Encyclopedia 

On the spoon, the marking is lpc sopt. Silver marking - what are the samples. Choosing the right silver

Usually, the pure composition (999 standard) of a noble metal (be it gold, silver) is not suitable for the production of a high-quality jewelry product. Items obtained this way are too fragile.

For the sake of communicating improved mechanical properties and creating a more intense shiny color texture, the composition is enriched by adding parts of non-ferrous metals - this is how alloys are obtained. Marking on a product made of precious metal (including silver) shows the content of precious metal in the alloy, serves to determine its sample. &

Samples of alloys of precious metals for jewelry and other silver items, including cutlery, are established by the legislation of the country. The earliest such standard is the “sterling silver” standard (925 sterling silver) - this is the material for the best silver devices: durable and the safest for health (since only copper is added to the composition of 999 silver).

Silver marking is a guarantee of the state

Each state guarantees the quality of silver products sold in the country. To do this, it uses an assay control tool. All produced silver (as well as gold and platinum) go through a mandatory stage of control of compliance with composition and quality. As a result of the successful completion of the process, they are stamped with assay marks, the digital codes of which correspond to the sample.

In the photo: an example of modern marking of silver cutlery: from left to right, the stamp of the collection group of products - the stamp of the manufacturer of the Russian Federation - the stamp of the sample of silver.

If the product is silver-plated, then the abbreviated name of the base alloy / metal must also be present in the marking.

For domestic goods (produced during the USSR period and in modern Russia), the markings of the base alloy are characteristic (with, as a rule, 90 g silver plating):

  • MN or MELKH - cupronickel;
  • MNTs - nickel silver (analogue of cupronickel);
  • AL - aluminum alloys;
  • NERZH - stainless steel (usually uncoated; it is used for more expensive alloys like cupronickel).

Cutlery and other items coated with silver and other precious metals are double-marked: stamp + brand of the base metal or alloy (as a rule, these are nickel silver and cupronickel cutlery). All this is relevant for domestic products. However, you should be extremely careful with antiques, since among them there are often silver-plated objects with a stamp indicating only a sample of a thin silver coating.

Differences in the marking of silver items

Silver branding is varied, with each country using its own shapes and designs for assay marks.

The overwhelming majority of countries, including Russia, adhere to the metric marking system for silver samples. According to this system, the sample is denoted by the number of parts of silver per 1,000 weight units of the alloy. Thus, in the international system (still relevant today) samples appeared: 750, 800, 875, 916, 925, 960, 999.

The labeling of the sample also allows the identification of "additives". Since pure silver is soft and brittle, it is subjected to alloying - the addition of more ductile and harder metals. In the form of such elements, the main place is given to copper, which makes silver qualitatively hard and resistant to abrasion. But they also use zinc, which is harmful to the body, but gives a wonderful shine. Along with it, nickel, cadmium and durable aluminum that lighten the product are used.

Alloys 960, 925 have the widest world application.

Alloy 875-th test is used for the manufacture of jewelry and table setting items. Alloy 916 - for the production of table setting items with enamel coating, alloy 960 - for the manufacture of filigree products. In some countries, for example, in Italy, the surface of silver jewelry is additionally irradiated in order to make them resistant to oxidation.

Photo: a similar domestic marking on silver provides information about the production period and sample. The star (the symbol of the USSR) allows us to say that the product was produced after 1928. And tsarist Russia used the mark of the manufacturer or master (artel) in the marking.

From this article you can find out about all the existing samples of this metal, its properties and cost. The fineness of any precious metal indicates its percentage in 1000 grams of the alloy. Natural silver is characterized by high softness and therefore impurities are added to the material from which various kinds of products are made.

These metals can be:

  • platinum;
  • germanium;
  • zinc;
  • silicon.

Marking

Silver is presented in the following samples:

  • 999 - pure metal;
  • 960 is the highest mark;
  • 925 - the most common, jewelry is made from it;
  • 875 - sample of household silver;
  • 830 - used for the manufacture of tableware;
  • 800 - Used for cutlery.

Silver below the 800 mark is not labeled and is considered a base metal.

