835 Silver
Also: 835/1000, Silver 835, Continental cutlery silver
835 silver is a silver alloy with a fineness of 835 parts per thousand (83.5%), particularly typical of continental 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 the most widespread alloy for tableware, cutlery and upmarket jewellery in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Scandinavia from the late 19th century well into the 20th century. Anyone valuing or wishing to buy old silver pieces from family estates 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 daily-use cutlery. Pure silver is too soft to withstand spoon edges and fork tines permanently. Copper also increases the flowability of the melt and eases casting and stamping.
One disadvantage of the copper content: the alloy tarnishes more strongly than sterling or fine silver (tarnishing), because copper sulphides form more quickly on the surface. Regular polishing or storage with limited air exposure prevents this.
Fineness Grades 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% | Continental cutlery, jewellery |
| 800 silver | 800‰ | 80.0% | Southern European cutlery, coins |
Hallmarks and Identifying Features
On the continent, the hallmarking of silverware was regulated by law. Up to 1888, German silverware was mostly stamped with the crescent mark (a reclining half-moon) and the figure 835. After the introduction of the unified imperial mark, the figure 835 appeared alone or in combination with the maker's mark and the mark of the assay authority. UK-hallmarked pieces show the fineness figure together with the assay office town mark and date letter.
To check the fineness of a piece without a hallmark, the following methods can be used:
- Streak test – an abrasion on a touchstone, compared with test acid (nitric-acid solution)
- X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) – non-destructive, precise determination by a dealer or assessor
- Density measurement (Archimedes' principle) – 835 silver has a density of about 10.3 g/cm³
Calculating the Melt Value
The material value of a silver piece follows from the gross weight, the fineness and the current silver price:
Melt value = gross weight (g) × 0.835 × silver price (£/g)
You will find the current silver price and a ready-configured calculator under calculate melt value. Note: on purchase, dealers usually pay a discount on the calculated melt value in order to cover melting and processing costs. With the purchase price calculator the realistic proceeds can be estimated.
Historical Context
The 835 standard arose in continental Europe as a compromise between material value and workability. It was cheaper than sterling silver (925‰) but offered considerably more substance than later 800 ware. During the Gründerzeit and Art Nouveau periods, elaborate tableware services, coffee pots, sugar bowls and jewellery were made in 835 silver – many of them 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 in demand.
Tax Note
Under UK law, the purchase of silverware – cutlery, jewellery, tableware – is subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%. There is no VAT exemption for silver as there is for investment gold (HMRC); investment silver 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.
Gains from a private sale may be subject to Capital Gains Tax where the gain (disposal proceeds minus acquisition cost) exceeds 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 your individual case.
In Brief
835 silver stands for a robust continental European standard with 83.5% silver content that shaped generations of tableware. Anyone who owns old cutlery or jewellery can quickly determine the calculated material value with the silver calculator.