Is it solid silver or silver-plated?
mas-SIC-cio — three syllables; the double 'c' before 'i' is a 'ch' sound; stress on the second syllable.
Use this when examining silver items at a market. The distinction between solid silver (argento massiccio) and silver-plated (argentato/placcato) is enormous in terms of value.
'Massiccio' (solid/massive) describes pure or high-content silver throughout. 'Placcato' (plated) means a base metal coated with a thin layer of silver. Italian silver hallmarks include the purity mark (800, 925, or 950) and a maker's mark. Look for these on the underside or rim of pieces.
Qual è il titolo dell'argento?
What is the silver grade?
'Titolo' = purity grade; Italian silver is typically 800 (80%) or 925 (sterling)
Ha il punzone?
Does it have the hallmark?
'Punzone' = hallmark stamp — legally required on all Italian precious metal pieces
È argentato o è alpacca?
Is it silver-plated or is it alpaca metal?
Alpacca = nickel silver — a common silver substitute with no precious metal content
Italian silver has been hallmarked since the early 20th century under a state guarantee system. Pre-unification pieces may carry regional marks from the various Italian states (Kingdom of Sardinia, Papal States, etc.) which make them particularly interesting to collectors. The Italian 800 standard (80% silver) is less pure than British sterling (92.5%) and affects pricing.