800 silver refers to a silver alloy that is 80% pure. Pure silver is very soft and easily damaged, so for most practical purposes silver is mixed (alloyed) with other metals in order to strengthen it. 800 silver is one of many different silver alloys, but is not commonly found in the UK.

What does WM Rogers 800 mean?

There were so many Rogers that made American silver it’s like reading the Book of Genesis… the short answer is that your coffee sets are silverplated and the “800” is the pattern number. That mark was used on holloware between 1938 and 1976 and was part of the International Silver Co. at the time.

Is white gold marked 800?

This format is simply expressing the items purity as Parts Per Thousand. If your item is genuine and marked . 800 then it is 80% pure. If it’s marked .

What is the difference between 800 and 925 silver?

Sterling silver is 925 parts silver and 75 parts alloy. That is why sterling silver is often market “925,” particularly if you buy it abroad. Silver items made in Italy or Germany are marked “800” which means they are 800 parts silver and 200 parts alloy.

Is silver always marked?

Sterling silver must be at least 92.5% silver. US law does NOT require precious metal to be marked with a quality stamp. Some European countries do require marking. Many tourists visiting the US will question goods sold without markings that indicate precious-metal quality.

What does the 800 mark on silver mean?

The 800 mark on silver refers to the purity of the metal. Pure silver has a 1,000 grade value. Silver with an 800 grade value is a silver alloy containing 800 parts silver and 200 parts other metals. This type of silver is sometimes known as coin silver.

Which is more durable 800 silver or higher purity silver?

800 silver is a little more durable than higher purity silver pieces. In earlier times, this made it a common purity when producing spoons, knives, and other flatware. It can therefore occasionally be found in small collections of antique silver and objects of vertu.

Why is 800 silver referred to as continental silver?

As a result of its European origins, 800 silver is therefore sometimes referred to as continental silver. This differentiates it from 925 fineness, Sterling silver, which has long been the UK standard. Instead of the numerals, there were symbols which denoted the fineness.

Why are there so many 800 silver spoons?

One of the advantages of 800 silver is that it’s more durable than the higher-purity alternatives. This is one reason why there is a lot of 800 silver spoons, knifes, and other flatware. Markings are easy to spot for any type of silver piece.