Comments on: Why wouldn't an antique dealer buy my silver ice bucket?

By: Tom M.

Tom M. — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:47:53 +0000

because it is not silver, or just the plating alone is only a small percentage of silver

He buys pure silver, probably.

By: Nathaniel

Nathaniel — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:47:53 +0000

It is not solid silver, it was an ice bucket coated with silver.

By: weakestlink11

weakestlink11 — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:47:53 +0000

Because, my dear, it is implied in his ad that the precious metals should be 100%. A plated piece is a very thin layer of that metal that is overlaid on a much cheaper metal like tin. No dealer will want to bother with plated items if that are not precious metals through and through.

By: Margaret A

Margaret A — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:47:53 +0000

he means he will buy solid gold or solid silver jewellery and objects. plated items are just that, a base metal with a coating of silver, it really wouldn’t be worth his time to take the silver off the item for scape silver.

By: Who Knew?

Who Knew? — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:47:53 +0000

I refer you to Fred Sanford for an answer to that question.

On the other hand, ‘plated’ items are not pure silver, buut just overlaid with the precious element. There’s not much value in whatever material is underneath and not enough real silver to be of value to a dealer. he should have explained that to you. He probably buys pure solid silver only, and I would wager that jewelry is 95-6% of his business interest. it’s easier to take in, store and sell.

Someone like Fred Sanford, in fact, would probably be interested: that is, a general antiques dealer interested more in the age and history of items than the value of the mmetal in them.