silver mark

[edgarrod007]

Could you tell me the meaning of Arg 900? It is the mark written in my mother flatware, it does not have any other mark, just that. Thank you for your help.

[oel]

Hi Edgar,

Welcome to the forum.

Arg 900 could be short for Argentum, the Latin word for silver and 900 could be the standard, fineness, 90% pure silver used.
The problem however Arg could also be short for Argentann also known as Alpacca, Neusilber, and Nickel silver, all which contains no real silver 0% pure silver used.
See; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_silver
I personally should advise you to have the items tested for silver. Your local jewellery shop could advise you.

Regards,

Oel

[edgarrod007]

thank you very much for your help, I will take it to somebody who could really try if it is silver , not just guessing.Can a spoon of silver be broken just with your hands trying to see if it is silver??That was the probe a person did to one of my spoons and I was told it was not silver because it was broken!!!!

[JLDoggett]

What do you mean by "broken"? Silver can be bent and re-bent until it stress breaks.

[edgarrod007]

Of course that is it, the person who was going to tell me if my flatware was plated or silver 900, told me it was not silver 900 because the spoon was broken by him and it was soft!!!!1, I think this person did not know the meaning of arg 900 and was easier to tell me that without any further problem. That procedure was not a good one to make any difference between silver and plated. Thank you again and will go to a real store to know what I got.

[amena]

Hi Edgarrod
please note that in Italy you can find items marked Arg. 800 or Arg. 900, or Arg. 1000. It stay for " argentato" meaning plated.
Now that kind of mark is not legal.

[edgarrod007]

hi, well the famous Arg.900 was silver plated, the acid test was done and it was not silver at all. thank you for your help and now you know the real meaning of ARG.900.

[edgarrod007]

sorry, now we all know, mainly I know. Sorry for my English.

[oel]

No problem and we have all learned from your topic. Thanks.

Oel