Sterling Silver Price Per Ounce: What Sellers Need to Know

Most people who search for the sterling silver price per ounce are really asking one thing: if I carry this flatware or bracelet into a shop, what will happen, and will the number I found online mean anything there? The short answer is that the number online is a starting point and nothing more. The rest of this article walks you through the visit at KC Gold and Silver in Lenexa, from the front door to the cash, so nothing about it is a surprise.

The sterling silver price per ounce you see online is the market price of pure silver, so no buyer pays that figure for sterling, and the only way to learn what your piece brings is to have it tested and weighed.

Before you leave the house

You do not need to prepare much. A few minutes of sorting helps, though.

• Turn pieces over and look for "Sterling," "925," or ".925" on the back, the underside, or the inside of a band. Set those together.
• Put anything marked "EPNS" or "silverplate" in a separate pile. Plated pieces are a thin coat over another metal, so they are not bought as silver.
• Leave the tarnish alone. Do not polish, dip, or scrub anything for our sake.
• Bring a photo ID. A shop that buys precious metals records who it buys from.
• Keep the pieces in a box or bag, whatever they came in. Nothing needs to be matched, boxed, or in a set.

If you have a large lot, such as a full chest of flatware and a few trays, it is a good idea to call first at (913) 565-4653, which is also (913) 565-GOLD.

Through the door in Lenexa

You walk in, say what you have, and set it on the counter. There is no form to fill out before anyone looks at your silver, and the evaluation is free. Nobody will push you toward a decision. You can come in, find out what the pieces are, and leave with them if you would rather.

Small lots go quickly. A larger lot takes longer simply because there is more to go through, and we would rather be careful than fast.

Tested and weighed in front of you

This is the part that matters most, and it happens in front of you. Tested and weighed in front of you means you see the pieces handled, you see the scale, and you are not asked to leave your silver in a back room.

Here is what we are checking:

• Is it sterling? The stamp tells us what the maker claimed. Testing tells us whether the metal agrees.
• What is solid and what is not? Some handles and candlesticks are sterling wrapped around a filler, so only part of the piece is silver. Those get weighed with that in mind.
• What does the silver actually weigh? Weight is the other half of the story, and it is read off the scale while you watch.

Why the sterling silver price per ounce is a starting point, not a quote

The market price of silver is set for pure silver, in large trades, and it moves all day. Sterling is silver mixed with a little copper for strength, so a sterling piece holds less silver than its weight suggests. On top of that, a shop that buys your piece has to test it, handle it, and move it along before it recovers anything. That is why the spot price is not what anybody pays at a counter, and why we will not quote you a figure from a photo or over the phone. The honest number comes after the testing and the weighing, and it is tied to the metal in your hands that day.

One more detail catches people out. Silver is traded by the troy ounce, which is a heavier unit than the ounce on a kitchen scale or a food label. If you have read a per-ounce figure online and weighed your flatware at home on a regular scale, the two will not line up. That is normal, and it is one reason home estimates are so often off.

What condition does and does not matter

• Does not matter: tarnish, dull finish, a missing fork from the set, mixed patterns, monograms, light scratches, a dent in a tray, a bracelet that no longer clasps.
• Does matter: whether it is really sterling, and how much silver is in it by weight. Plated pieces and heavily filled items count for less, or for nothing, because there is less silver in them.

Pieces that are worn smooth, with the stamp rubbed away, are still welcome. We can test them.

Deciding, and getting paid

Once the testing and weighing are done, we tell you what we can pay for the lot. If you say yes, the payment is same-day cash. If you say no, you take your silver home and owe us nothing. We also tell you plainly when a piece is better kept. A set with real family history is a good example.

Questions people ask before bringing sterling silver in

Does KC Gold and Silver pay the silver spot price for sterling?

No. Spot is the market price for pure silver, and sterling is not pure silver. We pay based on what your pieces test as and weigh, and we explain how we got there at the counter in Lenexa.

How long does an evaluation take?

A small bag is usually quick. A big lot of flatware and hollowware takes longer because every piece is checked. Calling ahead at (913) 565-4653 lets us tell you what to expect.

Do I need to polish my sterling before I come in?

No. Tarnish does not change the metal, and we would rather see your pieces as they are.

What if some of my pieces are silverplate?

Bring them anyway if you are unsure. We will sort sterling from plate during the testing, and you will see which is which.

Do I need a full set of flatware?

No. A single serving spoon, a few odd forks, a bowl, a tray, or a tea set can all be looked at. We are happy to see sterling flatware, bowls, trays, water pitchers, and tea sets.

Where is KC Gold and Silver, and how do I reach you first?

We are in Lenexa, Kansas. Call (913) 565-4653 or (913) 565-GOLD, or read more about what we buy on our sterling silver page at kcgoldandsilver.com.