925 STERLING · NET ALLOY ONLY
Enter net weightSterling contains 92.5% silver by net alloy weight.
Spot price · Nov 2, 1:22 PM UTC · gold-api.com
A sterling tea set’s melt value comes from its net silver-alloy weight × 0.925 × silver price per gram. Weigh the pot, sugar bowl, creamer and tray separately; assess handles, fittings and any weighted bases before adding them.
YOUR METAL WEIGHT
Weight must be a number from 0 to 1000000000.
Build the weight from the actual pieces
| Part | What to check | Weight to enter |
|---|---|---|
| Pot, creamer and sugar bowl | Read marks on each body and detachable lid. Hollow vessels contain empty space, not an automatic deduction. | Confirmed sterling metal only |
| Handles and finials | Wood and ivory insulators can accompany silver handles. A hollow handle may also enclose filler. | Assessed silver shell; exclude non-metal inserts |
| Tray and stand | Confirm their own marks; do not inherit the pot’s fineness. | Add separately only when sterling is confirmed |
| Weighted base | The silver outer shell and internal weight are different materials. | Assessed shell, excluding the weighting material |
Start with a separate gross weight for each piece. Subtract only measured or professionally assessed non-silver components; do not apply an assumed “silver percentage” to a whole service. Add the resulting sterling-alloy weights, then use 925 fineness once.
STERLING or 925 describes the silver standard. EPNS and silver plate describe a coating over a base material. A plated pot’s entire scale weight cannot be priced as sterling. Photograph all marks before asking for a material assessment.
Weighted sterling and candlestick value
A weighted sterling candlestick can have a silver shell around an internal weight. The gross weight of the assembled candlestick is not its sterling weight. Check the base for weighted or reinforced wording, and have the construction and net shell weight assessed.
No fixed deduction works for every base, stem or filled handle. Do not break an intact antique to obtain a scrap estimate: record its marks and construction first. A hollow silver body without filler simply weighs what its silver walls weigh; “hollow” alone does not tell you a recoverable percentage.
Antique and maker value needs an object appraisal
A maker’s name, rarity, condition and provenance can add value beyond silver content. Keep a matching service together for assessment and show the maker’s marks, all pieces, repairs and inscriptions. There is no universal antique premium to add to the melt result.
Compare an actual whole-service offer with the metal baseline after fees, and obtain an object valuation before accepting a scrap-only price for an identifiable antique.