silver - etiquette/faqs

• How should I care for my silver?

• How should I store my silver?

• What does it mean for a piece to be sterling?

• What does it mean for a piece to be silverplated?

• Why is some sterling more expensive than others?

• How should I go about choosing a nice silver pattern?

• Can I mix my silver patterns?

• What are the main setting and serving pieces and how are they used?

• What is the difference between a lunch, place, dinner and continental setting?

• How do I set my table?

• Which anniversary is the silver anniversary?

• Do you offer hand engraving?

• I have inherited some silver - how do I find out about it?

How should I care for my silver?     back to top
First Rule of Thumb - Use It!

Your inclination might be to save your sterling for the formal meals - trot it out once or twice a year for special occasions and holidays.  Fight this urge!  Try to use your sterling every day or at least once a week.  Not only will frequent use prevent the buildup of tarnish, it is only through use that your silver develops its patina glow, a characteristic of beautiful silver.  This patina is the result of the gradual accumulation of microscopic scratches that give it a soft finish.  Remember to rotate your pieces so the patina develops evenly over your entire collection.

Cleaning Tips

Wash your silver soon after use.  If left on silver as long as an hour, such items as eggs, mayonnaise, and vinegar can stain sterling and permanently damage silver.  Do not soak silver in water overnight as extended immersion can damage the metal.  Washing by hand is HIGHLY recommended.  Use a mild dishwashing liquid (avoiding lemon liquids as they may contain acids harmful to silver) in hot water.  Try to wash each piece individually to minimize the pieces scratching and banging into one another.  But note, washing your silver will scratch it slightly and this is normal.  Remember, it is through this interlacing of scratches that silver gains its character and beauty.  Wash each piece in hot sudsy water, then rinse in hot water.  After washing, dry immediately while the piece is still warm with a soft cloth to prevent water spots.      

Sterling silver and silverplate can be washed in the dishwasher, however, when loading never put sterling and stainless flatware in the same basket as direct contact between the two can permanently damage the sterling.  Remove your silver before the intense heat of the drying cycle starts and dry by hand.  You will want to store your silver only after it has cooled.

The foods that contain sulfides which will tarnish your silver include: Eggs,  Fruit Juices, Salad dressing, Mustard, Vinegar, Ketchup, Tomatoes, and Salt/salty foods (like butter).  Also note,  salt will also cause spotting if it isn't washed off immediately.

Polishing Tips

If a silver piece is used and washed regularly in hot soapy water, it may never become a polishing burden.  Silver may only need to be polished a once or twice a year to remove the stains and the sometimes unavoidable tarnish that may occur. 

A good spray polish such as Hagerty's is good for maintenance.  Dips are not recommended for the ornate pieces as they will remove the oxidation (shading) from intricate designs in the patterns.  Instead, a soft brush can also be used to clean ornate or raised areas.  For harder to clean pieces, you may want to try a polish.  Always use 100% cotton polishing cloths or flannel.  While you can buy silver polishing cloths, old tee-shirts will do the trick just as well.  When you are polishing, do not overrub your silver.  Briskly rub each piece lengthwise, never crosswise or in a circular motion.  Non-tarnish coating can only be placed on silverplate that will never touch food products such as some trays, napkin rings or candleholders. 

How should I store my silver?    back to top
When not in use, store your silver in a clean, DRY, and preferably dark place.  Sunlight or even a light bulb shining directly on your sterling can accelerate tarnishing.  Sterling and silverplate that is not used regularly can be stored in a silver chest or drawer lined with a tarnish-preventive cloth or in a treated flannel bag.  This is because any exposure to air will accelerate tarnishing.  To prevent scratching, do not store flatware in a loose drawer.  Never bind silver with rubber bands or wrap it in plastic, aluminum foil or newspaper.  Avoid storing silverware directly on wood surfaces (especially oak), as wood often contains acids that can mar your silver's finish.   

What does it mean for a piece to be sterling?     back to top

If your silver is sterling, it will either be marked sterling or it will have a mark of 925/1000.  This means that 925 parts for every 1000 are pure silver- the standard for sterling, by law, passed in 1909.   Pure silver is too soft for practical use in silverware and so a small amount of copper is added for strength. The percentages never vary - 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% pure copper.  This is known as sterling silver.

What does it mean for a piece to be silverplated?   back to top
Silverplate describes articles made of a base metal, coated with a layer of pure silver, by the process of electroplating. The silverplate is measured in "Microns" and silverplate can differ greatly in how many "Microns" of silver are plated onto your flatware or pieces.  Top quality silverplate may contain two or three times the microns on their less expensive counterparts. 

Why is some sterling or silverplate more expensive than others?    back to top

Sterling silver is, of course, usually more expensive than silverplate and by and large (though not always the case) it is the amount of silver in/on your flatware or pieces that will determine the price you pay.  Other factors include craftsmanship, age, condition, rarity, the silversmith's reputation, etc.  

How should I go about choosing a nice silver pattern?     back to top

Some things to consider when selecting your pattern is how well the pattern harmonizes with your dinnerware and crystal patterns. A good rule of thumb when coordinating crystal, silver and dinnerware is that one of the three should contrast with the other two in the amount of decoration, often referred to as the 2 to 1 rule. For example, if your china and crystal are both simple in decoration, your flatware should be ornate and vice versa.

If you plan to add to your silver service through the years, it is wise to consider a pattern from a manufacturer who is a veteran of the industry.  All of the manufacturers carried by Silversnobs are established makers with popular and reliable patterns.

