Published 2 June 2026
Sterling, 800, and other silver standards
The most common silver standard in UK jewellery is sterling, .925 fine, marked 925 inside the band or on the clasp. Older British silver carries an assay office hallmark, the lion passant for sterling, alongside town marks like the leopard head for London or the anchor for Birmingham. Continental European silver is often .800 fine and marked 800. Some Mexican silver is .950. Some Asian silver is unhallmarked and tests across a wide range.
The number tells us the silver content per thousand parts. .925 is 92.5 per cent silver. .800 is 80 per cent silver. XRF testing on arrival reads the alloy directly and confirms what the stamp suggests, or flags it where the stamp is wrong.
Hallmarks and where to look
On a ring the hallmark is usually inside the band. On a necklace or bracelet it is usually near the clasp, sometimes on a small tag fixed to the chain. On earrings it is usually on the post or the butterfly back. On larger pieces like brooches or pendants it is often on the back surface.
If the piece is hallmarked, photograph the mark close up before posting. A clear photo lets us give a more accurate shape-of-offer before the parcel even moves.
Stones, charms and non-silver components
Many silver pieces carry stones, enamel, glass, paste or non-silver components such as a leather strap or a base-metal clasp. For a silver-content offer we calculate based on the silver only. Where stones are precious, diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, opal of significant size. We will tell you in the valuation whether it is worth removing them for separate sale or whether the piece is better sold whole.
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. For silver jewellery the calculation strips out any obviously non-silver mass before the per-gram silver price is applied.
EPNS and silver-plated pieces
EPNS, Electro Plated Nickel Silver, looks like silver but contains no silver at all. The mark "EPNS" or "EP" on the back is the telltale. Sheffield Plate and other rolled-silver-on-base techniques fall in the same category. These pieces have decorative value but no bullion value. We will tell you clearly if your parcel includes EPNS so nothing is mistakenly valued as silver.
Posting silver jewellery
- WhatsApp photos of every piece (and any hallmark close-ups) to 07763 741067.
- Wait for the shape-of-offer reply and prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Bag each piece separately so chains do not tangle and stones do not rub.
- Pad inside a jiffy bag and use a rigid outer mailer.
- Drop off at a Post Office counter and keep the receipt.
- Forward the tracking number to us on WhatsApp.
Insurance, decline and payment
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. A heavy silver parcel can exceed that cap because silver is bulky relative to value. Tell us before you ship and we will split the parcel across more than one label. Accept and Faster Payments leaves the same working day. Decline and the parcel comes back to you by tracked post at our cost.
Common questions
Do you buy broken silver chains?
Yes. Broken pieces are valued by silver content.
What about silver-plated pieces?
They have no bullion content. We will tell you clearly which pieces in your parcel are plated.
Do stones affect the offer?
For most costume stones, no. For genuine precious stones we will tell you the best route in the written valuation.
Is my parcel insured?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. Larger parcels travel under multiple labels.
How do you handle unhallmarked pieces?
They are XRF-tested. The reading tells us the silver content directly.
Do I need to clean the jewellery first?
No. Please do not. Cleaning is unnecessary and can damage antique pieces.
When am I paid?
On the working day you accept the valuation, by Faster Payments.
Do I have to visit a shop?
No. The service is by post, UK-wide.