800 sample

Composition:

  • 80% precious metal;
  • 20% ligature.

Positive traits:

  • high strength;
  • excellent casting qualities.

Negative qualities:

  • fast oxidation;
  • yellowish tint.


830 marking

Almost the same as 800, but contains a little more precious metal.

These markings are not used in jewelry, but to a greater extent go to the manufacture of tableware and cutlery.

875 marking

Has the following composition:

  • 87.5% noble metal;
  • 12.5% ​​other metals.

Advantages:

  • relatively high content of noble metal;
  • low cost of jewelry;
  • high strength.

Disadvantages: impossibility of performing fine jewelry work (due to increased strength).

Fineness 925

The most demanded in jewelry.

Advantages:

  • pure shine, characteristic of silver;
  • wide artistic choice;
  • keeps its shape well.

Disadvantages: softness.

Marking 960

It has very similar characteristics with 925 fineness, but practically does not oxidize or blacken.

Types of silver

At this time, the most popular types of this noble metal are:

  • sterling;
  • leafy;
  • filigree;
  • matte;
  • blackened;
  • monetary.

Sterling silver- pounds sterling were minted from it in the UK until the appearance of the euro. It is marked 925.

Leafy- a very thin silver sheet, which usually has the highest fineness and is easily alloyed with various materials.

Performs the following functions:

  • protective;
  • anti-corrosion;
  • aesthetic.

Therefore, this type of precious material is used to decorate church interiors, furniture coverings and stucco moldings.

Filigree- in high esteem among jewelers who make real masterpieces from it, sometimes thinner than a human hair. An alloy of such silver has high strength.

Blackened- was once considered a talisman, to which many magical characteristics were attributed. This type of metal is produced with the help of black, which includes lead and copper. They heat up on the surface of the silver and give the items a black tint.

Oxidized- covered with a thin oxide layer, sometimes with an oxide film. These coatings protect the metal from further oxidation.

Matt- covered with a layer of enamel, which gives a very beautiful look to the product. It is famous for its durability.
Coinage- an alloy used for minting coins.


Prices

To calculate the cost of silver, depending on the sample, you need to know the price per gram of this precious metal in its purest form. The rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation for silver is 30.95 rubles per gram.

From this it follows that the price per gram:

  • 960 samples - 30.95 x 0.960 = 29.712 rubles;
  • 925 markings - 28.63 rubles;
  • 875 - is 27.08 rubles;
  • 830 - 25.69 rubles;
  • 800 - 24.74 rubles.


Stigma

Each precious metal product is marked with a marking, which consists of:

  • state assay mark;
  • manufacturer's stamp;
  • label.

State mark

The state mark is a sample that is put by the state assay supervision inspectorate and can be applied to the product in the following ways:

  • mechanical (impression);
  • modern (laser method or electrospark).

The stigma changed its appearance:

  • in 1958 they began to depict the hammer and sickle against the background of the star;
  • since 1994 - in the form of a profile of a woman's head in a kokoshnik.

The shape remained the same - a circle and an oblong barrel.

Manufacturer's stamp

The brand of the manufacturer - the nameplate, placed on all precious items must be enclosed in a single outline. Has four uppercase letters that represent three characters, namely:

  • year code (A-2001; B- 2002 and so on);
  • the code of the territorial location of the assay supervision inspection department (for example, L- St. Petersburg, North-Western Inspectorate);
  • department code.

Label

A label is an official document that has dimensions: 25 x 35 and 25 x 50 mm, and information on both sides. Attached to the product with a seal and thread. According to the legislation, the manufacturer is responsible for all the information that is presented on the label.


Choosing the right silver

When buying a precious metal, first of all, you need to decide for what purpose this action is performed, and only then you should follow several rules that will help you make the right choice:

  • it is better to buy silver only in official jewelry stores;
  • check, without leaving the store, the presence of a sample, an assay mark;
  • it is better to choose models with the designation "Zinc free" (without zinc), the harmful effect of which has been proven;
  • the most optimal sample of the product is 925;
  • be sure to ask for a check.


