sell Sterling Silver Flatware for the Most Cash
Did you inherit a drawer full of silver spoons, forks, or serving pieces? You are probably wondering if they are worth anything and, if so, how you can sell them for top dollar.
Sterling silver flatware, a staple of traditional dining settings, holds sentimental and monetary value. If you think the days of using elegant sterling silver cutlery for dinners are from a bygone era, you might be sitting on a valuable asset that can lead to money in your pocket if you sell now for cash.
Are you looking to sell your silver flatware? Whether you want to know how to determine the value of sterling silver flatware for sale or explore the best online marketplaces to sell sterling silver flatware, knowing your options helps ensure a profitable and safe sale.
Discover the top brands of silverware to sell, learn the best methods for selling silverware, and find out where to sell your silver pieces for top dollar.
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What Is Sterling Silver?
The term “sterling silver” has a specific meaning that refers to the composition of the metal. To qualify as sterling silver, flatware must contain 92.5% silver and 7.5% another metal. Usually, the other metal is copper, but zinc and nickel are fairly common alternatives.
Why does sterling silver have this particular composition? Fine silver (sometimes called pure silver) is just too soft to be used for flatware. Although fine silver, which is 99.9% pure, is acceptable in bullion coins, it’s not very helpful when slicing into a perfectly cooked steak. That’s why silver intended to be used for these applications must be mixed with another metal to enhance the durability and functionality of the utensil.
One problem with sterling silver is that the additional metal needed to strengthen it also makes it vulnerable to tarnishing. Fortunately, this issue can be corrected by careful cleaning.
Is Your Silverware and Sterling Flatware Worth Anything? Here’s How to Know
Here are some tips for making sure you have flatware that can be sold:
Identify Sterling Silver Flatware: Check For Silver Purity Marks
Silver flatware, silver cutlery, silver trays, and other silver pieces contain silver purity marks that provide insights into the value of your silver.
The hallmarks and stamps on your pieces can tell you who made them, who designed them, and who manufactured them. Depending upon where you plan to sell your silverware, these could have an impact on the value of your silver.
Read all about silver hallmarks here.
Check the Current Price of Silver
The spot price of silver is constantly in flux. Waiting just a few months to sell your flatware can result in a significantly higher or lower price. To figure out the value of your silver in terms of its spot price, you should calculate its weight in troy ounces. Keep in mind that your flatware collection will be no more than 92.5% silver.
Understand The Various Silver Manufacturers and Why Some Silverware Sells for More
The hallmarks and stamps on your pieces can tell you who made them, who designed them, and who manufactured them. Depending upon where you plan to sell your silverware, these could have an impact on the value of your silver.
Certain manufacturers of silverware have a higher reputation, like Tiffany & Co., Gorham, and Wallace.1 When you learn about the manufacturers, you will discover which are known for their quality, craftsmanship, and historical significance.
Several manufacturers produced pure silverware, crafting items from solid silver rather than silver-plated materials. Some of those specialty silver flatware manufacturers include:
- Georg Jensen2
- Tiffany & Co.
- Gorham Manufacturing Company
- Christofle3
- Puiforcat
- Mappin & Webb
- Reed & Barton
- Kirk Stieff
- Arthur Stone
These manufacturers created sterling silverware that is highly sought after by collectors today. In addition, when evaluating the worth of your antique silverware,4 however, it’s wise to seek advice from experts in the field, such as antique silver specialists or professional appraisers. These experienced individuals can provide valuable insights into your silverware’s historical significance, rarity, and overall value. Additionally, it’s important to consider the potential collector’s value, which may go beyond its intrinsic worth.
Also, flatware tends to get dinged up over time, which can have a significant effect on the market value of your collection. Be aware that tarnish or verdigris can be removed, although you need to be cautious when doing this to ensure that you do damage the metal. If you are selling your flatware based on its spot price, however, its physical condition is not important.
Some kinds of antique silver flatware have uncommon designs or patterns that are valued by collectors. For instance, Grande Baroque flatware by Wallace Silversmiths and Repoussé by Stieff are perennial favorites among collectors.
If you have a flatware set with all originally included pieces—knives, forks, spoons, serving utensils, etc.—it is worth more than a comparable set with one or more missing elements. However, it is possible to sell individual pieces.
Get an Appraisal to Discover the Value Of Sterling Silverware
When figuring out how much your sterling silverware is worth for selling, you need to consider its purity, weight, and the current spot price of silver.
Also, antique sterling silverware, especially if in demand, will command a higher price. A recent search on eBay and Etsy turned up what some antique pieces and sets are being sold for.A Tiffany & Co. squirrel bon bon spoon made of 925 silver had a $500 asking price.11 A Gorham Buttercup four-piece place setting has a price of $219.12
Keep in mind that the selling price might not match the current spot price because businesses need to make money, too. Here are ways to get an idea of what your silverware value is:
- Determine if your pieces are rare or antiques: If you plan on selling to a collector or other private sale, rare and antique pieces might bring in a higher price.
