925 Sterling Silver Meaning

It has 99 9 of silver and a small content composed of other metals such as copper sterling silver on the other hand consists of 92 5 silver and the remaining part consists of copper.

925 sterling silver meaning.

Jewelry with lower purity is not considered sterling silver by u s. This number is known as the hallmark and denotes the percentage of silver purity in the alloy. Look for the 925 stamp. Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92 5 by weight of silver and 7 5 by weight of other metals usually copper the sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925.

Rub the item with a soft clean white cloth. Well pure silver is not really made up of only silver. This is the standard for silver identifying a silver item that is at least 92 5 silver mixed with copper. Sterling silver and 925 silver are both made from the same silver alloy blend with the only key difference being the name.

The terms sterling and pound sterling seem to have acquired their meaning over a period of time and from several convergent sources. Sterling silver made in the u s. Sterling silver is a silver alloy of silver and copper or nickel or brass in other cases. This composition is essential in the manufacture of sterling silver rings and it s the reason for the 925 hallmarks.

If this doesn t appear anywhere on the object it s likely just silver plated. For example in germany sterling silver can be 83 5 percent and in lebanon it can be as low as 70 0 percent. Sterling silver will last for a long time if cared for properly whereas silver plating generally does not last longer. Silver plated items are made of a lesser quality metal and then covered with a thin layer of silver making them less valuable than objects made of sterling silver.

Brittania silver is an alloy made of 95 silver which exceeds the requirement for sterling silver it is most often marked 950. Most sterling silver objects from reputable sources will feature a stamp that identifies the piece as 925 ster or sterling silver somewhere on the object. To identify it as such the number 925 is stamped upon the silver often in a hidden part of the jewelry. This silver qualifies as sterling but it is slightly softer than sterling pieces marked 925 or simply sterling.

Durability and purity of sterling silver the reason sterling silver requires the mixture of other metals is because naturally pure silver is soft. The composition of sterling silver comprises of 92 5 pure silver and 7 5 copper. Is marked 925 925 or 92 5. If you re considering buying sterling silver jewelry you will no doubt want to know the difference between pure silver and 925 sterling silver.