Silvering & Mirror Making

A Precious Metal In-Your-Face• Not many people realize it, but precious metals are

common components inside many industrial products. • Palladium is used in catalytic convertors• Gold is used in high-quality HDMI and component cables• Silver paste is used in solar panels and circuit boards

• However, one household item puts a precious metal front-and-center: mirrors

The Evolution of MirrorsMirrors have been made out of many materials over the years. The trajectory of their evolution, looks something like this:

Polished Stone

(obsidian, volcanic

rock, etc.)

Bronze, Copper, Tin, and

other metals

Glass Panes with

Metal Backing

“Silvered” Glass

Aluminum & Glass

The Silvering Process• Silvering was invented by a German chemist named Justus

von Liebig in 1835.

• In silvering, a thin layer of silver is deposited onto a glass surface via a chemical reduction of silver nitrate.

• The layer of silver produces a flawless reflection, while the glass protects the silver from corrosion, oxidation, and scratches.• Of all the metals used in mirror making, silver has the best surface

reflectivity in the visible spectrum – meaning it makes the very best mirrors.

Silvering and Modern Mirror MakingSilvering is still used to make modern day mirrors, but the process doesn’t always use silver.

• The glass on household mirrors can distort reflections, so aluminum (which also has a very high surface reflectivity) is silvered onto the outside of a glass surface for precision-mirrors. • Unlike silver, aluminum doesn’t need the protection of the glass, so it

can be exposed to the elements and still produce clear reflections.

• Gold is also silvered onto infrared instruments to create mirrors that reflect infrared light without oxidizing or corroding.

Silver Content in Mirrors• Silvering is a useful and cost effective industrial

process because it deposits exactly enough silver to produce a reflection – no more.

• Even though your household or antique mirrors may contain silver, it’s not enough to expect a huge payout from a precious metal recycler.

About MGSManhattan Gold & Silver (MGS) is a precious metals refiner that has been based in Manhattan’s historic Diamond District since 1985. We are a B2B company that buys and recycles precious metal scraps that accumulate in other businesses. We serve:

• Jewelers• Pawnbrokers• Dentists• The industrial sector• Antique dealers• Machinists • Domestic mining• And more!

• MGS also creates charts, calculators, and other online tools for our customers to use.• Try our Precious Metals Prices app, which lets you monitor the real-time precious metals

market situation from anywhere, right from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

Recycle your Precious Metals for Profit• MGS accepts gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

• Payouts are based on the London Fixing.

• Up to 99% payout (among the highest in the US)• Up to 98.5% for gold brought in for hand testing.

• Not in NYC? Ship us your precious metals using our Ship & Sell service which offers:• Same day wired payment (once lot is received)• Discounted, insured shipping• Payout calculator

Connect with MGS• For amazing facts, history and news, read our gold and precious metals blog.

• Join the conversation about precious metals on the MGS page on Facebook.

• Follow gold, silver, and other precious metal trends at the MGS Twitter account.

• Circle MGS on Google+ to hear our latest updates.

• If you do business with us, connect with us on the MGS LinkedIn page.

• To see precious metal melting and refinement in action, visit the MGS YouTube channel.