Blog / What Is 925 Sterling Silver? A Buyer's Guide for Jewellery Brands
What Is 925 Sterling Silver? A Buyer's Guide for Jewellery Brands
A plain explanation of what 925 sterling silver is and what jewellery buyers should check before they place a bulk order.
What the number 925 means
Sterling silver is an alloy. The number 925 means 925 parts in 1,000 are pure silver, which is 92.5 percent. The remaining 7.5 percent is made up of other metals, most commonly copper. Pure silver is very soft, so the alloy gives rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets the strength they need to hold their shape in daily wear.
Why brands choose 925 silver
925 silver is the standard choice for fashion and fine silver jewellery because it takes detail well, can be polished to a bright finish and can be set with stones. For a jewellery brand it also gives a clear, widely understood quality level to put on a product page. You can browse our 925 silver heart rings, danglers, pendant necklaces and bracelets to see typical designs.
Questions to ask before you order
Ask which alloy is used, what the finish will be, how the stones are set and how the final weight is measured. A good manufacturer answers these without hesitation. It is also worth agreeing the sample, size and weight before production starts, because every order at Samar Jewels is made to order rather than taken from ready stock.
A note on marks and hallmarks
A 925 stamp states the silver purity that the maker claims. It is not the same thing as a BIS hallmark with a HUID. Hallmarking rules can change, so check the current BIS position for your product and your market and ask your manufacturer what applies to your order.
Next steps
Read how a made-to-order order moves from reference to finished piece, see how silver jewellery is priced, or request a quote with the design you have in mind.
