Why is 925 on sterling silver

Just like ste r, sterling , and a lion in historic British silver marks, the number on jewelry stands for the amount of silver it contains. On genuine sterling silver jewelry, you can find the hallmark or some variation of the word sterling stamped in a discreet place like the back of a pendant or inside a band.

The stamp is used to identify genuine sterling silver jewelry, which contains Sterling silver is an alloy, or combination of metal types. Unlike pure silver, which contains Pure silver is naturally very soft, and would easily bend or break if used for jewelry without being blended with a stronger metal. Functional silver jewelry is often made with The remaining 7. Sterling silver fortified with copper is preferred by many jewelry collectors, especially those with sensitive skin. The composition of your sterling silver jewelry and environmental factors like humidity and skin oils can impact whether or not your fingers will turn green when you wear it.

Check out our jewelry care guide to learn more about sterling silver and other metals used in our jewelry. Skin oils, moisture, and metal composition are all factors that can lead to tarnish in sterling silver jewelry. Due to the fact that silver is both a color and an element, there can be some confusion surrounding the different types of silver. It will not rust or tarnish if left untouched. People have been drawn to the beauty of silver throughout history. It was a status symbol both in jewelry making but also in homewares such as candlesticks and silverware.

It is also often given as gifts to celebrate milestones, anniversaries, or other events. While stronger than pure silver, sterling silver is still plenty malleable enough to create both simple and intricate designs for jewelry, accessories, home items, and more. Compared to gold, silver is very affordable. In fact, it is far less expensive compared to gold. If you are looking for a precious metal that makes amazing, trendy, and durable jewelry at affordable prices, then give sterling silver a try.

Join the family! We'll let you know when we add new items and promo deals. Your email. Create your account Lost password? First name. Last name. Your cart is empty. What Is Sterling Silver? Sterling Silver Is Great For People With Allergies Or Sensitive Skin Since sterling silver does not contain nickel, it makes it one of the least skin-reactive metals meaning that it is suitable for people with allergies.

Tags: Sterling silver. Previous article Next article. Join the Family! This means that if you have one handy, you can use it to perform a very simple test. If you find that your magnet creates a strong attraction to the jewelry you're testing, walk away.

This is a clear indication that it's fake. You can use this test to identify real gold, too. The first way most people identify sterling silver is by looking for markings. Sterling silver jewelry is always stamped with a marking to indicate the percentage of silver it contains. Usually, this appears as ,. In the U. However, this isn't the case in some other parts of the world. Jewelry with lower purity is not considered sterling silver by U. However, for example, in Germany, sterling silver can be A batch of sterling silver rings from Germany might be sold for the same prices as U.

The general threshold of That's why markings aren't always reliable. They don't tell you the entire story. Use them as a starting point, but conduct some of the other tests on this list, too. Or better still, only buy from reliable retailers like us who adhere to U. In our case, our koa wood rings are high-grade tungsten and koa wood so we list that clearly.

We would never pretend they were silver. Choose a retailer who is clear about their materials and their sources. You can also test sterling silver rings by listening to the sound the metal makes. If you gently tap it, either with your finger or a coin, it should produce a high-pitched ringing sound similar to that of a bell. When conducting this test, it's important to take great care not to damage the item.

This may sound like a strange way to test your jewelry, but it works. Real sterling silver rings, bracelets, and necklaces shouldn't have any odor at all. Simply give them a sniff. If you get a strong or distinct smell, it likely has a high concentration of copper or some other alloy. Lastly, you should consider the price of a piece of jewelry before buying it.

That's a dead giveaway. Real sterling silver doesn't come cheap. You get what you pay for, and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.