> The resale value of silver is calculated from three public factors — its fineness (925 sterling, 800 or 950 hallmarked), its net weight, and the daily silv *Source : https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/guides/silver-buyback-value-how-calculated/* --- ● Guide # Silver Buyback: How Is the Value Calculated? Published on **21/07/2025** · By **Sébastien Joumel** In brief The resale value of silver is calculated from three public factors — its fineness (925 sterling, 800 or 950 hallmarked), its net weight, and the daily silver spot price. **The spot price is the same for every buyer; what really changes your payout is the buyback rate, the percentage of spot each dealer chooses to pay.** ## How is the value of your silver actually calculated? **The value of silver you sell is set by three things: its purity (fineness), its net weight in grams, and the day's silver spot price.** A buyer weighs the metal, confirms its fineness from the hallmark, and multiplies the pure silver content by the current spot rate. From that gross figure the dealer deducts a margin, and the percentage they keep is where offers diverge most. Fineness is the decisive factor. Sterling silver is 925 (92.5% pure), while French hallmarked silver may be 800 or 950. Plated items contain almost no recoverable silver and are usually refused. Only the pure content is paid for, so a heavy piece of low-grade metal can be worth less than a lighter high-purity one. ## Why do two buyers quote different amounts for the same item? **The spot price is public and identical for everyone; what changes between buyers is the buyback rate, the percentage of spot they actually pay you.** One dealer might pay a high share of the melt value, another a much lower one, and neither is obliged to publish that figure. This is the single biggest reason quotes vary. Silver carries proportionally higher handling and refining costs than gold because it is far less valuable per gram, so margins tend to be wider. Numismatic coins are a separate case: a collectable coin can be worth well above its melt value because of rarity, mintage and condition, so never let a rare coin be weighed as scrap. Ask each buyer to state their rate as a percentage of spot before you decide. ## What French rules protect you when you sell silver? **French law makes precious-metal transactions traceable and documented.** Payment in cash is prohibited: you must be paid by bank transfer or cheque. You must show valid ID, and the buyer records the sale in a mandatory police register (livre de police). Tax applies too. By default a flat tax on precious metals is levied on the sale price. Alternatively, if you hold proof of the original purchase, you can opt for the capital-gains regime, which taxes only the profit and tapers with how long you have owned the item. Keep invoices and certificates: without proof of purchase, the flat-rate option is normally the only route. These rules apply whether you sell to a shop, a refiner or at a fair. ## Frequently asked questions Does the silver spot price change every day? Yes. Silver is traded on global markets and its price moves constantly during opening hours, so any quote is only valid for that moment. The rate is public and identical for all buyers; the difference lies in the margin each one applies. Is my silver-plated cutlery worth anything? Very little. Plated items carry only a microscopic layer of silver over a base metal, so there is almost no recoverable pure content. Most professional buyers refuse plate or pay a token amount. Solid hallmarked silver (800, 925 or 950) is what holds resale value. How can I compare offers fairly? Ask each buyer to express their price as a percentage of the current spot rate for your item's fineness, and confirm payment is by transfer or cheque with ID and register entry. You can [compare gold buyers in your city](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/gold-buyback/) to see who is most transparent about their rate. ## Read also [ Guide 18k, 22k or 24k Gold: How Much Does the Difference Really Change Its Value? ](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/guides/18k-22k-24k-gold-value-difference/)[ Guide 18k Gold Price Per Gram: How Buyback Rates Really Work in France ](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/guides/18k-gold-price-per-gram/)[ Guide Diamond Buyback in France: the 4Cs and What a Fair Price Really Means ](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/guides/diamond-buyback-4c-fair-price/) ## Sell at the best price near you Compare the gold buyers in your city. [See the rankings](https://meilleur-rachat-or.fr/en/gold-buyback/)