Differences Between Sterling Silver & 925 Sterling Silver
Jewelry and decorative items made from silver and sterling silver have been prized for centuries. Silver’s designations can be confusing.
The Difference
There is no difference between sterling silver and 925 sterling silver. Silver’s purity carries a numeric designation based on 1,000. Pure silver usually carries a 999 rating. Sterling silver must be 92.5 percent pure (or 925) to be classified as sterling silver.
Silver will likely never go out of style as it’s been cherished for centuries, with origins of discovery in Greece and Turkey (formerly Anatolia) dating back to 3000 BC. Pure silver is precious but too soft to use in jewelry. Add a little alloy to the mix and voila, you’ve got sterling silver! In addition to sterling silver, there’s also silver plate, fine silver, pure silver, nickel silver, and 925 silver.
With so many silvers on the market, how do you know which one to buy? Are all silvers the same? And what’s the difference between sterling silver and 925 silver? Here’s the 411 on sterling silver vs. 925 silver.
Sterling Silver vs 925 Silver
Markings
Since the mid-19th century, sterling silver made in the United States is marked as such. It is either stamped with the word “sterling,” or it may be stamped with “925.”
You might be wondering what is sterling silver? Sterling silver is an alloy made from 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent alloy. An alloy is essentially the mixture of two (or more) elements taken from the periodic table. Regarding sterling silver, the alloys can include zinc, copper or nickel. While the United States, Europe and most of the world enforces a strict standard of sterling silver at 92.5 silver to 7.5 copper or other alloys, there are other standards. Some countries, including France, have a standard of 95 percent, however, 92.5 is the most common.
The remaining metal content is usually a blend of mixed metals that primarily include nickel and copper. These metals are added to the silver to strengthen the structural integrity of a piece because pure silver is a soft metal and not considered strong.
You will sometimes find pieces with a “950” or a “980” numerical hallmark instead of “925.” These pieces are still considered sterling silver, but they have a 95% and 98% pure silver content, respectively. The remaining 5% and 2% will again consist of mixed metals for additional structural integrity.
How to Identify Sterling Silver:
Silver is shiny, bright and casts that signature metallic glint we all know and love. It’s timeless and trendy and universally used in jewelry making. It’s a tensile metal combining both beauty and durability. Designers—and buyers—can’t get enough of silver. The quickest way to identify sterling silver is to look for a mark or stamp, called the “hallmark.” Certified sterling silver will be stamped or marked with the word “sterling” or “925.”
You may often come across hallmarks labeled with “STG” “SS” or “STER,” which are all authentic notations of sterling silver.
Remember how sterling silver and 925 silver are the same things? With that knowledge, you’ll recognize that any item of silver jewelry labeled sterling or 925 is, in fact, sterling silver!
Things to Know When Buying Sterling Silver Jewelry
We’ve learned that there’s no difference between sterling silver and 925 silver, but the same can’t be said for other items in the jewelry marketplace. Truth is, the term “silver” alone is quite complex. In fact, this word is popularly used as a label, when in fact silver should always be clearly identified with a hallmark representing its standard grade and quality.
With that information in mind, always look for the hallmark as jewelers and artisans are legally obligated to stamp their pieces for potential buyers.
If you don’t see a stamp, shop elsewhere. It’s not worth buying a low-quality metal disguised with a coating of sterling silver, which ultimately wears off, looks cheap and can lead to skin irritation.
That’s right, cheap metals can irritate the skin and result in allergic reactions, making sterling silver a great option for sensitive skin. Inexpensive metals like nickel or brass can cause infections, especially with earrings.
Bottom line: Sterling silver, aka 925 silver is hypoallergenic, high quality, stylish and safe.
