being realistic, if you need some extra cash, i'd take it to a jeweler and sell it...it might be a nice college nest egg to start for that baby...

most of my girls (dds and dils)never registered for anything but dishes, and have stainless...which btw seems tinny (and that includes 18-10 grade)

I think it varies quite a bit. However, I plan to pass my sets on with the proviso that the recipients can sell it if they wish. I don't want anyone feeling guilty because they want to trade in inherited sterling for something they really want.

My DD married 6 years ago and was advised by many people not to register for good china or sterling or crystal. As it turned out, her MIL gave her their lovely sterling silver flatware as they don't use it any longer. She did register for good china, and my sister and I completed the set after the wedding for her birthday and Christmas presents.

I have a nice set that I will probably give to my soon-to-be DIL some day as they are not registering for any good china. They live in a tiny apartment and have no room for it, and so she doesn't want any. So some day she will get my Haviland Limoges. I suspect she would far rather have a family heirloom set than a new set anyhow.

I have china that I never use, would love to have a silver set. I remember my sister's mother in law used her silver every day. I would do the same. Toast always tasted better buttered with a silver knife!

I never had nice sterling or China...we're just too common for that...Its a very southern thing to have nice sterling and China but I'm just not a southern gal...My MIL gave me a nice set of China since my FIL owned a jewelry store that sold China, Glass and Silver she had several sets...I'm probably gonna be putting it on ebay very soon...She gave me a bunch of Wedgewood and Castleton pieces to get rid of and I've done that and put some dollars in her pocket!

I have my Mom's silverplated set of flatware...I even bought replacement pieces on ebay years ago...just never use it!

I've used the same Pfaltzgraff for 30+ years...hate the pattern (MIL started that as well) but I've used it...I've used the same set of stainless from Oneida for 20+ years and still replace and add pieces from ebay...

I have a beautiful set and my kids have their own,
snip

Got a new Great grand baby

But does this new baby's mother also have a nice set?

I think it is a nice gesture, but maybe a bit premature right now. Were you thinking of giving it as a gift now, or maybe leaving it to the new great-grand in your will?

I'm just kinda thinking out loud.

Sue

I am also thinking out loud and looking for a reason to hold on to it. Cash is not a priority....as much as wanting it to fulfull the dreams I once had. Growing up in SF after WWII all my friends had those dreams of elegant living that we saw in the movies, I think. In many ways my dream was fulfilled during our years in the military....it was nice, but it is over. Life is just so much more simple now and less pretentious. And, I am 77 and unable to entertain or care for all the stuff I have gathered.

Don't try and sell it to a jeweler, you won't get JACK for it. Like if you have a $5000 diamond ring, they will give you $500 for it...so don't even go there!

I would leave it to someone but I would ask around and find out who even wants it. My Mom gave me her set of silver because I wanted to actually use it but after I had it for a while, I realized it wasn't made that great(for what I wanted it for) and wasn't comfortable in your hand (if that makes sense). So I gave it back to her so she could give it to someone that would appreciate it more so she ended up asking who wanted it and gave it to my niece and she's happy as can be with it. Now my Mom has passed away and I wish I had her silver...WHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! :(

Something else to consider, I believe that when someone gives you their things to have and use, it means so much more that they gifted you with something than if you just go through and divide things after your parents pass away!

I used to go to lots of garage and estate sales. I bought two sets of silver plate; I use one at least once a week (tho not daily, I also have stainless steel). I plan on giving a set to my two daughters when they marry. I'll keep my SS. When my nephew got married, he and his bride registered at Bed Bath and Beyond, but most of their picks were gadgets and glasswear.

Honestly....it's not in sytle here in the midwest.

Having extra china and silverware for special occasions....not "in". Most couples don't have the space to store it.

JMO

We still use our china several times a year, and sometimes when I feel like a special night for the two of us. China and dishes in general are my addiction. My grandkids have all spoken for certain sets. As for the silver, I have it all sealed, and it can stay that way. Too much maintenence.
It isn't a popular registration gift here either.

In my day's way back then, it was the thing to register.

I had two sets of china, Lenox and Royal Daulton, 12 place each, with crystal for the Lenox, Fostoria for the Royal Daulton, plus sterling silver.

And during the married days, I used all of it and loved it.

Sold my Lenox, couldn't sell my crystal, couldn't sell the Royal Daulton, sold the Fostoria.

Miss those days of setting the table and "fine dining", but times change along with the family.

My son/gs will get to choose what to do with them.

If you ever want to pass yours on, the secret is to use them a lot for fancy dinners. Then your grandkids will have fond emotions connected with them. And talk a bit about how much they mean to you, who gave them to you, etc.

You have the power to attach *emotional* meaning to them.

If anyone wants to sell their silver flatware let me know. I would love to have a set!

I inherited my mother's sterling and love it. She kept it in its original lined box and so do I. The box fits perfectly into a kitchen drawer and thus is very handy. I use at least the teaspoons and salad forks every day. The box keeps it all from tarnishing and it's no problem to wash 3-4 pieces every day. When the children and DGS are here it's the only flatware we use. Am so grateful that my mother invested in the set, as I never would have done so myself!

See, that's the thing... good sterling or silver plated flatware has to be hand washed.. as does fine china... Young people don't want to have something that they have to hand wash rather than put in a dishwasher.. Find someone who is a antique dealer in silver or check out Replacements.com for the value of your pieces.. Someone might purchase it... but I would certainly 'offer' it to family.. there maybe more than one 'grandbaby' in the future.. Everyone seems to think that Sterling silver is worth a lot of money...only if it's 'coin' [made from silver coins and those would be antique /civil war era or earlier].. This stems from the 70's/80's when a couple of brothers tried to corner the silver market.. There's a lot of info out there... books and people and internet ..for info..