Sterling silver mystery jars

Two jars, one sourcing: estate lots sorted for hallmarked silver. Every piece is checked for a 925, 800 or 835 stamp before it goes in, which is why these are described as sterling and silver-plated rather than 'possible sterling'. The rest of the jar is period silver-tone costume work from the same lots.

What separates the two

Same sourcing, different jar. Classic is €34 for 25 pieces. Deluxe is €69 for 45 pieces and a higher proportion of hallmarked sterling — the bigger jar is where the better pieces from a lot end up.

What you will find

Chains, pendants, rings, earring pairs and the occasional brooch. Continental 800 and 835 turns up often — these are European estate lots, not American thrift stock, and the older Spanish, German and Italian work is stamped to that standard rather than 925.

Tarnish is expected

Silver that has sat in a drawer for thirty years arrives dark. It is surface sulphide and comes off with a polishing cloth in under a minute; we deliberately do not dip-strip pieces, because that also removes the intentional oxidation that makes a cast design readable.