What is Christofle made of?
Today, all blades are made of stainless steel. Maison Christofle offers collections of cutlery and tableware in steel called 18/10 steel or 304 stainless steel. Today the blades are made of 13/0 steel, an alloy with 13% chromium, nickel free.
How can you tell silver plate from Christofle silver?
Silver does not have strong magnetic effects, so if you hold a magnet up to your Christofle and it sticks strongly, you should feel confident that the piece is only silver plated. Likewise, if the magnet doesn’t stick, it is more likely that you have a sterling silver piece.
How can you tell if Christofle is sterling silver?
A sterling silver mark on a Christofle piece will usually be printed as “925” – an indication that the piece is composed of 92.5% silver. If this mark isn’t present, or if there is another number (800, for example), you can feel confident that your item is actually plated rather than sterling silver.
What is the difference between Italian silver and sterling silver?
Since different countries have different standards about the purity of 925 silver, some countries like Lebanon, Germany whose sterling silver contains pure silver less than 92.5%, some only contain about 70% purity silver, while 925 Italy silver contains 92.5% fine silver, you will know you get a high-quality sterling …
Does Italian silver have a hallmark?
Italian silversmiths rarely submitted their pieces to the optional official hallmarking. Usually silver pieces were marked only with the ‘800’ (purity degree 800/1000), sometimes coupled with the silversmith’s hallmark. The ‘800’ was an unofficial mark and there was no uniformity in its shape.
How can you tell real silver from Italian?
- Look for markingsor stamps on the silver. Silver will often be stampedwith 925, 900, or 800.
- Test it with a magnet. Silver, like most preciousmetals, is nonmagnetic.
- Sniff it. Unlike many othermetals, silver is odorless.
- Polish it with a soft white cloth.
- Put a piece of ice on it.