Silver2treasure Guide to Buying Antique Silver on eBay

Hello and welcome to the Silver2teasure guide to buying Antique Silver on ebay. Tips on before you buy, handling silver, affordability, where else to buy, starting a collection, our eBay guide, silver2treasure shop and ends on modern silver.

Before you buy

It is no good crying over spilt milk or so the saying goes. There is no excuse for not educating yourself before you step into the world of buying antique silver especially on line.

Research is essential especially in regard to expensive items. Having said this there is a lot of help available to you. The beauty of British Silver is in the hallmarking system. In our main website at silver2treasure.com we have pages linked to reference sites for British and Continential Hallmarks which are essential references for the new and experienced buyer alike.

You will also want to consider the benefit of investing in silver and our main website contains an article with some of the benefits of investing in silver. Value has strong links to weight in the silver world and understanding the different definitions of an "ounce" can be found in another helpful page at silver2treasure.com. Whilst the internet is a rich source of information there is nothing like a good reference book and I recommend Jacksons's Silver and Gold Marks together with International Hallmarks on Silver collected by Tardy. There are many more and we have created a web page of silver books on eBay at silver2treasure.com as an easy starting point. Despite your best efforts in research be prepared to make mistakes. We all do and it is all part of the learning experience.

Handling Silver

You might think this is a strange heading but I really believe you need to pick up and touch and feel a variety of silver in your early days of collecting. You can do this at Antiques Fiar, Flea Markets and Auction Houses aswell as high street shops. You will feel how a thick heavy guage antique silver item such as a teapot feels completely different to a mass produced example. You will better understand the difference by an embossed decoration and an engraved decoration by its feel much better than reading this in any book. For me the whole beauty of silver is in its ability for everyday use. I am not a fan of leaving it locked away in a vault or cupboard. By handling as much different silver as you can early on in your collecting life, you will quickly learn what styles or makers that appeal to you most and this will help to focus your area of collecting.

Where to go to buy

Ebay obviously. Well actually yes, but with some significant qualifications. First you should have visited a number of antique fairs, flea markets and auction houses to get a "feel for silver". Part of this process might also include antique shops and dealers. Here you will get a lot of advice, knowledge and help but at a price. They will have building and staff overheads which they have to pass on to the customer. Ebay however allows private collectors and dealers alike to trade without having to factor in these costs. Please read the following eBay part of this guide carefully.

Starting your Collection

Your collection will be as varied and as personal as your taste allows. Some collect periods and styles such as Baroque, Rococo, Queen Anne, Georgian, Victorian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau etc the choice is endless. Some collect specific items such as caddy spoons or vesta cases (please see my other eBay guide on vesta cases). Whatever you choose, there is a lifetime of pleasure ahead of you aswell as creating a family heirloom which can be handed on through future generations. Remember we are but temporary guardians of these beautiful items.

Our eBay Guideto Buying Silver

In your research phase, you would be wise to read all of eBay's own guides to buyers. Remember, if an auction looks too good to be true it probably is! Of all the advice Iwould start first at knowing your seller. Why is this important? Well if you what you buy has a problem you will want to get it resolved quickly and without hassle. Look for the sellers' feedback and pay particular attention to the number of feedbacks and then look at as many feedback entries as you can. This will give you a good idea of how the seller conducts themselves. Check they have a returns policy and if they don't then email them and ask. Use the email the same as if the person was in the room with you. Do not be afraid to ask as many silly questions as you like. The sellers should respond positively and helpfully. If they do not, find a seller who does. Look through the eBay Shop categories, find the biggest sellers and go through their shop listings, there are many things you will never find by just focussing on eBay auctions alone. It is worth pointing out that a Buy it Now means you do not have to wait until the auction ends and you cannot be out bid at the last second!

Check you understand the "paypal buyer protection" and does the seller display the paypal logo. If you view a shop, see if they have the "best offer" option on listings. A realistic offer may save you 10 - 15% off the asking price all for the cost of click of a mouse! Be very cautious of postage charges especially where they include insurance. Most carriers do not insure antique silver totravel from the UK abroad, however this is not widely known and you do not want to discover it is uninsured if you have tomake a claim, if in doubt email and ask as insurance can be obtained at a muchhigher cost. Remember my earlier advice on research!

At silver2treasure we have web pages where you will find completed silver listings and the price they achieved, the most popular silver items currently on eBay UK, and those newly listed items within thelast 24 hours so that you do not have to trawl through loads of web pages.

Silver2treasureon eBay

If you read and follow the above advice we hope to see you sometime in our eBay shop at silver2treasure. We only trade on eBay and take pride in our silver stock and customer service. Our website at silver2treasure.com has useful advice and guidance on silver and aswell as our eBay shop it links back to eBay for specific categories of silver. The whole site has been designed to make your eBay silver buying an experience and a pleasure. And a final note, don't completely ignore modern silver as this is the antique of the future!