Sterling is 92.5% pure silver. We weigh the lot, multiply by today's silver spot, then add a maker premium for recognized patterns (Tiffany, Gorham, Reed & Barton, Towle, International, Wallace, Lunt).
Sell sterling silver flatware in San Diego.
Full services, partial sets, single forks — sterling silver flatware buys by weight, with a maker premium for recognized patterns. Bring everything in one visit.
Why people sell their sterling here.
A complete 12-person service in a recognized pattern is worth more than the same weight in random pieces. We explain why on the counter and adjust the offer to reflect the set's completeness.
Many knives have hollow sterling handles with stainless blades. We weigh the handle's sterling content separately. No mystery, no guesswork — every gram accounted for.
Sterling is stamped 'sterling' or '925'; plate is stamped 'EPNS', 'EP', or unmarked. We separate sterling from plate in front of you and only offer on the sterling pieces.
Before you visit
Three things to know before you walk in.
At home · weight
Honestly, you don't need a fancy scale.A kitchen food scale is accurate to about ±1g, and that's enough to know what you're walking in with. We re-weigh to 0.01gon the counter once you're here — but the home estimate keeps your visit short and your expectations honest.
At home · stamps
We get asked all the time — where's the stamp?Try the clasp on a chain, inside the band of a ring, or the back of a pendant. You're hunting for small marks: 10K, 14K, 18K, 585, or 750. Can't find one? That's normal. Pick “Not sure” on the calculator and we'll test it together when you come in.
On the counter · the math
80% of melt is the honest top. Here's why.Gold passes through many handsbefore it becomes cash — refiners, dealers, market makers — and prices move throughout the day. That's why no honest counter pays 100% of melt on scrap. Anyone promising that is losing money or quietly shorting you somewhere you can't see.
But not every piece is scrap. Some rings get cleaned and re-homed. Some chains stay chains. Price is always negotiable on resaleable pieces— and we'll tell you which side your piece sits on. That's why we built this site: so you walk in informed, not lowballed across five shops.
See the number first
Estimate at home, verify on the counter.
Pre-set to silver for sell sterling silver flatware. The in-person number gets sharper with our calibrated scale and acid test, but starting at home keeps the visit short.
Quick home estimate
Enter three things: the metal, the weight from your scale, and the stamp if you can find one.
Estimated offer
$180
80% of today's $225 melt value · Silver · Sterling · 100g
Offer spectrum · % of melt
- 70%Walk away$157
- 75%Fair offer$169
- 80%Sell-it-now$180
Below 70% is a weak offer. 75% is a good number. 80% is the sell-it-now mark.
Educational estimate. Final number requires verified weight and professional metal testing in person.
Family-run · Gaslamp Quarter since 1992
A San Diego counter where the math is on the table before the offer.
Buy Sell Gold San Diego routes visits to a family-run shop in the Gaslamp Quarter that has been buying gold jewelry, silver coins, platinum, diamonds, and more since 1992. Cash on the spot, no appointment needed — and if you mention this site, or say Ezra sent you, you'll get our best rate at the counter.
Buying and selling gold in the Gaslamp Quarter since 1992.
Walk-ins, regulars, and word-of-mouth referrals from across San Diego county.
Real volume means real spot-price hedging — and real offers we can stand behind.
Or say Ezra sent you when you walk in. Online visitors get our preferred counter rate.
FAQ
Sell sterling silver flatware — common questions
How do I know if my flatware is sterling silver or silver-plated?
Sterling is stamped 'sterling' or '925' somewhere on each piece, usually on the back of the handle. Silver-plated is stamped 'EPNS' (electroplated nickel silver), 'EP', '90', '100', or sometimes nothing. If you can't find a stamp, bring it in and we'll test.
Do you buy single pieces or only complete sets?
Both. A single sterling fork has the same per-gram value as a piece in a complete set; we just add a set-completeness premium when applicable. Sell two pieces or 200 — same per-gram math.
What if I have monogrammed pieces?
Monograms don't change the silver content, but they make the pieces harder to resell intact. For recognized monograms with historical interest, we pay above scrap; for generic monograms, we pay scrap weight.
Next step
Ready to sell sterling silver flatware?
Walk into our Gaslamp Quarter counter. Mention buysellgoldsandiego.com or say Ezra sent you for our best rate.
Family-run since 1992Cash on the spotGaslamp QuarterMention site for preferred rate
Disclosure: Online estimates are for informational purposes only and are not a final purchase offer. Offer ranges are educational examples based on industry experience. Final payout depends on verified weight, professional testing, item inspection, market price review, buyer costs, and compliance with applicable laws.