Nelson & Nelson Antiques

Antique Sterling Silver: Six Gift Ideas

August 14, 2019 10:44 am

There’s nothing quite like the gleam and glow of antique sterling silver. Whether it’s a silver tea set with tray, sterling candlesticks, or elegant flatware, antique sterling silver has a presence all of its own. Here are six different types of silver items that make beautiful gifts and treasured heirlooms

Holloware: Designed to celebrate the birth of a baby, an anniversary, a wedding, or even as a housewarming present, antique sterling silver or silver overlay holloware is a wonderful heirloom gift. These items are engraved with names and special dates that are being commemorated. As heirloom collector pieces, they are often handed down from generation to generation in families.

Vases: A floral arrangement display is even more breathtaking when it is presented in an antique sterling silver vase. Upon entering a foyer, a lobby, a room, or even the entryway of a home, it creates an atmosphere of elegance and beauty.

Picture Frames: Creating a collection of treasured photographs is a wonderful hobby that many people enjoy. Mounting these treasured photographs in a picture frame made of sterling silver brings an added dimension of beauty to the display. Along with photographs, artwork displayed in antique sterling silver picture frames is breathtaking.

Flatware: Setting an elegant table begins and ends with classic antique sterling silver flatware. Meticulously crafted through the centuries, flatware is available in a variety of patterns. These range from very ornate styles to more sleek, contemporary styles. It is a wonderful tradition to pass along a set of antique sterling silver flatware from generation to generation. A beautiful set of flatware and serving utensils carries with it memories of treasured times with family and friends.

Candelabra: A sterling silver candelabra can add to any display, whether in the foyer or even at the dining table. It sets the tone for any area of the home.

Jewelry: Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings…Sterling silver is gorgeous for all kinds of jewelry. It is cool and smooth in the summer, and add a warm gleam in the colder months as well. What is more personal or more classic than a beautiful engraved sterling silver locket presented on a sterling silver chain?

Personality, craftsmanship, and beauty: antique sterling silver items have it all. Plus, these items also have that unmistakable gleam. The visible light spectrum is reflected at levels of 95% levels in items of polish silver. So if you thought that the silver items you were looking at were extremely shiny, you are correct!

The timeless beauty of lustrous antique silver jewelry, holloware, or estate jewelry items make them all very hard to resist. They are classic pieces for yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Simple Ways to Clean And Care For Your Antique Silver

July 26, 2019 10:33 am

Antique Tiffany items have become common in many households today. Apart from sterling silver jewelry, silver-plated household items can add elegance to our day-to-day lives.

With many people opting to buy antique sterling items, silver sales have seen a boost in recent years. Recent research shows that about 13% of the U.S’s resale industry revenue comes from antique stores.

So with all the beauty that comes with silver, how will you care for it to last longer? Read on to get more insights.

How to Store Your Silver to Prevent Tarnish

Some people avoid buying and using antique Tiffany items because they fear rust. What they don’t realize is that you can avoid tarnishing with minimal efforts.

What causes tarnish on silver? Humidity, right? Experts say that 45% to 50% is the ideal level of moisture recommended to store silver. As much as we can't control humidity levels, it is best that you avoid storing your jewelry in damp areas.

If you are storing that antique sterling trophy in a display cabinet, be sure to add camphor blocks to keep away rust. The blocks should, however, not be in contact with the silver pieces.

You can also use anti-tarnish cloths and papers that have activated silver/carbon salts.

Store your jewelry and other silver pieces in anti-tarnish bags, although they are not ideal for long-term storage. Additionally, make an effort of polishing your items once you take them out for use to maintain their shine.

How to Clean Antique Silver

Wondering how you can clean that pure silver tea set without spoiling its elegance? Or afraid that your silver bracelet will tarnish after a single wash? Worry not because you can clean your silver with the following simple steps.

Dusting: Use a clean piece of cotton cloth or soft brush to dust your piece. Most people forget this important step. If dust is present when cleaning, it turns into an abrasive which scratches the finish of your items. For a candlestick, remove the wax by pouring hot water over the wax to melt it. Do not try to scratch off the wax with a sharp object.

Washing: Wash the item in warm water that contains a mild detergent. Use your hand to clear any dirt or food on the item. Rinse with pure water and dry with a soft lintless cloth. Hidden places can be dried using a hairdryer.

Polishing: Wear plastic or cotton gloves on your hands before polishing to avoid leaving your fingerprints on your antique Tiffany items. Using a non-abrasive silver polish and a soft cloth, gently apply the polish in a circular motion. Use an earbud to apply the polish in intricate areas. When through, ensure all the polish is removed from the surface.

Final wash: Wash the items once more as in step two above. For things that don’t get into contact with food, make an effort of waxing with a thin layer of microcrystalline wax to add more protection against tarnishing.

How to safely display silver

If you prefer displaying silver to storing it, be sure to go for a glass-enclosed cabinet. Glass cabinets make the best choice compared to wood shelves which might sometimes emit vapors that would cause tarnish.

