During the past ten years, the price of silver has increased from just over .00 to over .00 per ounce, which percentage-wise is actually better than gold. Although it fluctuates more than gold, in the past year alone, it has doubled its price, so if you bought your silver tea set when prices were at their lowest, you might consider getting it re-valued now. If you were not fortunate enough to do that, you might still pick up a bargain now and consider it a safe investment for the future.
But what exactly should you buy? Well in 2008, over fifty percent of silver production was used for industrial purposes, nineteen percent for jewellery, eight percent for coins and medals and seven percent for domestic silverware. The rest could be accounted for in photography use, but the pattern for this is changing with the advent of digital cameras. It is mostly mined in Central and South America, China, Russia, Poland and Australia and is in plentiful abundance.
Whatever you choose to buy, take your time over it. Firstly, check for the hallmark or assay mark to ensure it is genuine. If it does not have a hallmark, or say 'sterling', it could be of foreign production, or even silver plate, which is worth less than half the value of sterling. Once you have located a hallmark, a quick bit of research on the internet will establish the date and place of manufacture. Examine items carefully by running your fingers all around them to seek out weak spots like dents or thinning of the silver. If you think something is wrong, breathe on the area to show the surrounding area in relief so you can examine it more carefully.
It is almost impossible to say what the price of an antique silver tea set should be as so many factors need to be taken into account, but if you are willing to settle for silver-plate, an attractive four or five piece set would range from as little as 0.00 to ,000.00+ for better quality hollowware. For genuine antiques you would need to look for private sales or check out the auction rooms. Many people nowadays prefer a tea press to a teapot and cafetière style coffee or tea press sets in glass and stainless steel can be picked up for under .00.
For a tea press that looks far less like a coffee-maker and more like a traditional teapot, modern Bodum tea presses cost around .00 from a wide number of retail outlets. But if you visualise yourself sipping afternoon tea from your genuine antique tea service, like a member of the British aristocracy, you may well need to remortgage your house before you start scouring those country house sales and specialist auction rooms.
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