Sterling Silver 925: What the number means and how to avoid buying a fake
If a piece of jewelry is marked "925," it means that 92.5% of its weight is pure silver. The remaining 7.5% is usually copper. Sometimes zinc or germanium, but less commonly.
Pure silver (999 sterling) is too soft to be practical. Therefore, it is never used for jewelry without admixtures. 925 is the standard where the metal is hard enough for wear but silvery enough not to tarnish too quickly.
Where did the number 925 come from?
The system of fineness marks was invented in medieval England – it was used to control the quality of coins. The number simply shows parts per thousand: 925 parts of silver out of 1000. It could have been different, but 925 became the international jewelry standard.
There are also 835 and 800 – used in some countries for inexpensive items. And 958 – "Britannia silver" in Great Britain. But if you simply say "silver jewelry" – 925 is implied.
How the hallmark looks
A legal product must have a hallmark. In Ukraine, it is either "925" or the hallmark of jewelry supervision. On small items – stud earrings, thin rings – the hallmark is sometimes placed on the clasp or inside the ring. Sometimes it is almost invisible without a magnifying glass.
Lack of a hallmark is not always a fake. Some small craftsmen do not undergo mandatory hallmarking. But this is a risk.
Magnet and color – poor tests
The advice "check with a magnet" is popular on the internet. Silver is non-magnetic – so if the magnet does not attract, it is silver. This logic is flawed: most fakes are also non-magnetic, as they are made of aluminum or nickel.
Color is also not suitable – rhodium-plated fakes look identical. The only reliable home test is a drop of nitrate reagent. But it leaves a stain.
Why SIERRA SPACE uses 925
925 is the gold standard for jewelry. All SIERRA SPACE products are marked accordingly. View the entire catalog of 925 silver jewelry. For the Alma collection, which includes moissanites with certificates – we add documents for the stones separately. Learn more about the Alma collection with moissanites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 925 silver and sterling silver the same thing?
Yes. "Sterling silver" is the English name for 925 fineness. If a product is marked "sterling" or "ster" – it is 92.5% silver.
Why does 925 silver tarnish?
Due to the copper in the alloy. Copper reacts with sulfur from the air and forms a dark coating. This is a normal process, not a defect. It can be removed with a soft cloth or polishing.
Is 925 silver hypoallergenic?
For most people – yes. But a small percentage of people react to the copper in the composition. If there is an allergy to silver jewelry – it is worth checking whether it is specifically to copper.