Your glass shelves should be strong enough to withstand even heavy silver wares. You can buy anti-tarnish bags, papers or clothes from jewelers selling silver to help you keep tarnish at bay.

Avoid cotton felt, velvet or wool near your antique Tiffany items. The mentioned fabrics have sulfides that cause rust. Furthermore, direct sunlight will accelerate tarnish, so store or display your antique Tiffany silver far from sunny windows.

Final Insights

Sterling silver items are costly and therefore need to be handled with great care. With appropriate care, your intricately decorated silverware will last for years serving you well in baby showers, gatherings, and other occasions where you need to impress your guests. You will also look your best and feel more confident when you flaunt your beautiful antique silver.

Use These 3 Tips for Your Antique Silver Collection

July 15, 2019 3:40 pm

sterling silver for sale Buying antique silver can be exciting and confusing. This is evident just by looking at some of the most commonly asked questions by antique collectors. Some of these questions include: how old an item should be to be considered an antique, how to differentiate between antique silver and antique sterling silver, are silver-plated antiques worth anything? Of course, there are many others, and it's easy to mistake a priceless sterling silver antique for a worthless piece of shiny junk.

The name antique is used to describe items that are more than 100 years old. Such items include statues, paintings, bronzes, and others. It is different from collectibles, a term used to describe items that are not as old but still desirable.

Any antique without "sterling" or "925" mark on it is most likely not sterling silver All American antique silver from the 19th and 20th century has the word sterling.

Note, there are silver-plated antiques that have insufficient precious metal to be valued based on their weight like perfect silver. Typically such items do not indicate that they are silver plated.

If you plan on collecting antique sterling silver for sale, it is good to educate yourself about them. Here are some important tips to help you make the right choice.

How do you determine the age?

If you want to succeed with sterling silver for sale, you must be able to determine the age of the item. If your item has a hallmark, it could be easy to decide on.

What are hallmarks? Hallmarks are tiny initials or designs stamped on the item. Mostly they are found on the backside or underside of the antiques. The initials mainly indicate a date, location, or the manufacturer. If the surface is damaged, you can find the marks by rubbing the surface gently with a cotton swab dipped in silver polish.

If an item doesn't have hallmarks, it is still possible to approximate its age. For instance, you can look at the design and see if it corresponds with some of the popular designs in your preferred era.

Wear and damage

Wear in sterling silver for sale does not affect value, but damage can. In the case of small damages, the value may still be intact. However, excess damage or tarnish will decrease the value. Knowledge of this matter is vital when buying antique silver online. It is common for sellers to hide visible damage and wear.

Antique silver buyers should find it affordable to collect antiques from antique jewelry dealers near me because they can check signs of wear and damage closely.

It is okay to buy a damaged antique sterling silver for your own. But the chances are that you'll develop a new taste in future thereby opting to sell and upgrade to a new collection. If you want to retain the value of your antique, go for antiques in perfect shape. You might find it very difficult to find a buyer for your damaged item. So, don't make this costly mistake when investing in premium sterling silver for sale.

Watch out for forgeries.

Among antique collectibles, silver and sterling silver are the most popular. There are very many items made of this precious metal that maintains its value for a very long time if well cared for.

If you don't know, out of the entire stock in the market, a good percentage is not authentic silver. So, as a matter of priority, you need to know how to avoid fake antique sterling silver for sale.

For a long time, silver has been seen as a possession for the wealthy and has been going for a fortune. Some items are, however, not all silver but silver-plated. Their pricing will definitely be different from genuine silver.

When looking for fakes signs, you should check the hallmarks first. But note, their presence does not mean you have the real thing. Experts will tell you that genuine antique silver has crafts made from steel dies while forgers use brass dies. What is the difference? Brass punches are softer. Talk to an antique silver expert to learn more about forgeries.

As always, educating yourself is the only way to collect valuable and genuine sterling for sale antiques. Alternatively, contact experts every time you are adding a new collection. Most antique silver items are premium — no need to take chances.

5 Ways to Ensure Antique Jewelry Is Enjoyed Forever

June 25, 2019 3:08 pm

antique jewelry Whether an antique collection contains a few family heirlooms or pieces collected over a lifetime, almost every collector wants his or her collection to be enjoyed forever. No thought concerns collectors more than envisioning their collection languishing in a storage unit or, worse yet, being sold as scrap. Here are five ideas for ensuring an antique collection can be enjoyed forever:

Sell

One way to ensure that a collection of antique silver is appreciated forever is to sell it to another collector or professional antique silver buyer. Professional buyers specialize in alloys of silver and gold, the two precious metals used in most jewelry. By dealing with someone knowledgeable about antique jewelry, you can be sure that you receive fair value for the pieces. More importantly, you know that the piece will be sold as antique jewelry to another collector rather than being melted down or scrapped. By selling pieces from your collection during your lifetime rather than disposing of them after death, you can control who receives the pieces and the value received for the pieces.

