What does Epns A1 mean on silver?

What does Epns A1 mean on silver?

EPNS represents ElectroPlated Nickel Silver meaning silver plated over a base metal alloy made mostly of nickel. The term A1 is mostly a marketing ploy meant to indicate that a piece was of superior plating.

What does A1 mean on old silverware?

A wide range of symbols were used by U.S. manufacturers to designate silver plating and solid lower-grade alloys in the marketplace. A1 and AA: These discreet markings indicate the number of ounces of pure silver used in the plating. There’s two ounces per gross of teaspoons for A1, and three ounces for AA.

Is Sheffield silver plate worth anything?

Today, values for original Sheffield plate objects range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Be careful not to be overzealous when cleaning your Sheffield objects. Overcleaning Sheffield plate can reveal an object’s copper core exposing the copper through the silver.

Is Epns the same as silver plate?

To identify silver plate, look for places where the thin layer of silver has worn away, revealing the base metal underneath. If the exposed base metal is a pale yellow, then the item is EPNS.

How do I identify a Sheffield plate?

Three ways to identify Old Sheffield Plate: Closely examine the edges of the upper rim and the base. On these pieces, any applied border, handles or feet will usually have a seam. This means a layer of silver has been lapped over or “sandwiched” and therefore a piece you can correctly label as Old Sheffield Plate.

What’s the difference between EPNS and EPSS silver plates?

This means that silver is plated onto a base metal of stainless steel rather than onto nickel silver. Some Hostess items from the Sheffield factory are now produced in the EPSS version. The major practical difference between EPNS and EPSS is that EPNS is much more readily re-plateable in the future when the silver has worn down.

What does EPNs stand for in Metal category?

EPNS stands for “Electro Plated Nickel Silver”. Nickel Silver (or occasionally stainless steel) is the base metal onto which silver is plated.

What kind of EPNs do I need for silver cutlery?

Electroplated materials are often stamped EPNS for Electroplated Nickel Silver, or EPBM for Electroplated Britannia Metal. EPBM is unsuitable for replating. We offer a re-plating service for cutlery and other items that you might feel are in need of a facelift.

What’s the life expectancy of EPNs silverware?

The Elkington range of EPNS is plated to a generous thickness of 35 microns. Very generally speaking, this equates to a probable lifetime of 35-50 years for pieces plated to this thickness but, of course, this time span can vary according to the level of usage and care of your silverware.