Key Takeaways
Value goes beyond melt price: Craftsmanship, maker, condition, and rarity all add worth above raw metal content.
Written beats verbal: Insurers, estate attorneys, and serious buyers need a signed report with the appraiser's credentials on it.
Fees are flat or hourly, never a percentage: Expect $50 to $150 per item or per hour; a percentage-of-value fee is an ethics violation.
Appraisals expire: Refresh every two to three years as silver prices move.
Antique and flatware need a specialist: Pattern and maker expertise sits outside standard metal valuation.
Blake Brothers has sourced sterling since 1974: 50+ years of buying direct from silversmiths in Thailand, Bali (Indonesia), and India.
Appraising silver means having a qualified, independent appraiser document what a piece is, what it weighs, what it's made of, and what it's worth in writing. For retailers, that written number is what an insurer, an estate attorney, or a buyer will actually accept. A verbal guess is not.
Sterling silver holds real value. It carries metal content you can calculate, it lasts for years with basic care, and it gives your customers a precious-metal look at a price point that moves off the shelf. But knowing what a specific piece is worth, especially something that arrived in an estate lot or over the counter as a trade-in, takes more than a spot-price calculation.
Blake Brothers has worked in wholesale sterling silver since 1974. We're not appraisers, and this guide isn't an appraisal. It's what we've learned about silver value from 50+ years of buying it, and what to look for when you need a professional opinion on paper.
What Sterling Silver Is
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver mixed with other metals, usually copper, for strength. Pure silver is too soft for most jewelry and flatware. That added 7.5% keeps a piece durable without dulling the shine.
The ".925" or "925" stamp is what marks it. If you're evaluating unfamiliar inventory, reading the stamps on a piece is the first check before anything else.
Appraising Silver: What Drives Value
Metal content sets the floor. Take the current silver spot price per gram, multiply by 0.925 for sterling purity, then multiply by the weight of the piece in grams. That's the raw melt figure, and how melt value is actually calculated goes deeper on the math.
Everything above that floor comes from somewhere else:
Craftsmanship: Hand-set stones and hand-polished finishes cost more to produce and sell for more at retail.
Maker and origin: A documented maker's mark can move a piece well past its metal weight.
Condition: Dents, repairs, and heavy wear pull the number down.
Age and rarity: Collectors pay for scarcity and provenance, not grams.
Spot prices move daily on demand, mining output, and broader market conditions. That's the practical reason appraisals carry an expiration date, which we'll get to below.
Resale Demand for Sterling Silver
Resale demand for sterling has held up, particularly for rings, chains, and antique flatware. Even worn pieces retain melt value, which puts a floor under what you can recover.
For retailers, this matters in two directions. Trade-ins and estate lots need evaluating before you pay for them. And new inventory needs to be worth more on your shelf than its metal weight, which is where sourcing quality shows up. Our silver pendants for your shelves are set and finished by hand for exactly that reason.
If you're assessing pieces you already hold, our guide on checking what a piece is worth before you sell walks through the steps.
Pure Silver vs. Sterling Silver
Pure silver, also called fine silver, is 99.9% silver. It bends, scratches, and wears down quickly, which rules it out for most everyday pieces.
Sterling's 92.5% ratio is the working compromise between durability and appearance. It molds and polishes well, which is why it carries everything from men's chains to women's earrings. For a buyer, the 925 stamp is the fastest signal that you're looking at solid silver rather than plate.
How to Get Silver Appraised
So how does appraising silver actually work? You bring the piece to an independent, credentialed appraiser, they examine and test it, and they issue a signed written report.
The word that matters is independent. Ask whether the appraiser works for anyone who might buy the piece from you. An appraiser employed by a prospective buyer has an interest in a lower number.
What a Written Report Should Contain
According to GIA's guidance for consumers, a complete appraisal report should include:
The date of the appraisal
A clear statement of its purpose
A detailed, understandable description of the item
The value conclusion
Any limiting conditions and assumptions the appraiser worked under
The appraiser's signature and qualifications
The names of anyone who assisted with the evaluation
For a silver piece specifically, expect hallmark identification, purity verification, weight recorded in grams or troy ounces, and a reference to current market pricing. A verbal estimate covers none of this and won't satisfy an insurer or a probate filing.
When It's Worth Paying For
Insurance: A written appraisal establishes replacement value, so a carrier knows what it's covering before a loss.
Resale: A documented fair market value protects you from underselling, which matters most on antique and higher-value pieces.
Estate work: Probate filings and equitable distribution among heirs usually require a formal valuation.
One thing worth naming: new wholesale inventory with a verified .925 hallmark and a known supplier generally doesn't need appraising. You already have the purity, the weight, and the invoice. Appraisals earn their cost on pieces with unknown origin, unknown makers, or insurance exposure.