Imitation silver

Counterfeits of this type of noble metal are not as common as gold, but still there is a risk of acquiring a fake. Under the guise of silver, they offer products:

  • with a very low content of this material;
  • ornaments covered with the thinnest silver layer.

If you are plagued by doubts about the authenticity of the purchase, then you can check whether real silver is at home:

  • with the help of heat (silver conducts heat remarkably and heats up instantly);
  • needle test - to carry out on the product with a needle (if it is authentic, there will be no trace on the product);
  • iodine test - getting on a silver surface should not change its color;
  • impact on chalk - only silver leaves traces on it.

Silver care

Sometimes products made from this noble material change their appearance, this is due to:

  • improper use of jewelry;
  • untimely cleaning;

Rules for wearing silver jewelry:

  • take off products when engaging in physical activity and procedures of a physiotherapeutic and cosmetic nature;
  • periodic cleaning of jewelry (on average, once a month).

You will need

  • Jewelry loupe
  • Hot water
  • Electric lamp
  • Magnet
  • Rubber gloves, pipette, nitric acid

Instructions

First of all, you should pay attention to the product labeling. It will definitely stand on modern factory products, designer jewelry made of silver should also be marked in the assay office, but not all artists follow these rules. On Russian-made products, you can find the following samples - 960,925,875,830,800. All of them indicate the percentage of silver in the alloy. Thus, a product marked 875 contains 87.5% silver. The 80% silver alloy is mainly used for cutlery. All over the world, 925 sterling silver is called sterling.

In other countries, there are different alloy standards, therefore, products from abroad may have different numerical samples, in addition, some countries use such markings as STERLING, STER, S / S, SILVER. Do not forget about the brands. Samples of the brands of famous craftsmen and large firms are known to everyone who is interested in silver. On silver items produced in the Soviet Union, a five-pointed one was used as a hallmark; on antique silver, a leopard with a raised paw can flaunt. If you buy an antique silver piece by hand, take an interest in the available stamps and check them through specialized sites. There are hundreds of hallmarks, samples, brands and their combinations depending on the country, era, master.

Pure, among metals, has the highest thermal conductivity coefficient. Therefore, the higher the sample, the cleaner, the faster the product heats up. You can dip two spoons into hot water - cupronickel and, presumably, silver, the second should heat up faster. Ring, earrings, chain, bracelets made of jewelry, sterling silver very quickly become hot, they are even recommended to be removed before a bath or sauna so as not to get burned.

Another property of silver is its highest light reflectance. Place the silver piece under bright light and make sure it reflects better than a cupronickel or metal spoon or in the same way as another piece of silver jewelry of the same standard. Do not forget to remove, if this does not contradict the artistic decision, the patina from the control silver piece, which will undoubtedly muffle the bright shine inherent in silver.

The following test is very popular - if you rub a silver product with a clean, soft, light cloth, dark spots will remain on it. Its effectiveness is highly questionable for a number of reasons. First, contrary to popular belief, silver is not oxidized by oxygen, but actively reacts with sulfur-containing compounds, which, in varying amounts, are found in the environment and natural secretions of the human body. The amount of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur produced by the body is different for everyone, which is why there is a myth that silver “anticipates” the owner's illness and darkens. Secondly, as a rule, silver alloys contain copper, but it just enters into an oxidation reaction with oxygen contained in the air. Accordingly, the purer the alloy, the less oxidation and, accordingly, the lower the efficiency of the "tissue" test. And last, third. Manufacturers, who are well aware of the property of silver and its alloys, to maintain their presentation, protect products from oxidation by covering it with a thin layer of nickel, transparent varnish, electroplated rhodium plating or a thick layer of special wax.

Another questionable test determines the authenticity of silver with a magnet. Yes, silver is a diamagnetic, but copper, lead, cadmium are also not attracted by a magnet, so the only thing that can be said from the results of this test is whether there is a large admixture of iron or nickel in the product.

One of the most accurate tests for silver is nitric acid. Choose an inconspicuous place on the product, scratch it slightly to remove any protective coating and drip a little nitric acid. Silver-plated brass, cupronickel, low-quality silver alloy will turn green due to the high copper content, sterling silver will turn cream, and almost pure silver will turn black.

