800 Silver

800 silver denotes a silver alloy consisting of exactly 800 parts per thousand – that is, 80 per cent by weight – of pure silver. The remaining 20% is mostly copper, which improves mechanical strength and workability. In continental Europe, 800 silver was for decades a common minimum standard for silverware, and it remains one of the most frequent alloys found in heirlooms, old stocks and at flea markets. Note that in the UK the minimum legal standard for hallmarked silver is 800‰ (Britannia 958, sterling 925 and 500‰ are also recognised), and the silver price as well as the melt value of a particular piece can be calculated online at any time.

Hallmarks and Identifying Features

On the continent, 800 silver was traditionally stamped in Germany with the crescent-and-crown mark (crescent moon + crown) – a mark that has stood for tested silverware since 1888. Alongside it, the plain number 800 is frequently found, sometimes supplemented by the maker's mark or the mark of a refinery. UK-hallmarked 800 silver carries the standard fineness figure and the assay office town mark.

Distinction from Other Silver Alloys

800 silver should be deliberately distinguished from other common alloys:

• 835 silver (835‰): frequently used for mid-20th-century continental cutlery; a somewhat higher silver content, and at the same time somewhat lighter in colour.
• Sterling silver (925‰): the international standard for jewellery and modern tableware; considerably softer in tone, higher fineness.
• Britannia silver (958‰): the British high standard, almost pure silver, very soft.
• Fine silver (999‰): investment metal (coins, bars), hardly suitable for everyday objects.

The lower silver content of the 800 grade makes the alloy harder and more resistant – ideal for daily-use cutlery – but also leads to a somewhat warmer, slightly yellow-grey tone and stronger tarnishing than with higher-grade alloys.

Calculating the Melt Value

You can determine the material value of an 800 silver piece easily using the following formula:

Melt value = weight (g) × 0.800 × silver price (£/g)

Example: 100 g of 800 cutlery silver at a silver price of £0.80/g gives a melt value of £64.00. It is more convenient with the melt value calculator or the silver calculator, which automatically include the current daily price. A dealer's actual purchase price is usually 10–25% below this, since testing, melting and handling costs apply.

Tax Treatment

Under UK law, silver is not VAT-exempt investment gold, so silverware – cutlery, jewellery, tableware – is subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20% (HMRC). There is no VAT exemption for silver as there is for investment gold; silver bullion coins are likewise not VAT-exempt. When a dealer buys second-hand silver from private individuals, the VAT margin scheme may apply, so that VAT is charged only on the trade margin rather than on the full sale price.

On disposal, private sellers may be liable for Capital Gains Tax on any gain (disposal proceeds minus acquisition cost) above the annual exempt amount. There is no German-style one-year holding period. This is not tax or investment advice – please consult a tax adviser for specific questions.

Typical Areas of Use

800 silver is found above all in:

1. Cutlery and tableware – spoons, forks, knives, trays (the main area of use in continental Europe until about 1980)
2. Jewellery – rings, chains, brooches; today rarer, as sterling (925) dominates the market
3. Silverware of the early 20th century – teapots, sugar bowls, candlesticks
4. Middle East and North Africa – where 800 silver remains widespread as a jewellery alloy

In Brief

800 silver, with 80% silver content, is the classic continental everyday alloy for cutlery and tableware – recognisable by the crescent, crown and the stamp figure 800. Anyone who owns or buys second-hand silver should know the weight and current silver price in order to assess the real material value reliably.