Sterling Silver 925: What the number means and how to avoid buying a fake

In short: The "925" mark means that 92.5% of the item's weight is pure silver, and the remaining 7.5% is typically copper. Pure silver (999) is too soft for jewelry, so 925 has become the international standard. A legal product has a "925" hallmark. Magnets and color are unreliable tests, as fakes are also non-magnetic and can have rhodium plating.

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 often.

Pure silver (999 fineness) is impracticably soft. Therefore, it is never used for jewelry without admixtures. 925 is the standard where the metal is hard enough for wear but silver enough not to tarnish too quickly.

Where did the number 925 come from?

The system of fineness standards originated in medieval England, where they controlled the quality of coins. The number simply indicates parts per thousand: 925 parts of silver out of 1000. It could have been otherwise, but 925 became the international jewelry standard.

There are also 835 and 800, which are used in some countries for inexpensive items. And 958 – "Britannia silver" in Great Britain. But if you just say "silver jewelry," 925 is implied.

What a hallmark looks like

A legal product must have an imprint. In Ukraine, this 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.

The absence of a hallmark is not always a fake. Some small artisans do not undergo mandatory hallmarking. But this is a risk.

Magnets and color are poor tests

A popular piece of advice online is to "test with a magnet." Silver is not magnetic, so if a magnet does not attract it, it's silver. The logic is flawed: most fakes are also non-magnetic because 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 separate documents for the stones. 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 an item 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 in the air and forms a dark patina. This is a normal process, not a defect. It can be removed with a soft cloth or by polishing.

Is 925 silver hypoallergenic?

For most people, yes. But a small percentage of people react to the copper in the composition. If you have an allergy to silver jewelry, it's worth checking if it's specifically to copper.

Also read: Moissanite: what it is and how it differs from a diamond · Cubic zirconia, moissanite, diamond: what's the difference and what to choose · Conscious choice of jewelry: why we choose natural