Just as you can sell pure silver in the form of bullion and coins, you can make money when you sell sterling silver jewelry, coins, silverware, tableware and other items.
Silver prices are up 10% from a year ago on a silver shortage and high interest rates.
As of , the silver resale value in the United States was at $ per ounce, or $ per gram.
Sterling silver is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price — the current price in the marketplace at which silver can be bought or sold.
Where can I sell sterling silver?
How much is sterling silver worth?
- Verify that your silver is sterling silver
- Assess resale value of your sterling silver
- Assess scrap metal value of your sterling silver
What else you should know about sterling silver
- Is there a difference between sterling silver and 925 silver?
- How can you tell if you have 925 sterling silver?
- Is 925 silver good quality?
FAQs about selling sterling silver
Bottom line: Best place to sell sterling silver
Here’s what else you might want to know before selling sterling silver:
- Where to sell sterling silver
- Price of sterling silver and what’s worth if you sell it
- How to sell sterling silver
Where can I sell sterling silver?
You have several quality options for selling your sterling silver: near you at a jewelry store, gold and silver buyer, coin dealer, pawnshop or some jewelry stores, or at one of the quality online silver buyers.
We did a gold scrap selling experiment, and sent our reporter out to these business to sell a 10k bracelet. These were the results:
Gold buyer | BBB rating | Business type | Final offer | % of spot gold price* |
CashforGoldUSA | A+ (accredited since 2020 | Online gold buyer | $41.49 | 67% |
Alloy Market | A (accredited since 2023) | Online gold buyer | $41.49 | 66% |
Raleigh Gold Jewelry | A+ (accredited since 2008) | Jewelry store | $40 | 64% |
National Pawn | A+ (not accredited) | Pawn shop | $50 | 79.5% |
JewelRecycle | A+ (accredited since 2009) | Local gold buyer | $51 | 80% |
Where to sell sterling silver locally
It’s easy enough to search Google for where to sell sterling silver “near me,” but you probably won’t get the most money possible for your sterling silver items with any of those results.
Your search will likely bring up a list of local pawn shops, coin dealers or jewelry stores — all of which will typically pay 50-80% of the spot value of silver
Where to sell sterling silver online
It is easy to sell sterling silver online, whether you have sterling silver jewelry, sterling silver flatware or other items.
Our top recommendation for selling sterling silver is CashforSilverUSA because:
- A+ Better Business Bureau rating
- Will buy any weight or size of silver, gold, diamond, gemstones, fine watches and jewelry
- Guaranteed highest price
- Payouts within 24 hours
- 100% free shipping via FedEx
- Insurance up to $5,000
- Free returns on your items if you decide not to sell
- 10% bonus if you send in your item within 7 days
Here is a recent sterling silver payout on CashforSilverUSA.com:
Other online sterling silver buyers:
- Silver buyer: PGS Gold & Coin
- Silver buyer: reDollar.com
5 silver bar buyers where you can sell silver
How much is sterling silver worth?
Sterling silver is marked as 925 silver when it contains 92.5% silver, combined with another metal — typically copper. Since 925 silver contains 92.5% silver, it is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price.
As of , the silver resale value in the United States was at $ per ounce, or $ per gram.
What sterling silver jewelry is worth
Sterling silver jewelry is worth at least the value of the pure silver it contains, plus potentially more if its a rare or collectible piece. Sterling silver jewelry is often stamped with “925.”
How to sell sterling silver
Whether you sell your sterling silver online or locally, first understand the quality and weight of your item, as well as any special brand, design or history, and research the reputation of any potential silver buyer. Don’t always accept the first offer, and feel free to shop around!
1. Verify that your silver is sterling silver
If you want to sell sterling silver, you should first verify that it’s authentic — not just silver plated. Here are a few ways to tell:
- Sterling silver items will have a hallmark or be stamped with “925” (occasionally, “950” — which means the item has 95% silver). In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about symbols stamped on jewelry and how to determine what type of silver you have.
- If your piece is attracted to a magnet, it is fake or plated — silver is not magnetic.
- Silver tarnishes but never rusts.
- A white polishing cloth will remove black debris from sterling silver.
- Sterling silver will quickly melt a piece of ice — it has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal.
2. Assess resale value of your sterling silver
Next, you should research whether your sterling silver piece has any value as a collector’s item. ebay is a good place to start — see what other similar pieces might be selling for.
3. Assess scrap metal value of your sterling silver
Then, determine your sterling silver’s scrap metal value — i.e. the value of the silver it contains.
To find out how much your sterling silver is worth, you will need to do a simple calculation:
- Find the weight of your sterling silver in ounces
- Multiply that weight by .925 to determine how much pure silver you have
- Multiply that number by the current price of pure silver (in ounces)
For example, a sterling silver spoon that weighs 1 ounce is worth about $28.38, minus the buyer’s commission (1 ounce x .925 x $30.69 on October 10, 2024).
Compare the two prices to determine whether you should sell your piece as a collector’s item to an auction house, dealer, or pawn shop or to a reputable silver buyer like CashforSilverUSA.
What else you should know about sterling silver
Here are some common questions about sterling silver.
Is there a difference between sterling silver and 925 silver?
Sterling silver and 925 silver are the same thing.
Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% metal alloy — typically copper. A 925 stamp on silver denotes its purity as sterling silver. The United States and most of the world follow the standard of 92.5%, though France and some other countries have a standard of 95%, or 950 silver.
How can you tell if you have 925 sterling silver?
- Sterling silver jewelry, coins, flatware, tea or coffee sets or other items will be stamped with “925” (or, occasionally, “950”).
- Silver is not magnetic, so if your piece is attracted to a magnet, it is fake.
- Weigh your item against one of similar size you know to be 925 sterling silver — they should weigh the same.
- Does it tarnish as silver does?
- As silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal, it will quickly melt a piece of ice.
- Silver never rusts.
- Good sterling silver jewelry will not turn your skin green.
- Typically, an intricate piece of jewelry or serving ware is made of sterling silver since it is soft enough to be carved into an elaborate design.
- 925 sterling will tarnish, and when rubbed with a white cleaning cloth, black residue will show on the cloth.
- Sterling silver will weigh approximately the same as another piece of 925 sterling if you compare the two.
Is 925 silver good quality?
Sterling 925 silver is in fact one of the highest-quality silvers you can find.
Learn about the differences between sterling silver vs. plated silver vs. white gold.
FAQs about selling sterling silver
What is the difference between silver and sterling silver?
Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of another metal — typically copper — that increases its durability for use in items like flatware and sterling silver jewelry. However, sterling silver is the most valuable of commonly used silver items. Silver bullion, is 99% silver, but too soft to handle.
Can sterling silver be sold for scrap?
Yes! Sterling silver can be sold for scrap. Since sterling silver contains 92.5% silver, it is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price.
Sterling silver scrap is worth 92.5% as much as pure silver, since that is how much pure silver sterling silver contains.
To find out how much your sterling silver is worth, you will need to do a simple calculation:
1. Find the weight of your sterling silver in ounces
2. Multiply that weight by .925 to determine how much pure silver you have
3. Multiply that number by the current price of pure silver (in ounces)
Where can I sell my sterling silver Pandora bracelet?
Currently, Pandora does not have a buyback program. If you have an old sterling silver Pandora bracelet or charms that you no longer want, you can sell them in the same ways that you might sell any other silver. Pawn shops, jewelry stores, and online silver buyers will all accept your Pandora items.
Bottom line: Best place to sell sterling silver
Ultimately, the best place to sell unwanted sterling silver is where you’ll get the most money for it.
Start with a local pawnbroker or coin dealer. If you have a lot of silver, do not have trustworthy or convenient metals buyers in your community, or are embarrassed to sell, check out an online silver buyer.
CashforSilverUSA is our top choice, for a few reasons:
- CashforSilverUSA pays within 24 hours
- BBB A+ rating
- Will take all your silver, gold, watches, jewelry, diamonds and more
- Price match guarantee
- Free return guarantee
Sterling silver and 925 silver are the same thing.
Sterling silver jewelry, coins, flatware or other items will be stamped with “925” (or, occasionally, “950”).
As of June 5, 2024, the silver resale value in the United States was at $29.71 per ounce, or $1.05 per gram.
As a rule of thumb, pawn shops will usually pay around 50% of the resale value of an item.
Currently, Pandora does not have a buyback program. If you have an old sterling silver Pandora bracelet or charms that you no longer want, you can sell them in the same ways that you might sell any other silver. Pawn shops, jewelry stores, and online silver buyers will all accept your Pandora items.
Sterling silver prices are on the rise amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Investors are increasingly turning to safe investments like silver, gold, platinum, and other fine metals, driving up prices. That means it’s a great time to sell sterling silver.
If you have sterling silver jewelry, sterling silver flatware, or other pieces that you bought or inherited but no longer want, it’s absolutely worth it to sell your sterling silver for scrap to a reputable online buyer like CashforSilverUSA.
Since 925 silver contains 92.5% silver, it is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price.
Yes! Since your sterling silver items can still be worth quite a bit of money, and are certainly worth selling.
Sterling 925 silver is very real and desirable.
Sterling 925 silver is in fact one of the highest-quality silvers you can find.
925 sterling silver will tarnish but can be easily cleaned with a polishing cloth. However, sterling silver will never rust.
Yes! Sterling silver can be sold for scrap. Since sterling silver contains 92.5% silver, it is worth 92.5% of the silver spot price.
Linda this is a Tray from 1700 hundred, I did have a appraiser, but with moving I lost it was purchased in Spauldin & Company in Chicago, Illinois in 1972 – It is beautiful piece and servise is different with pineapple closings
I do have antique from 1700 tray and silver service from Tifanny we purchase that in 1972 – Baccrat Box with Egyption girl and diamond around her antique 1700 – chandelier from France what we purchase 1973 in France and other antique – where to sell it???
I am a senior citizen and new widow (with no children) living in New York City. I no longer have need for my rather large collection of sterling silver jewelry, and would like to sell it without having it melted down if possible. Most of the pieces are simple but stylish sterling silver bracelets, chains, pins, and rings; and in addition I also have a nice selection that contain natural stones. The majority of those rings initially cost over $100.00. Unfortunately I don’t have a computer at this time, just my phone; and being in poor health, it’s a difficult to run all over the city to try and hustle sales! What do you suggest as the safest way to sell so many items at a fair price since I no longer have use for them?
What about silver plate?