Posts Tagged ‘cash’

Do Not Trash That Junk Silver

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

Not all that junk silver that people have hanging around the house may be junk at all. One earring, a broken necklace, filled silver candlesticks that are dented or maybe even have holes may be considered junk in their present state, but that is only part of the story.

One man’s trash truly is another’s treasure. When it comes to recycling unused items these words could not be more true. Surely this does not mean that someone will take the time to repair a few broken and bent necklaces or wear two different earrings… Of course not. The value of the precious metal on the other hand is something to consider. No one should throw these items away without first checking to make certain of what they have.

Knowing how to tell the difference between plated metal and the real deal is very important. This is not to say that all plated material is of little or no worth. On the contrary, many vintage and antique pieces hold great value. Those should be valued according to antique appraisals rather than precious metal values for obvious reasons.

Pay attention to hallmarks. These are pretty easy to find and tell a bit of history about the item. First, they indicate the name of the company or artist who manufactured the item. Often these marks change throughout time and indicate the age, where the product was made, and the amount of precious metal used. There are countless books and websites dedicated to helping people decipher hallmarks.

Look for the word sterling and or the number 925. Occasionally the number 950 will be found, but it is rather uncommon. In most countries today, including the United States it is illegal to include this marking on any metal that does not contain at least ninety two point five percent pure silver. Always purchase from a reputable dealer. There have been cases of falsified jewelry and other items with counterfeit markings. Read those reviews and beware of scammers.

Within one year alone, between two thousand ten and two thousand eleven the cost of silver nearly doubled that of the price of gold. These are both commodities that are bought and sold on world markets. As a result the value of either is never the same. This fluctuation is expected just as anything else that sells on the stock market. Needless to say, today’s cost and tomorrow’s may be two entirely different amounts. Pay attention.

Having broken and battered silver items just sitting around taking up space is a lot like having a pile of cash just sitting around. No one wants to do that. Forget about the condition. Never mind broken closures and missing pieces. None of that matters. It is all going to be melted anyway. Jump on the chance while it is being offered.

It may be time for a “spring cleaning”. Clean up the entire house and get rid of any unneeded and unwanted junk. Straighten up that old jewelry box. Just remember calling that one lone silver earring junk may be about the same as saying junk diamonds…

JunkSilver.co features all the information you need to know about Junk Silver Investment such as where to buy junk silver and why you should invest in such metals including gold.