SILVER CUTLERY & FLATWARE:

SILVER & SILVERPLATE GIFTS:   Ladies Silver Gifts   Mens Silver Gifts   Child Silver Cutlery & Gifts   Bar Silverware

SILVER PRODUCTION IN SHEFFIELD
Silver and precious metal alloy manufacture has been carried out at our suppliers' site since 1760. Their unique historical experience, coupled with state-of-the-art technology ensure production of all materials to the highest international standard.

QUALITY CONTROL
Quality Control is registered to ISO 9002 supported internally by analytical and metallurgical laboratories to ensure tight controls on alloy composition, impurity limits, metallurgical structure and gold/silver plate standards. Approved status for Good Delivery is provided by the London Bullion Market Association (see "Thessco").

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS & REPUTATION
In 1238, King Henry II comanded six reputable craftsmen in the silversmith trade to control and regulate standards. This was to stop greedy and unscrupulous manufacturers defrauding the public by substituting white base metal for the prized and much sought after precious metal silver. Thus was created the British Hallmarking System which is probably the earliest recorded piece of consumer protection, and over 750 years later, is unquestionably the most enduring.

A hallmark gives the purchaser a visible guarantee of quality. Before any piece of Silver can be hallmarked, it is individually tested at the Assay Office to determine its purity, and if found to be of the required standard laid down by statute, then, and only then is the silver hallmarked.

Sterling silver is rated as 92.5% pure silver which is as high as it can be without the metal becoming too soft for everyday use. Note that silver jewelry also tends to be rated as "925 silver" which means the same level of purity.

SILVER PRICES
Silver is a precious metal that is traded by investors worldwide. If demand grows, the commodity price will rise and this will affect the prices of silver goods on our web site. To see how the rate has been changing over the last year, click here for the Silver Bullion Price. When prices are high, we have to pass on a silver surcharge and you should check the graphics placed on our site for the latest information. Note that silver plate is not surcharged (well, not yet).

ASSAY OFFICES
This sterling silver cutlery is hallmarked at the Sheffield Assay Office. There are 4 Assay Offices in the UK. These offices control the regulation of silver quality and content in manufactured items. To learn more about hallmarking on your silver goods, click on the links below :-

• Sheffield Assay Office
• Birmingham Assay Office
• London Assay Office
• Assay Office Scotland
• British Horological Institute & 2nd link from BHI

Elkington invented the process of electroplating and James Dixon Ltd is a company name with an international reputation for its sterling silver. The silverware of these companies can to be found in palaces, embassies, top hotels, cruise liners, restaurants and many discerning houses throughout the world. Products from these companies can now be ordered directly from this web site.

Click here to
Buy Silver Cutlery

If silverware other than cutlery/flatware is required, please - Click here to Download the Silverware Catalog (pdf file)
NB - there is a silver surcharge on sterling items that we offer for sale - see the graphic on site for the latest rate. This has not been adjusted on the Silverware Catalogue prices owing to continual fluctuations. You will need to recalculate prices within the Catalogue.

Click here to learn about Caring for Sterling Silver.

Click here for more Interesting Facts About Silver.

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