Finding a Qualified Silver Appraiser
GIA does not perform appraisals and does not recommend individual appraisers, but it does publish a list of appraisal associations you can contact to find one in your area. The National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, the American Society of Appraisers, and the American Gem Society all appear on it.
Be skeptical of anyone advertising themselves as "GIA certified." GIA doesn't certify appraisers or teach appraisal courses. Many good appraisers hold a GIA Graduate Gemologist diploma, but the appraisal training comes from somewhere else.
What You Should Expect to Pay
Appraisal fees typically run $50 to $150 per item, or $50 to $150 per hour for appraisers who bill by time, according to jewelry insurer Jewelers Mutual. Complex pieces, multi-stone settings, and full estate collections push past that. Many appraisers discount per-item rates when you bring several pieces at once, which is worth asking about if you've taken in a lot.
Fees should never be a percentage of the appraised value. An appraiser paid on a percentage has a direct financial incentive to inflate the number, and contingent fee arrangements of that kind are treated as an ethics violation under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Flat fee or hourly only.
Plan on updating an appraisal every two to three years. Metal prices move, and a decade-old document will leave a piece either underinsured or overinsured.
Antique Pieces and Flatware Need a Specialist
Old flatware sets and estate hollowware are their own discipline. Pattern rarity, maker history, manufacturing period, and condition grading all sit well outside standard metal valuation, and a general jeweler may not have the background to read them.
If a set comes in with an unfamiliar pattern or an unclear maker, find someone who works in antique and estate silver specifically. The difference between melt value and collector value on a complete flatware service can be substantial.
Remote Estimates vs. In-Person
Photo-based evaluations are cheap and fast, and they're fine as a first-pass filter on a large lot. What they can't do is verify purity, catch a repair, or grade condition accurately.
For insurance documentation, estate filings, or anything with legal weight, use an in-person written appraisal from a credentialed appraiser.
Does Sterling Hold Its Value?
Sterling holds worth over time because the metal has intrinsic value tied to global markets, not to what's fashionable this season. Precious metals have long been used as a hedge against inflation, and silver carries broad industrial demand alongside jewelry demand, which puts a floor under the market.
For a retailer, the practical version is simpler: a sterling piece stays sellable for years. A plated piece tarnishes through and becomes unsellable.
Caring for Sterling Silver
Condition affects appraised value directly, so storage and handling are worth getting right:
Storage: cool and dry, in anti-tarnish bags or a lined case
Cleaning: a soft cloth after handling; mild silver polish or warm water with dish soap and a soft brush for deeper tarnish
Chemicals: keep silver away from pool water, cleaning products, lotions, and perfumes
Storage: cool and dry, in anti-tarnish bags or a lined case
Cleaning: a soft cloth after handling; mild silver polish or warm water with dish soap and a soft brush for deeper tarnish
Chemicals: keep silver away from pool water, cleaning products, lotions, and perfumes
Why Retailers Ask Us About Silver Value
Bill and Suan Blake have spent decades hand-selecting sterling silver directly from artisan silversmiths in Thailand, Bali (Indonesia), and India. Blake Brothers has been buying silver this way since 1974.
That sourcing history is why our customers ask us about value. We know what hand-set stones and hand-polished finishes cost to produce, which construction methods hold up, and what actually sells through at retail. What we don't do is issue appraisals, and for insurance or estate purposes, you need a credentialed independent appraiser.
Visit our showroom in Milford, New Hampshire, or our Super Showroom in Charlotte, North Carolina. Or browse the wholesale catalog and order sterling silver jewelry with free priority shipping on US orders $250+.
FAQs About Appraising Sterling Silver
How much is 925 silver worth today?
925 silver is worth roughly 92.5% of the current silver spot price by weight. If pure silver is $1 per gram, sterling is worth about $0.925 per gram before fees. Check a live spot price for a current figure.
Is sterling silver real silver?
Yes. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver alloyed with copper or another metal for strength.
How do I get my silver appraised?
Contact one of the appraisal associations GIA lists to find a credentialed independent appraiser in your area. They will identify hallmarks, verify purity, weigh the piece, and issue a signed written report.
Can I get a silver appraisal for insurance?
Yes, and for insurance, it needs to be a written report from a credentialed appraiser establishing replacement value. Update it every two to three years as metal prices shift.
Do antique silver and flatware need a specialist?
Yes. Pattern rarity, maker history, and condition grading require expertise beyond standard metal valuation, and those factors often account for most of the value.
Does new wholesale inventory need appraising?
Usually not. A verified .925 hallmark, a known supplier, and an invoice already document what you need. Appraisals are for pieces with unknown origin or insurance exposure.
