835 Silver
Also: 835/1000, Silver 835, German cutlery silver
835 silver is a silver alloy with a fineness of 835 parts per thousand (83.5%), particularly typical of German and Central European cutlery and jewellery of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
835 silver denotes a silver alloy with a fineness of 835 parts per thousand – so of 1,000 parts by weight, 835 are pure silver and 165 parts are alloying metal, predominantly copper. This standard was, from the late 19th century well into the 20th century, the most widespread alloy for table silver, cutlery and higher-end jewellery in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Anyone valuing or buying old silver pieces from family inheritances encounters 835 ware particularly often.
Composition and properties
The 16.5% copper gives the alloy considerably more hardness and abrasion resistance than fine silver (999 ‰), which is what makes it practical for cutlery in daily use. Pure silver is too soft to withstand spoon edges and fork tines permanently. Copper also increases the fluidity of the melt and makes casting and stamping easier.
One drawback of the copper content: the alloy tarnishes more strongly than sterling or fine silver (tarnishing), since copper sulphides form more quickly on the surface. Regular polishing or storage sealed from air prevents this.
Finenesses in comparison
| Designation | Fineness | Silver content | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine silver | 999 ‰ | 99.9% | Bars, investment coins |
| Britannia silver | 958 ‰ | 95.8% | British investment coins |
| Sterling silver | 925 ‰ | 92.5% | Jewellery, British cutlery |
| 835 silver | 835 ‰ | 83.5% | DE/European cutlery, jewellery |
| 800 silver | 800 ‰ | 80.0% | Southern European cutlery, coins |
Hallmarks and identifying features
In Germany the hallmarking of silverware was regulated by law. Until 1888, silverware was mostly stamped with the crescent mark (a recumbent half-moon) and the number 835. After the introduction of the unified imperial mark, the number 835 appeared alone or in combination with the maker's stamp (master mark) and the mark of the testing authority.
Anyone wishing to test the fineness of a piece without a hallmark can apply the following methods:
- Streak test – abrasion on a touchstone, comparison with test acid (nitric acid solution)
- X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) – non-destructive, precise determination at the dealer or an appraiser
- Density measurement (Archimedean principle) – 835 silver has a density of approx. 10.3 g/cm³
Calculating melt value
The material value of a silver piece is derived from the gross weight, fineness and current silver price:
Melt value = Gross weight (g) × 0.835 × Silver price (€/g)
You will find the current silver price and a ready-configured tool at the melt value calculator. Note: dealers usually pay a discount on the calculated melt value when buying, to cover melting and processing costs. With the purchase price calculator, the realistic proceeds can be estimated.
Historical context
The 835 standard arose in the German Empire as a compromise between material value and workability. It was cheaper than sterling silver (925 ‰) but offered considerably more substance than later 800 ware. In the Gründerzeit and Art Nouveau periods, elaborate table-silver services, coffee pots, sugar bowls and jewellery pieces were made in 835 silver – many of which survive today as heirlooms or flea-market finds.
After the Second World War, 835 silver lost importance to stainless steel and silver-plated cutlery. As collector's items and for further processing (melting, reworking), however, such pieces remain sought after.
Tax note (Malta)
The purchase of silverware – cutlery, jewellery, table silver – is subject to VAT at the Maltese standard rate of 18%. There is no VAT exemption for silver as there is for investment gold; investment silver coins are likewise not VAT-exempt. This follows EU law transposed via Council Directive 2006/112/EC. On the commercial purchase of old silver from private hands, a dealer may apply the margin scheme, so that tax is charged only on the trade margin.
Regarding disposals: Malta levies no capital gains tax on private disposals of movable assets such as silver. Maltese capital gains tax applies only to specific asset categories (immovable property, securities, business interests and similar). There is no German-style one-year speculation period. This is not tax or investment advice – please consult a tax adviser for individual cases (cfr.gov.mt, legislation.mt).
In brief
835 silver stands for a robust Central European standard with 83.5% silver content that shaped generations of table silver. Anyone who owns old cutlery or jewellery can quickly determine the calculated material value with the silver calculator.