If you have a mirror that you need resilvered but have some questions first, take a look at our FAQs below. You can trust that Alchemy Mirror Resilvering knows the answer to your question, as we've been in business since 1983.

Mirror Resilvering FAQs

Will my mirror be perfect?

Mirror resilvering is a process of antique restoration. It will not remove scratches or staining in the glass. In fact, with the new coating, some scratches may be more evident.

It’s important to remember that most mirrors in need of resilvering are old. They have seen use over many decades and have the chips, scratches and other wear to prove it. Whether or not you can live with these imperfections is a personal preference. Many customers choose to accept the wear as part of the joy of owning antiques.

How long does it take to resilver?

It usually takes 7-10 days to finish a resilvering job.

Can you silver other materials?

Our resilvering process only works on glass.

Will resilvering hurt the value of my antique?

Antiques with silver-plated mirrors don’t have the kind of intrinsic value that is harmed by refinishing or resilvering. Most of the pieces we see were widely manufactured during that late 1890s up through the 1950s. These are not the kind of pieces that lose much of their value because someone cleaned them. If you have a 16th century multi-paneled French mirror, don’t resilver it. 

Can you restore mercury mirrors?

We don’t do those anymore. The material is hazardous to handle and we have no recycler who will take it. 

How can I tell if I have a mercury mirror?

The back of a mercury mirror is a silver/gray with no backing paint on it (note: some backing paints are silver/gray). It feels like Teflon: slightly oily and a little bumpy. If you have a piece from the 1880s or earlier, it likely has a mercury mirror as silver mirrors were not widely manufactured until the 1890s. Sometimes the mercury amalgam will leach liquid mercury and you will see it at the bottom of the frame.

Will it harm carving or etching in the mirror?

No. Those are cut into the back of the glass and will be resilvered along with the rest of the mirror. 

Do you sell supplies to resilver mirrors?

No, we don’t. The process to re-plate an old piece of glass is tricky and the set up is expensive. The learning curve to get it right is way beyond the number of mirrors most customers have to do.

How do I get to you?

We are in St. Paul, Minnesota. You can bring it by, ship it, or for large built-in mirrors, we do pick up and delivery in the Twin Cities. Please call first! We like to discuss your project so we can give you a price and set up a time to for you to drop off your mirror. We aren't always available, but we always return calls. 

What kind of mirrors can you do?

We can resilver bathroom mirrors, door mirrors, automotive rearview mirrors, hand mirrors, concave or convex mirrors, carved mirrors, witches balls, etc. We don't do first surface mirrors like those used in telescope optics. If you have questions about your particular mirror, please call.