Norwegian silver hallmarks: what do 830S, 925S and other marks mean?
Have you inherited silver flatware, old silver jewellery or other silver objects and wondered what the marks mean? Small numbers and letters can reveal a great deal about silver fineness, maker and origin. At the same time, the whole object should be assessed before value is determined.
What does 830S mean?
830S means that the alloy contains 830 parts per thousand, or 83% silver. This fineness is very common on Norwegian flatware and hollowware such as bowls, trays, jugs and candlesticks.
What do 925S and Sterling mean?
925S means 925 parts per thousand, or 92.5% silver. This is the fineness commonly known as sterling silver.
The maker's mark can be just as important
Norwegian silver often carries a responsibility or maker's mark in addition to the fineness mark. It may consist of initials, a name or a symbol and can help identify the maker. Well-known names include David-Andersen, J. Tostrup, N. M. Thune, Magnus Aase and many regional silversmiths.
Can a hallmark date an object?
Sometimes, but caution is required. Norwegian marking systems changed over time, and older silver may include city marks, master's marks and other features. Construction, decoration, wear, maker and style period should also be considered.
Is everything that looks silver made of solid silver?
No. Silver plate and other metals can closely resemble solid silver. Look for clear fineness marks first, but do not file, aggressively polish or scratch an antique merely to test it.
XRF and further testing
Østlandet Brukt & Antikk uses XRF equipment as one tool for analysing metal composition. XRF examines the surface material and should be interpreted together with marks, weight and visual inspection.
What determines the value of old silver?
Fineness and weight are only part of the picture. Maker, age, model, pattern, rarity, condition, repairs, engraving, provenance and whether the object forms part of a complete set can all matter. An interesting silver object should therefore not automatically be treated as scrap.
What does NM mean?
NM is associated with Norsk Mønster, meaning Norwegian pattern. It is not a fineness mark by itself. Look for separate marks such as 830S or 925S and consider the complete group of marks.
Keep the whole object in view
A worn or missing mark does not automatically establish that an object is not silver. Older pieces can have hard-to-read marks, and imported objects may use different systems. Avoid filing, scraping or aggressive polishing merely to investigate the material.
Preserve boxes, documents and matching pieces from inherited flatware or collections. Pattern, maker, period, condition, repairs, engraving and provenance can all influence interest alongside weight and fineness.
Identifying the maker
Our guide to Norwegian silversmiths and maker's marks focuses on producer identification. The 830 silver glossary entry gives a concise definition.
Frequently asked questions
Does 830S mean genuine silver?
830S describes an alloy containing 830 parts per thousand, or 83% silver. Marks should be assessed together with the object when checking authenticity.
What does 925S mean?
925S indicates 92.5% silver, the fineness commonly called sterling silver.
Does NM establish solid silver?
No. NM does not establish the metal's fineness.
Is old silver worth only its metal value?
Maker, design, period, rarity, condition and collector demand can add value to a complete object.
Should I polish before selling?
Have older or antique pieces assessed before aggressive polishing. Preserve their surface and details.
Browse silver and metal objects, or contact OBA with photographs and details.
Do you have Norwegian silver?
We buy and assess silver, flatware, jewellery, antiques and collectibles. Read more about how we assess gold and silver, or contact us through obaantikk.no.