Silverware is a proven and reliable way of investing free funds with benefits at the same time! You enjoy and use silver spoons and forks every day, and their value only goes up. What more could you want ?!

cutlery, Northern Niello, silver gilding niello

But of course we treat them with care, we don’t need to bend (by the way, one of the barbaric products is far from convincing: bends - silver, breaks - alloys, I do not recommend "checking" like that), there is absolutely no need to scrub the silverware with abrasive materials. How carefully you can read on the site, recipes are constantly updated.
Why investing in silver and specifically in cutlery is good, besides the fact that it can be used in everyday life? - Firstly, you can bribe gradually missing silver spoons or forks, constantly expanding the collection. Painless for the wallet and family budget, you will have a complete set of silver cutlery.
Secondly, hint to friends and relatives, work colleagues that you are carried away by collecting table silver of a certain brand or ornament, perhaps the choice fell on a country or a time period - and then on holidays they will not have the torment of what to give you.

teapot, silver Spain early 20th century

Silver, and especially a dining room, is an ideal salvation and a chic gift when you do not know what to give from the team to the leader or boss for an anniversary, what to give to your beloved parents for a silver wedding, or to friends for a celebration. An ordinary souvenir or a bouquet of flowers will no longer save you here. A serious gift will always be appreciated and your attention will be greatly appreciated.
Which one to choose? Which silver is better to buy? - It's up to you to decide, but let's note that if you take it schematically, from the greatest to the worst, then it looks something like this: old Russian silver of famous masters with stamps with enamels in niello engraving - silver of the Soviet period with enamels in niello engraving - table Soviet branded silver - ancient Russian primitive silver (the so-called "oars") - euro-silver with enamels - euro-silver - silvering.
Let's consider in more detail silverware for investment, it is better to choose those items, markings and brands on the cutlery of which are at least known.
Give preference complete sets and complete silver sets.
In the event that finances do not allow you to roam too much, clearly define yourself what exactly you will buy, step by step moving towards a full set.

Silver coffee pair with porcelain insert

What must be considered? - silver is too thermally conductive, which means a silver teapot necessarily should be with insulators for the handle (most often these are wood or bone inserts). If there is no insulator, you will not even be able to pick up such a kettle!
It is for the same reason that a tea or coffee pair must have a porcelain insert! You cannot take a cup in your hand, much less touch your lips to it without porcelain inside, it will serve as an insulator. Sometimes such a pair (a cup - a cup holder and a saucer) is called armuda.

cup holder silver Kubachi

In our classic Russian presentation, a silver cup holder is very often a collectible and is great to give. Popular and practical are the Kubachi silver gilded coasters with crystal glasses.
All purchases and gifts made of silver are wonderful, of course, but we are talking about investing in silver, which means you always need to think about where and how much you can quickly and profitably sell silverware. And then you run through the pawnshops with your spoons, drag the tableware around antique shops or flea markets - it will become clear that selling silver is expensive (and this is what we initially strive for when buying silver) - very troublesome.
If you have already run over - write through the feedback form - we will help you sell or buy out silverware (spoons, forks, sets, cutlery, sets).

Sale of antique silverware 19-20 century

A large and bright dining room with a huge table, a snow-white tablecloth with hand embroidery, crystal, porcelain plates and certainly silver family cutlery ...
Many of us, ordinary Siberian girls, can boast of such a reception? And if the tablecloth, crystal and plates can still be inherited from the grandmother, then with silver, alas, cupronickel is our everything!

