San Francisco Silversmiths · Since 1977
San Francisco Silver Restoration & Repair
- Sterling & Silverplate -
A Legacy of
Silver Restoration & Repair Expertise
Biro & Sons is a family-owned San Francisco silversmith founded in 1977, using generations of experience and old-world craftsmanship to repair and restore silver family heirlooms, flatware sets, and serving pieces back to their original glory. We work with sterling silver and silver-plated pieces right in our San Francisco shop.
Our services cover the full range of silver restoration: repairing dents, scratches, loose handles, and broken finials on flatware, trays, and hollowware. When silverplate wears through to the base metal, we replate in-house with silverplate or sterling silver. We restore family heirlooms and high-profile silver trophies – including work related to the America’s Cup and the Triple Crown Trophy.
Whether you’re in the Bay Area or shipping in from across the country, we’re here to help. We also accept mail-in silver repairs from across the U.S. and Europe.
Restoring and Repairing
Restoring and Repairing Tableware, Holloware, and Flatware
Sterling silver and silver-plated flatware, serving trays, candlesticks, and coffee services add an elegant touch to any table.
Bringing them out for special occasions or daily use exposes these special items to damage, from scratches and dings to loose handles or broken finials. We’ve rescued silver flatware that’s fallen into the garbage disposal, trays that get scratched during serving, or dropped silver bowls that are out of shape.
When these pieces of sterling silver or silverplated tableware, holloware, or flatware come into the Biro & Sons shop, we inspect each item for structural and surface damage. Over the past 40 years, we’ve seen and restored nearly any issue using old-world craftsmanship and tools.
Dings or dents are restored with a gentle touch. Loose or broken handles are repaired to ensure structural integrity. Lost finials can be recreated to match almost any design. Scratches are buffed out.
Restoring and repairing sterling silver and silverplated flatware includes fixing bent tines, damaged handles, and loose knife blades. We do this by hand, ensuring every piece returns to its usefulness and beauty, and protecting the pattern detail as much as the silver’s condition allows.
Polishing and Replating of
Sterling Silver and Silverplate
Tarnish or patina can often be mistaken for age or neglect, but it can also be considered a quiet layer of history. Expert silversmiths know how to master the art of patina.
Sometimes tarnish overwhelms a piece, and fine details are lost. Polishing silver at home is an option, but sometimes a professional touch is required. Biro & Sons draws on generations of silver-polishing expertise to return an item to its original glory. Our philosophy is to retain as much character as possible while removing anything in the way of the piece’s beauty.
Polishing so much that the silver or silverplate is lost is always a concern. You’ll know worn-out silverplate when you can see the base metal (often copper). No need to dispose of those pieces! We can replate it with silverplate or sterling silver when appropriate.
Biro & Sons handles all replating work in-house, using the best materials available and old-world techniques to bring every piece back to its original form.
Knowing when you can clean silver at home and when to call a silversmith is important. We’re always available to talk if you have any questions.
We welcome you to see the Biro & Sons’ workshop.
Silver Heirloom Restoration -
Honoring Family Treasures
As one of San Francisco’s oldest and most respected silversmiths, Biro & Sons takes care of a family’s sterling silver treasures from vintage tea sets and serving trays to silver photo frames and candelabras. Antique restoration is one of our specialties – pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries pass through our workshop regularly.
We understand the importance and value of the keepsakes and take the highest care to restore and repair family heirlooms. Our techniques and tools come from the same era the original artisans used to create these pieces. We have years of experience inspecting, repairing, reassembling, and polishing the items that mean the most to you and your family.
Our expertise includes fabricating almost any detail that may have been lost to the ages, from handles and knobs to finials and baubles. We’ve restored pieces from drawings and pictures to return fond memories.
We’re Here to Help
Restoring Sterling Silver
Trophies and Awards
From the legendary America’s Cup to some of San Francisco’s most famous sailing trophies to the PGA’s Wanamaker Trophy, Biro & Sons is the place to bring silver trophies and awards for restoration and repair.
Silver trophies travel almost as much as the athletes who’ve won them and are often dinged up in the process. We have the expertise to take apart, repair, restore, and reassemble trophies as old as the America’s Cup, or polish cups, trophies, or awards while taking great care with the engravings.
We’re proud to work regularly with the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA), and the Southern California Golf Association SCGA.
Biro & Sons also had the distinction of working with renowned sculptor Roberto Santo to create silver replicas of The Triple Crown Trophy, known as The Trophy of Trophies.
Tips for Silver
Polishing at Home
Silver Restoration and Repair
Before & After Gallery
Silver Restoration and Repair
FAQs
Q: Do you work with Sterling Silver and Silverplate?
A: Yes! Biro & Sons has a legacy of restoring and repairing sterling silver and silverplated tableware, holloware, flatware, vintage tea sets, serving trays, silver photo frames, and candelabras.
Q: Can you fix a silver item where copper is showing?
A. Yes, after inspecting the piece to ensure it is fundamentally sound and that replating it will deliver excellent results. Your complete satisfaction is our goal, and we’ll let you know if restoring an item to its original condition isn’t realistic.
Q: What are these black dots on my salt shakers?
A: We get this question before every holiday! Salt is extremely corrosive to silver, causing those black dots. Without proper cleaning, those black dots will turn green. We can polish the dots out for you, but next time take the salt out of the shaker before storage.
Q: Is liquid silver polish necessary?
A: No. Liquid silver polish gets in the details of more ornate pieces and can potentially ruin the aesthetics of a silver piece. The best way to keep silver looking its best is to use a polishing cloth or gloves. If you’ve used a liquid polish and the details are gummed up, use an old toothbrush to work the polish out.
Q: Can you repair dents and scratches?
A: Yes, more often than not. We have repaired hundreds of sterling silver and silverplated items back to their original majesty. It’s best to send us a picture or bring it in, and we can discuss.
Q: Do you work with customers outside of San Francisco?
A: Yes! We receive packages from across the United States and Europe for silver restoration and repair. The first step is to fill out our Repair by Mail form with clear photos and an idea of what’s happening. Then we set up a free consultation, provide packing instructions, and work on your items as soon as we can. We will update you as we go and arrange return shipping when it’s done.
Q: How much does silver restoration cost?
A: The best way to get an accurate number is to send us a photo – we’ll come back with a written estimate before any work begins. Every project starts with a free written estimate, since cost depends on the piece and the work needed.