What Does 925 Mean on Jewelry?
by FIUNA
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Look closely at a silver ring or the clasp of a necklace and you will often find a tiny "925". It is one of the most common stamps in jewelry. Here is what it means.
925 = 92.5% silver
The number tells you the silver content in thousandths: 925 parts of 1,000 are pure silver. The remaining 7.5% are other metals, most often copper. This alloy is called sterling silver.
Why not pure silver?
Pure silver (999) is very soft. Rings would bend and clasps would wear out quickly. Adding a small amount of copper makes sterling silver strong enough for everyday jewelry while keeping the look and value of silver.
Common stamps
- 925 or S925: sterling silver.
- Sterling or STER: the same, mostly on older or US pieces.
- 999: fine silver, mostly coins and bars.
- 800: 80% silver, common on older European silverware.
Stamps are usually on the inside of a ring, on the clasp of a chain or on the back of an earring.
How to recognise real silver
- Check for a stamp, ideally next to a maker's mark.
- Silver is not magnetic. If a strong magnet pulls the piece, it is not solid silver.
- Real silver tarnishes slowly over time. Read how to clean sterling silver.
- When in doubt, a jeweller can test it.
925 and plating
A 925 stamp describes the metal underneath. Many silver pieces are plated on top, for example with rhodium for a bright white shine or with gold for a golden tone. All FIUNA jewelry is 925 sterling silver: our silver pieces are rhodium plated, our gold pieces are plated with 18k gold. Learn more in gold plated vs vermeil vs gold filled.
Silver pieces to start with
Discover our Basic Collection and chains like the Figaro Necklace or the Rope Necklace.