Since ancient times, all alchemists have been struggling to find out how to make gold from available chemical elements (or an alloy similar to it to fool those around them), but they still cannot manage this trick, not like cupronickel!
Cupronickel is called table silver for a reason - it is just as beautiful (with proper care) and has a noble deep silver luster, but cupronickel does not contain a single gram of silver!
Let's figure out what it is. Cupronickel is an alloy of copper (70-80%) and zinc (30-20%) with a small content of nickel, manganese and iron; it got its name in honor of its French inventors, Maillot and Chorier. In Russian, these surnames sound like Mayo and Chorier, but the French name Maillot-Chorier in German was distorted into Melchior, and then spread in Russian and stuck.
A variety of cutlery, jewelry and interior items are made from the alloy, coins are minted and even surgical instruments are cast.
Compared to silver, cupronickel has greater wear resistance and mechanical strength, is almost not subject to corrosion (even in the construction of submarines!) And, at the same time, the alloy is ductile and lends itself well to processing - stamping, cutting, embossing both in cold and in hot, excellent polishing and soldering - definitely a godsend!
It is logical that with the opening of this on the right, its production spread to almost all countries, since now it has become available to "eat from a silver spoon."
Historians say that the peak of the popularity of cupronickel in Russia fell on tsarist times, when such devices were in particular honor among the middle class. In high society, cupronickel was not recognized and was called "the silver of the poor."

I think that many have carefully stored cupronickel spoons and forks in their closets - in special cardboard boxes on a velvet or silk substrate. It was customary to get such devices on a special occasion, on big holidays and significant events.
And someone decided to arrange a holiday for themselves every day and used cupronickel forks / spoons every day.
And as a result, each hostess (sooner or later) faced a problem - how to clean cupronickel, which darkened with time?
Relatively speaking, cupronickel does not react well in aggressive environments, therefore, in order to darken to blackness, it must either lie idle for several years, or must be used both in a feast and in the world.
Upon contact with certain substances, the alloy can form dark oxides.
For example, ordinary clean water is detrimental to the appearance of a cupronickel spoon or fork - even the smallest droplet that has dried naturally will leave a dark speck on the surface (therefore, the golden rule that I remembered since childhood is that ceremonial cupronickel spoons must be wiped off immediately after washing and dry!). Darkening can also be caused by unwashed food or grease residues clogged in a fine pattern on the surface.

For decades, housewives fought with darkened cupronickel with the help of tooth powder and a brush, sometimes soda was used instead of powder, But hard particles scratch the metal, and the surface becomes covered with micro-defects, in which water and food debris are retained - it turns out a vicious circle - the more we take care for cupronickel with the help of tooth powder or soda, the faster the devices darken ((
My mother, I remember, kept a terrible value in the cabinet - a bottle of liquid for cleaning cupronickel and silver, and a couple of times a year arranged general care for the appearance of our ceremonial set of cutlery.
I also heard options with wiping cupronickel with ammonia (fu-fu-fu) or placing darkened appliances in potato broth (i.e., when cooking potatoes, you should always keep in mind whether or not to drain the water into the sewer).

But there is a really magical way, after which even the most terrible cupronickel spoon, lying in god knows what kind of mud, will sparkle like new in a couple of minutes!
Soda, salt, a drop of faerie to dissolve fat, and a piece of ordinary foil!

Come on, do you know this method? It seems to me that everyone has already read about him!)))

1. We take any suitable container - it doesn't matter, plastic, glass, metal, a large saucepan, a basin or a capacious container.
2. At the bottom we put a piece of ordinary aluminum foil.
3.Pour baking soda and a little less table salt from the heart and from the volume of the darkened dishes.
4.Fill with boiling water.
5. We place cupronickel (or silver) products in this solution for 5 minutes.

If the dishes are not completely covered with water - you can directly observe the cleaning process “live” - the parts in the water become bright before our eyes! In order for large items to be completely cleaned, they will need to be turned over several times and the dirty sides must be placed in this tricky solution. Well, to remove already clean objects from a hot solution, use tongs and generally work with gloves!

Clean cupronickel (and silver) items must be rinsed under running water, wiped dry and dried at room conditions.

To make the difference obvious, I'll show you before and after))

In this way, you can put in order not only cupronickel, but also, ordinary steel spoons-forks also take on a store-like appearance, but objects with beautiful blackening can become completely white - blackening will be "washed off" along with oxides and dirt, but over time, of course, will return.

And now a lesson in chemistry (and a little physics)!

So what is so magical about immersing a metal object in a warm solution of baking soda and salt with a piece of aluminum foil?