Gift

Suppose your antique jewelry collection includes your grandmother's antique sterling wedding ring that you promised to your favorite niece. Rather than leaving the ring to her in your will, you can give the ring to her as an engagement gift or wedding gift. By giving away pieces of your collection during your lifetime, you may be able to reduce the size of your collection to reduce or eliminate estate taxes that would be due when your estate passes to your heirs, although the gift recipient may be responsible for gift taxes. More importantly, you can be assured that your antique sterling silver goes to someone who will appreciate it and that he or she will appreciate it during your lifetime.

Donate

Another way to ensure that an antique jewelry collection is appreciated forever is to donate pieces to a museum. Museums are often organized as non-profit entities and donations may be tax-deductible. Moreover, you can be assured that your treasured antique gold jewelry or antique silver jewelry will be appreciated by museum visitors. This also has the benefit of reducing the value of your estate to potentially reduce or eliminate the estate taxes when your estate passes to your heirs. As an alternative, you may sell pieces from your collection to a professional antique jewelry buyer and donate the proceeds of the sale to charity. While the tax benefits may not be as great, you will know that you have received fair value for the pieces and that the pieces will be sold to another collector who appreciates antique jewelry.

Will

Wills take two forms: holographic and formal. A holographic will is a handwritten document that explains how property is to be distributed. Holographic wills are not always recognized by courts because they lack the signatures and witnesses required for a formal will. A formal will, on the other hand, meets all the legal requirements to be valid. A will can include the name of experts knowledgeable about your collection, such as a professional buyer of antique jewelry, to assist the executor in determining the value of your collection and ensuring the right pieces reach the right heirs. Passing your collection to heirs by will allows you to enjoy your collection throughout your lifetime, but can have drawbacks. When an estate is probated, the distribution of property can be challenged if your instructions were ambiguous or there is a later document purporting to replace or alter the will. Moreover, property that passes by will may be subject to estate tax which may require some of your antique jewelry collection to be sold to pay taxes.

Living Trust

Personal effects, such as an antique silver collection, can be included in a trust. The benefit of using a living trust to distribute your collection is that you can enjoy the collection through your lifetime and then have total control over the disposition of the collection upon death. Trusts are not probated and some kinds of trusts are structured to avoid estate taxes. Moreover, trusts and wills can include instructions to donate your collection to charity or sell your collection to a professional antique silver and gold buyer upon your death.

How to Store and Clean Sterling Silver

June 18, 2019 3:47 pm

estate jewelry Silver has been valuable to humans for a long time, in fact, the earliest evidence of silver mining ever found by archaeologists dates back as many as 3,000 years ago in what are now modern day Turkey and Greece. We've been using silver as a form of currency for thousands of years. So it should come as no surprise that the words for "silver" and "money" are synonyms in at least 14 different languages.

Historically, silver has also been used for crafting fine items such as sterling vases and estate jewelry, dining utensils, sterling candlesticks, and other items. Silver is a much sought after metal in part due to its reflective quality. Pure silver, with all its beauty, is too soft and malleable for crafting items such as jewelry and tableware, so these items are usually made of sterling silver, an alloy made by combining silver with copper or other metals, to make it more durable.

Silver reflects about 95% of the visible light spectrum, but you may not know that all of the silver on earth was formed in the supernovae of stars about 10 times the size of our sun, billions of years ago. Yes. Silver is the stuff of stars.

To keep your sterling silver antique jewelry, silver plated tea sets, and other silver heirlooms looking their best, it's important to take proper care in cleaning and storing them.

Care and Storage of Sterling Items

Proper storage of antique sterling, estate jewelry and is critical for preserving its shine and preventing the oxidation that can cause dullness and discoloration.

It is important to store sterling silver somewhere that's cool and dry. In hot climates, silver should always be kept in an air-conditioned room.

Store each piece of silverware or estate jewelry individually in its own case, pouch, or compartment. This will prevent scratches and nicks.

It is recommended that sterling silver jewelry be stored in a case that is lined with tarnish-resistant material.

Cleaning and Polishing Silver Items

Over time, silver will tarnish and requires regular cleaning to prevent this from happening. For regular cleaning of untarnished items, cleaning items with a mild solution of dish detergent and warm water is recommended. Afterward, items should be dried with a soft cloth. Never use paper towels to dry silverware.

If your silver items look a little bit dull, this is due to tarnish. A silver polishing cloth is the best way to remove tarnish, polish, and shine your silver items back to their once glistening state.

To remove heavier tarnish, it is recommended that you apply a small amount of quality silver polish using a cotton ball, sponge, or soft cloth. Next, rub until the tarnish is gone and wash off any residue. Finally, dry the silver and buff it to a shine using a silver polishing cloth.

Polishing your silver whenever it starts to look spotty or dull is usually enough to keep it in good condition, especially if you don't use it very often. As a rule, silver should be polished at least once a year and it's important to wear cotton or nitrile gloves when doing so, as the oils on your skin can contribute to tarnishing.

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