Hi all Was at a garage sale yesterday and found an old indian tea set (claimed to be sterling however there are no hallmarks ) for $10. So what's the deal with this kind of stuff, I don't think it has collectors value anymore because it's not in the greatest condition however based on silver weight alone it would be worth ~$1799 @ .925 purity @ $30 an ounce. Should keep it away until the mania starts so I can justify getting it certified and selling for the raw metal value? Do jewlers buy this kind of stuff for melt? If I could sell it now I would, to put the money back into .999 silver. Thoughts appreciated
I'd buy it to melt.... But postage to here is gonna kill you if it turns out to be plated. I would expect that it would have no collectors value. But would have to see a pic to be sure.
Yeah... Tea pot + milk jug + milk cup + sugar cup... pics coming just re-charging the camera betteries
Even if its Nickel , its still a good buy for $10. Pics pics pics What would the postag for that thing cost? I am contemplating making an offer
In pic #2 you can see shaved edges on the underside of the cup feet, which leads me to believe it is not simply plated. I was worried when I saw goldish looking pigments on the surface so I buffed it up with some silver shiner and it rubbed out nicely, was only tarnish afterall. These pieces are very heavily tarnished! So as for purity who knows.. I'm guessing .800 or .925 obviously hoping for the latter.
What do you want for $10!!!! Have a nice cup of tea & some cucumber sandwiches. Keep one as a change jar? Flower pot.?
^ hahahah Well what's funny is that I rocked up at 1pm after the whole garage sale had been pilliaged... phase 3? GTFO
Try a magnet. If it's plated steel you'll kow instantly. For more precise ways to check, this article seems like a good one: http://www.ehow.com/how_6559430_tell-tea-set-real-silver.html
I remember when I was a kid a during the Hunt Bros. silver price spike seeing a piece on the news on TV showing people queueing up at silver buying stalls in shopping centres with their silver tea sets to sell. The guy buying them was smashing them with a hammer in front of the seller after each transaction.
Well that eliminates steel & nickel. Doing a bit more reading it seems silver plated brass & copper tea sets are very common. So it might be worth making a small cut somewhere to verify there is no copper or brass underneath. I don't think your pic #2 is sufficient because even though it looks like the edges have been shaved, it may just be poor workmanship where silver got plated over a rough base.
Cheers for the help mate! Here's a pic showing where the handle on the milk jug has seperated from the base of the jug (the reason I don't think it has any collector value). Does this tell us anything more ??
Well not sure, as I have no idea what kind of production process the jug had. At least it looks silvery but if it was me I'd still make a cut somewhere.
Based on that temperline caused by a grinder, and the fact that it's non-magnetic, I'm of the opinion that it's a stainless steel base. Silver doesn't do that. Beautiful set regardless!
Nope, they only just implemented a gold (and only gold) jewellery buy-back program and they don't certify on the premesis either.
Have decided to take it to a professional, will report back with results Cheers for the 2nd opinions!!!
Maybe you can do a volumetric analysis in a bath tub or something and check the density of the metal.
