Jewelry stores in North America are facing an increase in the number of customers who want to sell silverware and jewelry, following the historic surge in the price of silver.

Coin and jewelry stores in North America have recorded a surge of customers wanting to sell silver items, following a significant increase in its price. Although silver has not had the same allure as gold, the recent price boom has prompted many people to reassess their silver items kept at home. Greg Cohen, a numismatist at Stack's Bowers Galleries, has noticed that many customers are coming in with forgotten jewelry and silverware, suddenly realizing their value.

In January 2026, stores reported the highest transaction volumes in history, with a significant increase in demand for silver coins. Dealers, like Gary Tancer, bought ten times more silver than usual, and Canada Gold refined a record amount of used silver. However, the increase in supply is putting pressure on precious metal refiners, with some stores having to halt purchases due to limited processing capacity.