What Does 925 Mean on Jewelry? Is 925 Worth Anything?
Surely, you’ve seen the “925” inscription on certain jewelry pieces.
But, what does this mean?
Today, we will be exploring 925 jewelry in depth, what it means, and whether 925 jewelry is worth its purchase tag price or not.
I’ve also previously written an introductory article debunking 925 and sterling silver myths here.
What Does “925” Stand For?
Pure silver is highly malleable and since it is too soft to use in jewelry, other metals are introduced into the composition to give it strength and durability.
For jewelry, the most widely-used silver alloy is sterling silver.
Sterling silver, also referred to as 925 silver, is composed of 92.5% silver.
The remaining 7.5% is made up of other trace metal alloys to give the silver its rigidity.
The small amount of non-silver material added to the sterling silver is so insignificant that it does not affect the silver’s original colour.
What Does 925 Mean on Jewelry?
The mainstream silver in the jewelry industry is 925 silver.
Silver 925 is a material that is commonly used in accessories we call “silver”.
The number 925 is the content rate, or in other words, purity of the silver.
This means it contains 92.5% silver.
Then the remaining composition of the jewelry is made up of 7.5% of other metals, such as copper, zinc, or nickel.
WHAT DOES 925 ON A RING MEAN?
925 on a ring demotes the purity and content of silver used to craft the ring.
925 silver, also referred to as sterling silver, is composed of 92.5% silver.
The remaining 7.5% is made up of other trace metal alloys to give the silver its rigidity.
The small amount of non-silver material added to the sterling silver is so insignificant that it does not affect the silver’s original colour.
We will be looking at different symbols and percentages a little later.
WHAT DO STAMPS MEAN?
The stamp is called a carved seal and is a mark that shows information about precious metal products.
This engraving can contain a variety of important information about your jewelry piece like materials used (gold, silver, platinum, etc.), the jewelry brand, carat number, etc.
On wedding rings, some additional engravings may be inscribed, for example, the name of their spouse or an anniversary date.
HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH?
925 sterling silver is one of the most high-quality and finest silver jewelry available in the market.
On its own, silver is actually very soft and this property makes it unsuitable for accessories.
In order to strengthen the silver to make it durable enough for a practical application, other metals with durability are mixed together and added to create a new silver alloy.
The History of Stamping Metals
A silver alloy with a pure silver content of 92.5% is also called “sterling silver”.
Therefore, the 925 engraving is sometimes only written as “sterling silver” or “sterling” or “SS”.
All have the same meaning as 925.
Around the 12th century, a coin founder called Eastling in East Germany taught silver casting in England.
After that, the 925 grade came to be called “Sterling”.
Grade refers to the ratio of gold and silver contained in bullion and coins.
The official name for the British currency is still pound sterling.
The word “sterling” means “real,” “worthy,” or “excellent”.
This term has come to be used because it means that British coins are legally pure.
What Is 925 Sterling Silver Jewelry?
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STERLING SILVER AND 925 SILVER
Some people incorrectly use the two terms “sterling silver” and “925 silver” to differentiate two different materials.
However, they are the exact same thing but with different names.
You can use these two terms interchangeably to describe any metal alloy that consists of at least 92.5% of silver.
IS 925 SILVER GOOD QUALITY?
Yes, as a noble metal, silver has similar properties to gold.
925 sterling silver is actually the most functional silver alloy for jewelry.
Sterling silver has the rigidity and durability needed to be functional for accessories, while remaining a very high content of silver without affecting silver’s natural colour.
Sterling silver is fine silver jewelry.
IS 925 SILVER GOOD FOR RINGS?
Sterling silver is a good option for everyday rings because they are durable and easy to care for.
You can keep them on while going about your usual day-to-day activities.
Once in awhile, it is generally okay to leave your silver jewelry on while taking a shower or bath.
If you choose to do so, we recommend giving it a thorough pat dry afterwards.
However, when in contact with cleaning chemicals, we recommend removing the rings or wearing gloves.
IS 925 SILVER CHEAP OR EXPENSIVE?
If you’re looking for an inexpensive but high-quality jewelry, sterling silver is the best choice.
Similar to gold, sterling silver is timeless, hypoallergenic, and long-lasting. But, without the expensive price tag of gold jewelry.
IS STERLING SILVER MORE EXPENSIVE THAN GOLD?
There was a period in history where silver was worth more than gold
This was because, at that time, it was easier to mine gold than silver.
However, nowadays, gold is much more expensive than silver.
Silver, on its own, is being traded at approximately USD$16/oz.
Gold, on the other hand, is worth approximately USD$1,700/oz.
While silver is not as valuable as gold in terms of market price, sterling silver is still a high-quality but affordable choice for silver jewelry.
Pros and Cons of 925 Silver
Take a look at the pros and cons of the sterling silver metal alloy before deciding whether or not sterling silver is for you.
PROS OF 925 SILVER
TIMELESS METAL
Historically, silver has been used by ancient civilizations for decoration and adornment.
Even to this day, silver is a popular choice for jewelry.
Thanks to its beauty, elegance and magnificence, the latest jewelry trends will always include silver.
LONG-LASTING
Because of the durability and strength of sterling silver, jewelry made from this alloy is designed to withstand everyday use.
With careful usage and proper storage, your sterling silver can easily last a lifetime.
NUMEROUS OPTIONS
Artisans and jewellers like to use sterling silver in their designs because of its strength, durability and relative affordability.
Because it is such a great metal to work with, there is a wide range of sterling silver jewelry in the market.
Whatever your style is, whether it is subtle, sophisticated, or extravagant, there will always be a sterling silver option available for you.
Thanks to the longevity of sterling silver, it make a great choice for new jewelry additions or as a daily staple with your other everyday pieces.
MOST AFFORDABLE PRECIOUS METAL
Sterling silver is one of the most affordable precious metals.
Its affordability makes it a great high-quality jewelry option without an exorbitant price tag that comes with other precious metals.
CONS OF 925 SILVER
Tarnishing is an inevitable chemical process that occurs naturally when metals come into contact and react with the elements like air and moisture.
It is a perfectly normal occurrence.
Tarnish appears as a thin film of corrosion found on metal.
It can be seen on your jewelry as a dark discolouration causing the jewelry piece to lose its shine and appear brassy or old.
Any type of jewelry that isn’t made of 100% pure silver can tarnish.
It is generally the other metals mixed into the silver composition that reacts with the elements, like oxygen and water, to cause tarnish.
This means that fine silver jewelry may tarnish.
However, this process is easy to remove and is not reversible.
Conclusion
Silver is a beloved precious metal that has been adored by many for its elegance and timelessness.
It has so many benefits that other more expensive precious metals possess.
However, it is one of the most affordable precious metals.
Are you ready to add some sterling silver jewelry into your jewelry box?
Take a look at our sterling silver pendant necklaces and earrings with sterling silver posts.
We’re sure you’ll find something you’ll want to take home with you!
