Sterling Silver 101: What 925 Really Means

What sterling silver is

Pure silver is too soft to hold a shape, so it's alloyed with a small amount of another metal — usually copper — for strength. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver, which is where the "925" hallmark comes from. It's real precious metal, not a coating, and that's the key difference from silver-plated pieces.

The 925 hallmark

Genuine sterling is stamped "925" (sometimes "sterling" or ".925") somewhere on the piece — on a clasp, tag or inner band. If there's no stamp and the price is very low, treat the "silver" claim with caution: it may be silver-plated base metal or stainless steel rather than true sterling.

Why it tarnishes — and why that's fine

Sterling tarnishes because the copper in the alloy reacts with sulphur in the air, forming a dark layer on the surface. This is normal and, unlike plating wearing off, completely reversible. A quick polish with a silver cloth brings it straight back. Wearing it often actually helps, as skin contact slows tarnish.

Sterling vs silver-plated

Silver-plated jewellery is a thin silver coating over base metal — cheaper, but the coating wears through over time and can't be restored. Sterling is solid precious metal you can polish indefinitely. For a piece you want to keep, sterling is worth the extra; for a short-term fashion piece, plating is fine.

Caring for sterling

Store it in a dry place (a sealed bag slows tarnish), keep it away from perfume, chlorine and cosmetics, and polish with a proper silver cloth rather than abrasive materials. Treated well, a sterling piece easily lasts a lifetime.