What 925 Sterling Silver Really Means
Every piece we make is 925 sterling silver. If you have ever wondered what that number on a clasp actually means, here is the short version.
What the 925 stamp means
925 means the metal is 92.5% pure silver. The other 7.5% is a small amount of harder metal, and it is there on purpose. Pure silver on its own is too soft to hold a shape, a clasp or a setting. The small addition is what lets a thin chain survive daily wear.
Sterling silver is not the same as silver-plated
This is the difference that matters most when you are comparing prices.
- Sterling silver is silver all the way through. Scratch it and there is more silver underneath.
- Silver-plated means a thin silver coat over a cheaper metal. Once the coat wears away, the metal underneath shows.
We only sell 925 sterling silver. We do offer a choice of finish, so a piece can be silver-plated or gold-plated on top of the silver, but the piece underneath is always solid 925 silver.
How to check a piece before you buy
- Look for the stamp. Genuine sterling is marked 925, usually on the clasp, the inside of a ring or the back of a pendant.
- Test with a magnet. Silver is not magnetic. If a piece jumps to a magnet, there is another metal inside it.
- Watch the colour at the edges. On plated jewellery, worn corners and edges start to look yellow or grey.
- Be careful with a price that seems too good. Silver has a market price. A real silver chain cannot cost less than the metal in it.
Does sterling silver tarnish?
Yes, and that is normal. Tarnish is a surface reaction with the air, not a fault and not a sign of fake silver. It wipes off. Gold does not tarnish, which is why some people assume tarnish means poor quality, but a piece that never tarnishes at all is usually not silver.
A short polish brings the shine straight back, and cleaning and polishing is free for life on every piece we make.