925 Silver Basics & Care

Silver purity is expressed as a fineness number: 999 is fine silver, 925 is sterling, 800 and 835 are continental alloys, and plated metal has only a silver coating. Hardness and tarnish change with purity.

Rhodium plating is a thin platinum-group metal layer applied over silver. It brightens the colour, slows tarnish and can reduce skin reactions, but it wears at high-contact points and needs re-plating.

A green mark is a surface reaction between copper in the alloy, sweat and cosmetics. It is harmless, washes off, and can be reduced with plating, dryness and a better alloy choice.

Sterling silver is usually fine for sensitive skin because the alloy is copper-based, but nickel in plating, posts or solder is the usual cause of reactions. Ask for the alloy and post material.

The most reliable home check is the hallmark combined with weight and construction; the magnet and ice tests only rule out some fakes. Here is what each test can and cannot prove.

The two terms describe the same alloy: sterling silver is 92.5% silver, and 925 is the fineness mark for it. The differences that matter are in labelling, plating and construction, not in the metal.

925 means the piece is 92.5% silver by weight, which is the sterling silver standard used in jewelry. The stamp alone is not a guarantee, so this guide explains what else to check.