Sell Your Sterling Silver Flatware & Tea Sets in Southern Oregon
J. Austin & Co. purchases all flatware sets marked Sterling or .925 we do not purchase plated items at this time. We also purchase properly marked European and British Sterling. If you have an item you are unsure of and would like us to evaluate, call us at 541-955-2985 or come into the shop.
More than flatware: the sterling we buy
Alongside knives, forks and spoons, we buy sterling tea and coffee services, serving bowls, candlesticks, baby cups and picture frames. Complete services, partial sets, mismatched lots and single serving pieces are all welcome, and there is no minimum. Older American “coin” silver and European pieces marked 800, 835 or 900 are real silver at a lower purity than sterling, and we weigh and price them at their actual purity.
How can I tell sterling from plate?
Turn a piece over and look at the back of the handle. Sterling is marked STERLING, 925 or .925, and American makers such as Reed & Barton, Towle, Gorham and Wallace almost always mark it clearly. Most British sterling carries a lion hallmark with a date letter and an assay-office mark. Marks such as EPNS, EP, A1, “silver plate” or “quadruple plate,” or a maker’s name with no purity mark, almost always mean plated. If you’re not sure, bring it and we’ll check it with you.
What affects the offer
- Silver weight. Most sterling is priced on its silver weight at the live spot price on the day you sell. On table knives the handle is sterling and the blade is usually stainless steel, which doesn’t count toward the silver.
- Pattern and maker. A smaller number of patterns earn a collector premium on top of the silver. Which ones changes year to year, so we check current market activity at your appointment.
- Condition. Tarnish doesn’t reduce the silver content, and monograms no longer hurt most modern services. Please don’t polish anything or try to remove engraving.
Bringing it in
Bring the silver as it is: loose, tarnished or still in the chest. You don’t need to count pieces or take photos. We weigh, test and identify each piece in front of you. Please bring a photo ID as well; Oregon requires one for any precious-metals sale.
The Ashland shop is right off I-5 at 1632 Ashland St., about 14 miles from Medford, with hours Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 5pm — (541) 482-3715. The Grants Pass shop sees sellers by appointment, typically on Mondays — (541) 955-2985. Both shops work by appointment and are usually booked, so please call before you load the car.
A full chest of flatware is heavy. If you can’t get it to either shop, call (541) 482-3715 and describe what you have. If shipping makes sense, we can send you a shipping label, and we’ll go over the rest on the call. See selling by mail.
For the patterns that sometimes carry a premium, read How to Sell Sterling Silver Flatware in Southern Oregon.
Ready to bring in your sterling flatware & tea sets?
Private appointments. Honest evaluations. Same-day offers.