If you have a large volume of silver (like a full set of flatware or heavy serving trays), a refinery is often the most lucrative route. Unlike retailers, refineries melt the metal down, meaning they can pay a higher percentage of the melt value [4].
Look for "925," "Sterling," or a hallmark like a lion passant [9].
For sterling silver that has historical or artistic value—such as Tiffany & Co. flatware or Victorian-era tea sets—selling for "melt value" is a mistake. Highly collectible or branded items.
If you have old jewelry, flatware, or coins gathering dust, turning that sterling silver into cash is a straightforward process—if you know where to look. Since sterling silver is 92.5% pure [9], its value is closely tied to the current "spot price" of silver [5].
Many neighborhood jewelry stores buy sterling silver, especially if the pieces are in good enough condition to be resold as vintage jewelry. Dedicated "We Buy Gold and Silver" shops, such as Accurate Precious Metals , specialize in quick cash transactions for scrap metal.
Bulk scrap, damaged flatware, and industrial silver.