The usual reaction of substitution and reduction takes place - salt, soda and aluminum together "take" atoms from the oxide on the surface of the metal object. If you decide on such chemical experiments, do not be surprised - during the purification process, there is a slight but unpleasant "metallic" smell in the air.
A chemical reaction begins in the solution, as a result of which the foil darkens, and cupronickel, on the contrary, brightens and returns the surface purity.
Without delving into complex chemical formulas (how long have I been at school!), In this solution we create a certain sodium triosulfate - a powerful reducing agent that converts metal oxides into pure metals.

If we take, for example, silver, then over time it first tarnishes, and then darkens - oxidation of silver occurs. Typically, when oxidized, silver combines with sulfur to form silver sulfide, which is black in color and covers the silver object with a thin film.
To return the silver to its former shine, you need to remove this silver sulfide and for this there are two ways: either mechanically clean (peel off) this film, simultaneously erasing the silver particles under it, or carry out a reduction reaction - reverse the chemical oxidation reaction and "convert" silver sulfide back to silver.
When simultaneously placing aluminum and silver sulfide in an alkaline environment, aluminum, as a "stronger" metal, takes sulfur atoms from silver oxide, aluminum sulfide is obtained, silver is released and becomes pure in every sense of the word.
An important condition is that the reaction between aluminum and silver sulfide will occur when these two metals are immersed in a soda solution and come into contact. Those. You can also put a crumpled piece of foil in the solution, but covered with foil on the entire bottom of the container will allow this chemical reaction to be carried out faster. Also, the reaction occurs faster when the solution is warm - therefore, the dry components of the solution are filled with boiling water.
When a chemical reaction transfers sulfur from silver to aluminum, the aluminum sulfide can adhere to the aluminum foil (which is what we see as a result - all the foil is in yellow-brown spots and streaks) or form tiny, pale yellow flakes at the bottom of the container.

There is also a moment explaining why a silver object and aluminum foil should be in contact with each other - this is already from the school physics course. In the course of the reaction between these two metals, not a strong electric current is formed, a so-called "galvanic pair" is created, which is connected through an electrolyte (this is why there is salt in the solution). A potential difference forms between silver and foil (by the way, this is the reaction that is used in rechargeable batteries to generate electricity), so our solution is a real mini-battery!))

Well, this is all I'm getting bored about silver, but what about the same cupronickel (in which, as we have already found out, there is no silver), why is it purified?
Because the method of this chemical reduction reaction works with almost all the metals we use in our daily life.
Both steel and gold spoons will cleanse in the same way. True, with gold a slightly different course of reaction - gold oxide dissolves in an alkaline medium (soda solution), so here we risk slightly reducing the thickness of the gold coating)))
And you definitely shouldn't use this method for cleaning gilded items - the finest dusting is likely to peel off.
And we all run together and look at the markings on our table silver!
If there is a stamp "MNTs" - "copper, nickel, zinc", then the devices are made of an alloy with a beautiful elven name nickel silver - a kind of improved cupronickel, or "new silver". The zinc content in nickel silver is higher than in ordinary cupronickel, it is cheaper to manufacture, but it must be silver, otherwise forks and spoons will eventually have a "metallic" taste.
So with devices with such markings, you should also not often get carried away with restorative reactions - not immediately, of course, but over time, the thinnest silver coating will disappear and it will be unpleasant to eat from such spoons.

Well, in order not to end on an abstruse note (I'm a girl, I'm not like that!) I will show pictures of my silver and not so much treasures!
As it turned out, I don't have something rare and rare.

Ordinary tablespoons and forks just from nickel silver with the MNC marking, from the same opera, a dessert fork and a couple of coffee spoons:

A saucepan-tureen and a coffee pot made of the same material produced by the Kolchuginsky plant with a recognizable stamp in the form of a capercaillie:

But this is already cupronickel (brand "Melkh") glass holder "Cosmos" (also nifiga is not rare, but the most common) of the same Kolchuginsky plant:

Vietnamese silver spoon "noname":

And a gift from the mother-in-law - cutlery for the salad. Of course, they were described as a heirloom and real silver, there was only a half-erased marking "Lead Free", which means that the product does not contain lead, I will take your word for it and be proud)))