Lunt Silversmiths Hallmark

• Most fine silver bears a manufacturer hallmark. If purchasing new, silver flatware in original wrapping indicates its manufacturer. Hallmarks usually appear on the back side of each utensil.
  
  The hallmark will show copyright mark, then LUNT STERLING in capital letters. An eagle with outstretched wings appears at the right of the name.
  
  When purchasing silver at estate sales, consignment or second-hand stores, always check the hallmark. Well-intentioned sales people make mistakes about silver patterns.
  
  Occasionally, Embassy Scrolls silver appears in antique stores. Embassy Scrolls classic pattern came on the market 30 years ago, and does not qualify as an antique. Antiques, according to the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930, are 100 or more years old.
  
  

Owning American Embassy Silver

• If you like the look of American embassy silver and want to purchase Lunt's pattern for your home, investigate current prices. Because Lunt changed hands this year, future buyers of Embassy Scrolls will attach significance of ownership to price.
  
  To purchase new American embassy silver, check a variety of online resources. Lunt Silversmiths 2007 online catalog provides pattern images.
  
  After familiarizing yourself with the pattern and design of place, dinner and serving pieces, compare prices.
  
  

Pricing American Embassy Silver

• Search online resources such as Replacements.com to evaluate differences in price between new and pre-owned silver. TheFind.com compares some serving pieces by website.
  
  Other sites, such as Western Silver, provide pricing for compete eight and 12-piece place and dinner sets. These sets include serving pieces. A six-piece hostess set (sugar spoon, cold meat fork, pie server, solid tablespoon and butter serving knife) if purchased separately adds to costs of acquiring a set for your home.
  
  

Online and Other Auction Sites

• Once you know as much as possible about how to identify and price American embassy silver, online auctions and auction houses offer potential savings.
  
  For example, an eBay.com seller offers a 66-piece place service for $3,000 including shipping. Compared to other retailers, the same service costs about $1,200 more.
  
  Auction houses offer even greater potential savings, depending on starting bid price and other buyers who like the lot.
  
  

Estate Sales and Consignment Stores

• Depending on the cost basis of Embassy silver at an estate or consignment seller, prepare to offer a lower amount than the price tag.
  
  In some cases, proprietors of consignment stores will swap items. If you own an in-theme piece the owner prefers more than the odd collection of American embassy silver, propose the swap.
  
  Occasionally, consignment store owners fail to realize the value of silver in their stores. Prepare to capitalize by purchasing the silver, as long as the proprietor provides a return policy.
  
  

Professional appraisal

• After acquiring silver for your home, take the purchase to a professional appraiser. Insure your silver for replacement value. The difference between purchase and replacement costs often vary.