Beware counterfeit sterling tableware

[insontis]

I haven't posted on here in a few years, but felt compelled after a recent run in I've had with some counterfeit silver trays. Usually if ever working with precious metals I'm very diligent and acid testing is involved, but I recently purchased a few trays from someone who had found them in a storage unit. I was out and about armed only with my trusty magnets. The trays in question with of various styles and sizes, with two completely different hallmarks between them. The companies are legitimate as are the hallmarks themselves. The trays were not magnetic in any sense and were solid. Little tarnishing on one (in hindsight remniscent of that silverplate look), but had the others all had that white sterling "look".

Messing around with my new batch of acid back at the house I was testing a few other items. I thought to myself heck, I'll throw some 18k acid on this sterling while I'm at it as a baseline and initially it looked fine. Got that milky white initial reaction but the hue seemed somewhat tinged green. I continued to place a drop on the other trays and had again, mostly milky white reactions except one tray that struggled for dear life trying to hold it. I wiped them all off and applied a second round of acid across them in the same position. Less white, but more disappointment. Wiped away the second batch of acid. Gleaming beneath was a streak of brass on some, copper on another. Straight counterfeits.

Long story short: Be careful. Never trust a hallmark on ANYTHING.

 

[creskol]

Good information to know about. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[russau]

VERY GOOD TIP ! Thankyou for posting this !

 

[geowizard]

Dealing in silverware is risky at best. I have become very skeptical about buying. If it's scrap, drill it, get a loop and look at the cuttings. Do an acid test on the cuttings; ideally, in a small 50 ml beaker if possible. Drop out the silver with table salt as a positive test.

- Geowizard

 

[Trezurehunter]

Great info, thanks.

 

[pepperj]

The brass one that has sterling 925/1000 is referred to as being stacked. In other words plated with lipstick.
The maker of the copper one is very strange.
A better known company of sterling pieces.

It suggested that just trim or part of the item was sterling. That I haven't seen before.

I have bought a lot of silver plate cutlery and hollowware.
I found Rodgers stated E.P.Copper and it was brass actually.

My thoughts are lie till your caught, make a greater profit. Like who would test a piece of hollowware in a jewelry store or giftware store.

 

[pepperj]

Dealing in silverware is risky at best. I have become very skeptical about buying. If it's scrap, drill it, get a loop and look at the cuttings. Do an acid test on the cuttings; ideally, in a small 50 ml beaker if possible. Drop out the silver with table salt as a positive test.

- Geowizard

So you walk into a shop, drill it, examine the turnings, then put into nitric acid solution drop it out with salt.
Meanwhile the air around you is filling up with nitrogen dioxide.
Seriously I don't think that you would have been able to do this in a shop.🤣

 

[pepperj]

Dealing in silverware is risky at best. I have become very skeptical about buying. If it's scrap, drill it, get a loop and look at the cuttings. Do an acid test on the cuttings; ideally, in a small 50 ml beaker if possible. Drop out the silver with table salt as a positive test.

- Geowizard

Have a little time to read up on this.

https://share.google/jB1cMrmbHb6DpISjP

 

[geowizard]

Have a little time to read up on this.

https://share.google/jB1cMrmbHb6DpISjP

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver. They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

 

[geowizard]

Have a little time to read up on this.

https://share.google/jB1cMrmbHb6DpISjP

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver! They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

Have a little time to read up on this.

https://share.google/jB1cMrmbHb6DpISjP

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver. They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

So you walk into a shop, drill it, examine the turnings, then put into nitric acid solution drop it out with salt.
Meanwhile the air around you is filling up with nitrogen dioxide.
Seriously I don't think that you would have been able to do this in a shop.🤣

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver. They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

Have a little time to read up on this.

https://share.google/jB1cMrmbHb6DpISjP

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver. They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

- Geowizard

So you walk into a shop, drill it, examine the turnings, then put into nitric acid solution drop it out with salt.
Meanwhile the air around you is filling up with nitrogen dioxide.
Seriously I don't think that you would have been able to do this in a shop.🤣

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver. They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

Have a little time to read up on this.

https://share.google/jB1cMrmbHb6DpISjP

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver. They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

- Geowizard

 

[geowizard]

The brass one that has sterling 925/1000 is referred to as being stacked. In other words plated with lipstick.
The maker of the copper one is very strange.
A better known company of sterling pieces.
View attachment 2251159View attachment 2251160

View attachment 2251161

It suggested that just trim or part of the item was sterling. That I haven't seen before.

I have bought a lot of silver plate cutlery and hollowware.
I found Rodgers stated E.P.Copper and it was brass actually.

My thoughts are lie till your caught, make a greater profit. Like who would test a piece of hollowware in a jewelry store or giftware store.

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver. They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

- Geowizard

 

[pepperj]

Read a book.
Learn how to test Silver. Testing takes skill and understanding of laboratory safety rules. My customers bring Silver to me. They know I test the silver. They watch the testing through a window. They know I don't play games!

- Geowizard

How many times do you have to say it? 🤣

 

[geowizard]

How many times do you have to say it? 🤣

pepperj,

It's like throwing jello on the wall. You keep doing it until it sticks!
ed note: Look online for the book by CM Hoke.

https://www.rexresearch1.com/AssayLibrary/RefiningPreciousMetalWastesHoke.pdf

- Geowizard

 

[pepperj]

pepperj,

It's like throwing jello on the wall. You keep doing it until it sticks!
ed note: Look online for the book by CM Hoke.

https://www.rexresearch1.com/AssayLibrary/RefiningPreciousMetalWastesHoke.pdf

- Geowizard

I'll be looking forward to it 😊