Sterling Silver Purity Guide
What does a 925 stamp really tell you? It is a useful starting point, but understanding the underlying metal, any surface finish and the evidence behind a description helps you buy with greater confidence.
What does 925 mean?
925 means 925 parts silver per 1,000 parts of the alloy: 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% consists of other metals, commonly copper. Sterling silver is an alloy, not the same material as 999 fine silver. Alloying makes silver more suitable for jewellery, but the number 925 does not identify every metal in the mix.
Solid sterling silver versus silver-plated pieces
For the metal part being described, solid sterling silver means the underlying material is sterling silver, rather than a different base metal covered with a thin silver layer. Here, solid refers to composition, not construction: a sterling silver piece can be hollow.
Where SIlverPlus Jewellery describes an item as Vermeil, this donates the underlying composition is solid 925 silver with a white or yellow gold plating. You are buying an item made from two Nobel Metals (silver and gold) therefore it has intrinsic value. Some suppliers state Vermeil as a gold plated alloy item and this is not only incorrect, but wrong. To be Vermeil it must be made of solid silver with either a gold or other valuable metal coating such as platinum.
Rhodium is sometimes used to coat jewellery to give the look of silver but without the tarnishing properties of silver. Check the composition carefully. We only coat solid silver with rhodium.
Silver-plated jewellery has a surface layer of silver over another material. A silver-coloured appearance alone cannot tell you what is underneath. Also distinguish silver plating over a base metal (cheaper metal) from gold or rhodium plating over sterling silver. A plated finish does not, by itself, mean the underlying metal is sterling.
Read the description carefully for both the underlying metal and the finish. These are always stated in our description. Stones, beads, cords and other non-silver elements are separate from the sterling silver parts.
An item described as fashion usually means it has no silver or gold, but is made from some other material ie an alloy or non metal material like silk or leather for example.
925 stamps and hallmarks: clues, not a complete test
A 925 stamp represents a claim about silver fineness. It does not, on its own, prove that the whole piece is sterling silver or that an independent organisation has tested it. Marks can be misapplied, and a mark on one component does not establish the composition of every component.
An independently applied assay hallmark is different from a standalone 925 stamp. For example, a full UK hallmark includes a sponsor's mark, a fineness mark and an assay office mark. Marking systems vary by country, so do not assume every item marked 925 has a UK assay hallmark.
Understanding alloy and plating disclosures
Before choosing a piece, check the underlying metal, any plating or coating, and which components the material description covers. The 925 designation does not tell you the exact alloy recipe, plating metal or coating thickness.
If a particular alloy ingredient or finish matters to your purchase, ask about that specific item before ordering. Do not infer its composition from colour, a photograph or the 925 mark alone.
What authenticity evidence does SilverPlus provide?
SilverPlus Jewellery's existing store information guarantees its sterling silver jewellery as genuine 925 silver, and our FAQ describes 925 marks on the pieces. That is our stated material assurance. A seller's assurance and a 925 stamp are not the same as an independent assay report.
This guide does not promise an individual assay certificate, laboratory report or independently applied hallmark for every item. If you need additional evidence, ask us about the particular piece before buying: whether a clear photograph of its mark, supplier material information or an independent test report is available, and exactly which item or batch any document covers.
For stronger verification, an appropriately qualified jeweller or assay service can advise on a suitable test and its limitations. Appearance and a stamp alone should not be treated as conclusive proof of the underlying metal.
A practical check before you buy
- Confirm whether the underlying metal is sterling silver or a different metal with silver plating.
- Check whether a gold, rhodium or other surface finish is described separately.
- Ask which components are covered by the sterling silver description.
- Treat 925 as a fineness claim, not a substitute for independent verification.
- Where documentation is important to you, confirm its availability and scope before ordering.
Explore our sterling silver collections
Browse our Sterling Silver Rings, Sterling Silver Earrings and Sterling Silver Chains. Refer to the individual product description for the materials and finish of the piece you choose.