ARTICLES

Caring for Silver; Know What You Have

How can I tell if a piece of silver is worth restoring Is there an easy way to differentiate from silver plated pieces and Sterling silver What is Sterling silver The easiest way to determine if a piece is worth restoring is to decide if it has sentimental value.  If so then the best way to make it last for generations or centuries is with regular and proper maintenance.  Whether silver plated or Sterling the easiest way to protect your piece is through regular and gentle polishing.  At Lawrence Miller & Co. we recommend using Tarni Shield by 3M polishing cream.  Hagerty also makes a good polishing cloth silver duster but Tarni Shield is a less abrasive polish it leaves a protective finish and it is what we use for hand polishing.  Polishing your silver every few months is a good idea.Whether it’s silver plated or Sterling silver NEVER put silver in the dishwasher NEVER store it in a plastic bag or use toothpaste as a cleaner.  After using a silver piece flatware or hollowware wash it with a mild detergent and dry it with a soft cotton cloth.  NEVER use a paper towel to dry or clean your silver. ...
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Why is 925 silver jewellery hallmarked?

We are often asked why silver jewellery has hallmarks on it. In the UK the most common hallmark is a 925 stamp. In other countries you may see hallmarks with the words 'silver' or 'quality silver' in capital letters. Although the types of hallmarking used internationally vary the principle behind the hallmarking system for silver jewellery remains the same. Let us first look at the law as it stands. In the UK nearly all high quality 925 sterling silver jewellery must be stamped with a 925 hallmark. A rigorous body of laws dating back from Medieval times governs the system and legal requirements of hallmarking. More recently the 1999 European regulations and directives have introduced further requirements to the Hallmarking Act 1973. Only those 925 silver items specifically excluded by law may legally avoid the requirement of a hallmark.Similar laws apply all around the world and are usually just as firm as those in the UK. Where hallmarking laws exist you inevitably find an official body tasked with carefully monitoring the hallmarking system and empowered to issue hefty penalties for any breaches.Now that we know what the law is we can look at why it exists. In essence hallmarking laws...
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