925 Silver. Sterling is the jewelry quality standard in the United States and most world markets. It is an alloy of 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% is usually copper though it is sometimes other metals such as nickel.
Ultimately, sterling silver (also known as 925 silver) is hypoallergenic, high-quality, fashionable, and safe. Silver is typically mixed with other metals to make a more durable alloy, as pure silver is far too soft to be used in jewellery.
925 means that the metal we use has 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals: copper and zinc. This means that the metal is more durable to wear than pure silver which is very soft and malleable. The copper and zinc make the silver harder making it more robust and better for jewellery.
Instead fine silver is alloyed with copper to create sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This percentage of fine silver is why you will sometimes see sterling silver referred to as '925 silver' or hallmarked with a 925 stamp.
100% pure silver is not currently possible to produce. 999, known as “three nines fine”, is therefore accepted as fine or pure silver, and is the most common type of silver found in investment bullion.
Since sterling silver has a lower percentage of silver than pure silver, sterling silver is less expensive. Of the three types of metals, it's typically the least expensive choice. You'll also find more jewelry options in sterling silver since it's a more accessible material to mold into different shapes.
925 Sterling Silver jewelry certainly does not come cheap. It requires quite an investment from your side, whether you are buying sterling silver pendants or rings. But it is a worthwhile investment as its value increases with time.
925 silver oxidizes when exposed to air leading to chemical changes in its wake. Using a soft white cloth, rub a small part of the jewelry, if the surface produces a black mark it would mean that the product is sterling silver. On the other hand, the color change would be absent in fake merchandise.
Fortunately, real silver doesn't rust. For any type of rust to occur, silver adornments should be compounded with iron. Authentic silver is ordinarily made with different metals like copper.
There are markings such as “S925”, “. 925”, and “925”. This gives assurance that the silver is indeed a 925 sterling silver. However, there are some sterling silver that don't have these marks so don't directly assume that the silver is fake if it doesn't have the mentioned markings.
In conclusion, while it may be tempting to keep your favorite 925 sterling silver pieces on at all times, it's best to remove them before showering. The combination of soap, shampoo, hot water, steam, and general wear and tear in a shower environment can lead to tarnishing, discoloration, and physical damage.
Since 925 sterling silver is almost pure silver, it's likely to have a lesser reaction to water. This means that it's completely okay to get this type of sterling silver wet.
Purity. 925 silver has a purity rating of 92.5%, while rhodium-plated jewelry has a purity rating of 99.9%. The lower purity level makes sterling silver less durable than Rhodium which is why they are not typically used for high-end jewelry pieces.
High quality sterling silver can last for decades if well taken care of. It's important to clean it and store it properly when not being worn. Silver will also last longer if kept away from harsh chemicals such as lotions, perfumes, hand sanitizers, and many soaps.
Real silver, which has a higher purity than sterling silver, is generally more expensive. However, silver 925 is a popular alternative due to its relative affordability. Despite being less pure than real silver, silver 925 retains its beauty and lustrous appearance.
A: The precious metal content (92.5%) in sterling silver makes it more expensive than flash-plated jewelry by default. People who buy sterling silver do so because of the value of the metal in it and its inherent beauty and relative affordability.
Silver becomes black because of hydrogen sulfide (sulfur), a substance that occurs in the air. When silver comes into contact with it, a chemical reaction takes place and a black layer is formed. Silver oxidizes faster in places with a lot of light and high humidity.
Tarnish is the oxidization that occurs when air-borne sulfurs and chlorides are present, causing a yellowish cast on the sterling silver. If left without being cleaned, the tarnish becomes brown and eventually turns a dark and iridescent purple/black.
Store Your Silver Jewelry in Plastic Bags or Airtight Container. Tarnish happens as a result of silver jewelry being exposed to oxygen and sulfur particles in the air. So, to keep your silver from tarnishing, you can store it in a ziplock bag and other airtight container.
Your 925 silver is valuable and is certainly worth selling if this is something you wish to do. Though knowing how much your silver is worth can be difficult to determine without an appraisal. How much silver you are selling and the current value of silver can influence what your item can be sold for.
Pure silver, like pure gold, does not rust or tarnish.
Sterling silver jewellery differs from silver plated in what it is made of. Sterling silver is an alloy, made of 92.5% pure silver, and 7.5% other alloy. These other alloys tend to be copper or zinc. Due to the pure silver constitution, sterling silver is often known as 925 silver.
Sterling silver normally lasts 20 to 30 years if the owner cares well for it. However, your sterling silver can last forever if you care for it properly. Made up of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, sterling silver requires some special care. If you own any sterling silver jewelry, you should know how to care for it well.
Fine silver – (99.9% pure) The purest silver on the market. It is extremely soft, is beautifully malleable and solders easily with minimal tarnishing.