Can I mix my silver patterns?      back to top
Certainly.  There are not as many hard and fast rules as there used to be.  Many people are mixing crystal, china and flatware patterns with lovely results.  The only thing you might want to be careful about is not to mix your silver patterns within a standard place setting.  However, many people have a standard flatware pattern then have their serving pieces in another pattern, or perhaps their dessert spoons in another pattern, and so on. 

What are the main setting and serving pieces and how are they used?    back to top
Silver flatware is what you use to eat or serve with (spoons, knives and forks). Silver holloware is what you use to serve from (bowls, dishes, trays).  A description of some of the pieces follows:

Luncheon Fork - used for lunch and informal meals, at other times ideal for souffles, salads, meats, vegetables, desserts and the fish course in formal meals.
 
Luncheon Knife - used for lunch and informal meals, and at other times as a salad knife or for meats and vegetables.
 
Spreaders or Individual Butter Knives - used for butter or on a sandwich tray for cheeses, relishes, jams or jellies and hors d'oeuvres.
 
Cream Soup Spoon - used for soups served in dishes or bowls, and also for serving of sauces.

Cocktail, Oyster Fork - used for seafood or fruit cocktails, lobster, and crab legs.

Coffee or Cocktail Spoon - often used for after-dinner coffee.

Iced Beverage Spoon - a tall spoon used for iced coffee or tea, fruit drinks, milkshakes, parfaits and floats, and as a highball mixer.

Small Teaspoon - used for fruit cocktails and sherbets, and as a sugar spoon.

Table or Serving Spoon - serves salads, vegetables and fruits.

Pierced Table or Serving Spoon - for serving vegetables and fruits.

Gravy Ladle - used in serving sauces, gravies or dressings.

Cold Meat or Buffet Fork - used in serving platter salads, cold meats and food served on toast.

Tomato or Flat Server - used for platter salads, cucumbers, eggs and tomatoes.

Salad or Serving Spoon - for serving fruits, berries, desserts, salads, vegetables, and handy as a spare serving spoon.

Sugar Spoon - for the sugar bowl, or small bowls of sauce, dressing or mayonnaise.

Cream or Sauce Ladle - for ladling gravy, other liquids, dressings, stews and cream sauces.

Jelly Server - serves cream cheese, preserves, jams, marmalades and relishes.

Lemon Fork - serves lemon slices.

Bon Bon or Nut Spoon - for serving nuts, candies and certain hors d'oeuvres.

Olive or Pickle Fork - for serving olives and pickles.

Cheese Serving Knife - for cutting and serving pies and cakes, aspics and frozen desserts.

Relish or Jam Spoon - for relishes, jams, jellies and preserves.

Sugar Tongs - for use in the sugar cube container, or candy dish.

Roast Carving Knife - for carving roasts, poultry and ham.

Roast Carving Fork - for supporting roasts and poultry while carving.

Slicer - A sharp, slim and long tool for thin-slicing meats.

Steak Carving Knife - for steaks and small roasts, poultry, etc

What is the difference between a lunch, place, dinner and continental setting?     back to top
Your knife and fork will generally tell you which size you have.  A luncheon fork (a misnomer as it is perfectly acceptable for dinner) is close to 7 inches and a luncheon knife close to 9 inches.  The dinner fork is close to 7 1/2 inches and the dinner knife close to 9 1/2 inches.  The term place size is usually used interchangeably with lunch size, and is actually more common nowadays.  The continental size setting is bigger all around - in length and in weight.  These big heavy settings are impressive in the hand and all the rage in Europe these days.  Continental settings are usually only offered in the larger, more popular patterns. 

How do I set my table?     back to top
Here are some general rules to follow when setting your table. To help keep you from being intimidated by the rules of etiquette, we offer you some guidelines to help you create the tabletop that best reflects the meal you have planned.  Please also keep in mind - most people are baffled by formal settings - the most important thing about your party should be to have fun.  

In General
Allow at least 24" for each place setting to avoid over-crowding.  Start by placing your plate first, 1" from the edge of the table, then place your flatware around it.  All silverware is placed in the order of use.  What is to be used first is placed farthest from the plate.  Knives are placed to the right of the plate, with the knife's cutting edge facing the plate. However, the butter spreader should be diagonally placed on the bread plate, with the blade edge toward the dinner fork.  Spoons are placed to the right of the plate and to the right of the knives.  All forks are placed to the left of the plate, in order of use. The only exception is the cocktail/oyster fork, which is placed to the right of the soup spoon.  If salad is to be served with the main course, or if the salad fork is to be used as a dessert fork, it is placed to the right of the dinner fork, next to the plate. The dessert fork and spoon can also be placed, European style, above the plate. The spoon, its handle to the right, goes above the fork. The fork's handle points to the left.

Which anniversary is the silver anniversary?     back to top
The 25th Anniversary is Silver.  Great anniversary gifts include candlesticks, pitchers, bowls, cups, goblets, bud vases, picture frames, etc.  Engraving the happy couples monogram or initials makes a nice touch. 
 

Do you offer hand engraving?    back to top
Yes, and we are one of the very few web sites that do.

I have inherited some silver.  How do I find out about it?    back to top
The best way to discover the value of your silver is to have it appraised by a licensed appraiser.  In order to make an accurate assessment of its value, he or she will want to look and handle each piece.  To find an appraiser in your area, check your yellow pages or ask a local antique dealer.
 

If a pattern has been discontinued, we suggest you contact a flatware matching service. These can be found by searching under headings such as "flatware replacement", "silver replacement", "silver matching", on any Internet search engine. Many matching services are also listed on the back pages of home furnishings magazines.

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