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Silver Marks On Jewelry
 
  This Silver Mark page is my opinion of Silver Hallmarks. Sometimes marks partially or completely wear off or are fake, test silver when the appearance of the item looks questionable. I assume no liability.  
 
  Deceiving & Fake JUNK - Silver Marks  
  Don't be fooled, this is NOT silver. To generally decrease overhead costs, some producers of silver jewelry and kitchenware changed to nickel and other alloys that look and even sound like silver!  
     
Name Percentage of Silver Notes
Afghan Silver NO SILVER AT ALL Fake silver jewelry found on eBay
Afghanistan Silver NO SILVER AT ALL Fake silver jewelry found on eBay
Alpacca NO SILVER AT ALL Originally a German white brass
Alpaka NO SILVER AT ALL Common alternate spelling of Alpacca
Brazil silver NO SILVER AT ALL Found on flatware
Cobalt Silver NO SILVER AT ALL Found on flatware
Deep Silver NO SILVER AT ALL Found on flatware
German Silver NO SILVER AT ALL Found on jewelry & flatware
Nickel Silver NO SILVER AT ALL Found on fake U.S. coins like Morgan dollars, jewelry & flatware
Peruvian Silver NO SILVER AT ALL If it is marked "Peruvian Silver", not if is simply from Peru
Paktong NO SILVER AT ALL Chinese white brass, found in fake U.S. Morgan dollars
Silver   >See Note NO SILVER AT ALL    >See Note Only when used as a general term, often it refers to color, be careful!
Silver Mix NO SILVER AT ALL Fake silver jewelry found on eBay
Silver Mixture NO SILVER AT ALL Fake silver jewelry found on eBay
Silver Soldered

 Molten silver metal bonding

 Commonly done on copper items that will be silver plated. Generally not enough silver for silver recovery.
Tibet Silver NO SILVER AT ALL Found on jewelry and kitchenware
Tibetan Silver NO SILVER AT ALL Found on jewelry and kitchenware
Tribal Silver  >See Note

 NO SILVER AT ALL  >See Note

 Tribal Silver was originally unmarked 800-900% pure silver, but lately rip- off artists are claiming there unmarked white brass is silver, be careful!
     
     
General Silver Plated Marks
Often silver plate is done over brass or copper.
                                       
  EPNS Electro-plated nickel silver  
  Extra Plate Silver Plated  
  International Silver or IS Silver Plated  
  Quadruple Plate Silver Plated, 4 times  
  Silver Sands Silver Plated  
  Silver Over Copper Silver Plated  
  Silver Overlay Silver Plated  
  Silver Wash Silver Plated  
  Sterling Inlay Silver Plated on some parts  
  Triple Plate Silver Plated, 3 times  
  XS Silver Silver Plated  
       
 
 Common Marks For Genuine Silver
This is the good stuff!
Mark Percent Notes
800 contains 80 percent silver 800 parts per 1000 silver
830 contains 83 percent silver 800 parts per 1000 silver
830 S contains 83 percent silver 830 parts per 1000 silver
850 contains 85 percent silver 850 parts per 1000 silver
875 contains 87.5 percent silver 875 parts per 1000 silver, common for Russian silver
925 contains 92.5 percent silver 925 parts per 1000 silver
950 contains 95 percent silver 950 parts per 1000 silver
970  contains 97 percent silver 970 parts per 1000 silver
Coin contains 90 percent silver 900 parts per 1000 silver
Coin Silver contains 90 percent silver 900 parts per 1000 silver
Sterling, Sterling Silver contains 92.5 percent silver 925 parts per 1000 silver
Ster & terling contains 92.5 percent silver Common "worn mark" versions of Sterling, 925 parts per 1000 silver
STG

 contains 92.5 percent silver

 When accompanied by T. & CO. (Tiffany & Co.) or on items too small for typical hallmarks like small charms
TAXCO MEXICO contains 92.5 percent silver or more 925 parts per 1000 silver or more as marked (925, 970 or 980 etc)
Vermeil gold plate over 925 sterling gold plate over sterling, 925 parts per 1000 silver
     
     
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