1
Sort and inspect
Flatware, hollowware, jewellery, coins and bullion are grouped, and visible non-silver parts are identified.
FairGold silver valuation methodology
How a silver offer is calculated
Short answer: the offer uses the current posted rate for the item’s verified silver fineness or bullion format and applies it to the verified payable quantity. Non-silver components are handled separately, and the calculation is shown before you decide whether to sell.
Reviewed July 16, 2026 · Approximately 8 minutes to read
The calculation
Category, quantity and rate determine the offer
FairGold publishes silver buying rates in Canadian dollars. Silver items identified as 800, 900 or 925 are listed per gram, while recognized 999 bullion products are listed by their troy-ounce format.
Verified payable quantityThe silver-bearing grams or recognized bullion units.
Applicable posted rateThe current rate for the verified fineness or bullion size.
Your silver offerThe amount shown before you choose whether to sell.
Sterling example: 250 verified payable grams of 925 silver are calculated as 250 × the current posted 925 rate. Bullion example: a recognized 10 troy-ounce 999 bar is matched to the current posted rate for that format. Current rates are used instead of hard-coded examples because silver can move quickly.
What happens at the counter
A visible four-step appraisal
Silver pieces can look similar while containing very different amounts of payable metal. The appraisal separates those differences before any offer is calculated.
2
Test and weigh
Hallmarks, XRF readings, physical construction and measured quantity are considered together.
3
Match the category
The verified fineness or bullion format is matched to the current posted buying rate.
4
Review the offer
We show the category, payable quantity and amount. The appraisal is free and creates no obligation to sell.
Understanding purity
What silver fineness means
Silver is commonly described in parts per thousand rather than gold-style karats. A “925” or “STERLING” mark is a useful starting point, but testing and inspection determine the buying category.
| Common mark | Nominal silver content | Typical description |
|---|---|---|
| 800 | 80.0% | Continental silver |
| 900 | 90.0% | Coin silver / higher-fineness alloy |
| 925 | 92.5% | Sterling silver |
| 999 | 99.9% | Fine silver bullion |
Payable silver weight
Why silverware needs special handling
Some objects carry a sterling mark but are not solid sterling throughout. Paying the gross scale weight as silver would incorrectly include other materials.
Knife blades
Sterling handles are often attached to stainless-steel blades. The blade is not payable silver.
Weighted bases
Candlesticks, bowls and decorative pieces may contain cement, resin or another support material.
Filled or hollow handles
Handles can contain internal supports or filling even when the exterior shell is sterling.
Plated objects
Silver plate is a thin surface layer over another metal and is not the same category as solid 800, 900, 925 or 999 silver.
A time-sensitive market
Why silver offers can change quickly
Silver prices can move significantly over short periods. The applicable offer therefore uses the rate available when the item is appraised rather than a past headline price.
What can affect the applicable rate?
The item’s verified fineness, payable silver quantity, form, bullion format, authenticity, quantity and current processing market can all affect the category used. Physical items also require sorting and testing before they can be compared with a fine-silver market reference.
FairGold shows the tested category, payable quantity and current offer before you decide whether to sell. No one can reliably predict short-term price movements, and an appraisal does not require a sale.
Testing and context
Why hallmarks and XRF both matter
A hallmark helps identify what an item was represented to be. XRF gives a fast, non-destructive reading of elements near the tested surface, but construction and surface layers still matter.
A stamp is not the final measurement
Testing checks whether the measured composition supports marks such as 800, 900, 925 or STERLING.
Several readings may be needed
Solder, repairs, handles and attached components can differ from the main body of an object.
Plating can affect a surface reading
Because XRF reads near the tested surface, plated or layered items require careful interpretation and inspection.
Construction affects payable quantity
Testing composition does not turn steel, filling, stones or structural material into payable silver.
Customer questions
Frequently asked questions
Why is the offer different from spot price?
Spot is a wholesale reference for fine silver, not an automatic payout for every physical object. Fineness, category, payable quantity and processing all matter.
Does tarnish reduce the silver content?
Ordinary tarnish does not change the underlying fineness, though the item still needs inspection and testing.
Do stones, steel or filling count in the weight?
No. Non-silver components are identified and handled separately from payable silver quantity.
Should I wait because silver might rise?
No one can reliably predict short-term prices. We provide the current rate and a no-obligation appraisal so you can decide without pressure.
Verification and further reading
Primary sources
These independent government references explain Canadian precious-metal quality marks and the legal units used for weighing precious metals.
- Competition Bureau Canada — Detailed precious-metal quality marks
- Measurement Canada — Buying gold and other precious metals by weight
- U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology — Units of mass
This page explains FairGold’s appraisal method and is not a guaranteed quote. Final value depends on the items presented, verified composition, payable quantity and the rate available at the time of appraisal.