- Understand the silver market: The spot price of silver plays a role in what you can sell your silver for. Watch the silver market to see where the silver price is when you plan on selling. Per Kitco, the price of silver is $32.33 per ounce as of April 12, 2025.
- Get an appraisal: An appraisal of your silverware by a professional provides an expert evaluation of its material, maker, condition, and market value of silver. Request a free, insured Appraisal Kit now.
Where to Sell Silverware
When trying to figure out where to sell your silverware, there are many options between local silver buyers and online silver buyers.
Local Options for Selling Silverware “Near Me”
If you want to sell sterling silver flatware locally, you can do a number of searches, including “sell silverware near me,” “silverware buyers near me,” and “sterling silver flatware buyers near me.” This should give you a variety of local buyers, like:
- Antique shops
- Pawn shops
- Consignment stores
- Auction houses
- Silver collectors
- Jewelry and silverware dealers
However, your best offer might be through an online silver buyer like Cash for Silver USA. Plus, when you sell to us, you don’t even have to leave your house, and we offer a Price “Beat” Guarantee, where we will beat any legitimate offer.
Online Options for Selling Silverware
Online marketplaces like Facebook, eBay, and Etsy. Because of an increase in fraud complaints, do your due diligence and exercise caution before you decide to sell through an online marketplace.
Specialized online buyers like Cash for Silver USA. These buyers offer safe and secure methods of selling your silver flatware, plus your valuables are insured and tracked. Request a free Appraisal Kit now.
5 Reasons to Sell Sterling Silver Flatware
1. Sell Your Sterling Silver Flatware Because It’s Difficult to Maintain
There are many types of valuables that have few or no maintenance demands. You can simply put them away somewhere and forget about them, secure in the knowledge that nothing will happen that might cause harm. This is certainly not true of sterling silver, however. Utensils made from this metal alloy are prone to becoming tarnished, especially if they aren’t used often or are stored in a humid environment.
Sterling silver can also develop verdigris, a toxic greenish pigment that results from the oxidation of the copper content. Much of the time, it can’t be effectively removed without the aid of a specialist.
All this means is that you need to clean your sterling silver fairly often to keep it in good condition. In general, it’s best to do this by hand—the dishwasher just isn’t ideal when it comes to this type of flatware. Some silverware can even become damaged from the heat of a dishwasher.
For many people, it’s just not worth the bother to go through all this to keep their sterling silver flatware in good condition. Selling your flatware allows you to get rid of the burden involved with maintaining it—and make a few dollars in the process.
Request a free Appraisal Kit to ship (insured!) your silver to Cash for Silver USA.
2. Sell Your Sterling Silver Flatware Because It’s Old
Sometimes you just want to make a change. Keeping the same flatware around for years and years can get boring, even if it’s still in decent condition. You can sell your old flatware and use the money to buy a brand-new set that’s in a different style.
3. Sell Your Sterling Flatware Because It’s Taking Up Space
Old flatware requires room that could be devoted to other things. That’s why many households that embark on a thorough spring cleaning of the premises end up selling off their sterling silver flatware.
4. Sell Your Silver Flatware Because the Price of Silver is High
If you’re interested in selling silver of any kind, now is an excellent time to cash in. The spot price of silver is substantially higher than it was only a few years ago.
Fortunately, there is a thriving market for old sterling silver flatware. Finding out who buys silverware isn’t difficult, but it’s not always possible to get the price you prefer.
5. Financial Needs and Changing Tastes
Life can present unexpected financial challenges, like medical bills, car repairs, or other unplanned expenses, that strain your budget. Selling your sterling silver flatware can provide a quick influx of cash to help alleviate these pressures without taking on additional debt.
Additionally, personal tastes and lifestyles evolve over time. The traditional designs of sterling silver flatware might no longer align with your modern or minimalist aesthetic preferences. By selling your flatware, you can invest in items that better reflect your current style, turning unused valuables into practical resources.
Sources:
1. The Silver Museum – Rare Silver Collector’s Guide, https://www.silvermuseum.org/rare-silver-collectors-guide. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2024
2. Silver Collections – Silver Flatware Manufacturers, https://www.silvercollection.it/AMERICANSILVERPLATEMARKSH.html. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2024
3. Silver Queen – Silver Flatware Manufacturers, https://www.silverqueen.com/PatternSearch/sterling. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2024
4. Antique Silver – What’s My Antique Silverware Worth, https://antiquesilver.org/what-is-the-value-of-antique-silver-and-how-do-i-determine-its-worth/. Retrieved Jan. 5, 2024
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