Global demand for silver products is growing steadily. However, when looking for the coveted engraving of the quality certificate, many are confused about the difference between the numbers “925” and “965,” and the name “sterling silver” is sometimes even mistaken for “sterile silver.”
What is this seemingly insignificant difference and why is sterling used on such a large scale around the world? Let's analyze the meaning and use of 925 sample point by point.
Sterling silver - what is it: sample, composition, properties, difference from ordinary silver
People have been using sterling silver products for centuries. Despite the specific name, the material is considered precious. Moreover, in terms of characteristics, such an alloy is not much inferior to 960-grade metal and occupies third position in the ranking of the most valuable of the silver group.
Women's 925 silver bracelet
Alloy
Many centuries ago, pure silver was used, but it is not durable and is easily deformed. The main advantage is its attractive appearance - the metal without impurities is characterized by a pure silver color and shines. Gradually they began to improve the composition in order to change the properties of the material. First, germanium, platinum, zinc, and titanium were added. We tried using boron and cadmium. As a result, we obtained metal of a high price category. This was facilitated by the use of expensive additives. However, for the consumer this innovation came as an unpleasant surprise.
Later, an alloy with the best characteristics was created; today it is considered the standard among all those containing Ag. This metal is called “sterling silver”. In comparison, none of the alloys stand out in this way, indicating a better combination of properties and appearance. The reference metal contains 92.5% silver and a small proportion of additives (ligatures), and copper is usually used in this capacity.
Sterling is an alloy of silver and copper in a ratio that allows you to obtain 925-grade metal. The remaining variants of metals (with a different alloy) do not have a special name, but are simply considered precious. Moreover, they also receive a 925 sample.
Physical properties
The presence of an alloy means that the metal will differ from the material of the highest standard - 999. It acquires slightly different properties. The main characteristics of sterling silver:
- increased hardness;
- fusibility;
- ductility, due to which decorations of openwork design are created;
- average resistance to mechanical damage;
- bright shine;
- high electrical conductivity;
- highest electrical conductivity;
- melting point is 802°C;
- sufficient resistance to oxidation.
In addition, the metal is less magnetic than an alloy with a higher content of alloys.
Sterling silver - earrings
Chemical properties
Today, sterling silver is widely used for the production of jewelry, household, and cutlery due to the properties that appear as a result of determining the ideal proportions of the precious metal and additives:
- due to the addition of copper, the metal is oxidized, which distinguishes it from pure Ag; the reaction is most intense when sterling silver and hydrogen sulfide are combined;
- susceptible to acids (can dissolve upon contact with nitric, sulfuric acid), mercury;
- reacts to iodine;
- When the temperature rises, oxygen and hydrogen are absorbed.
Title and history
Sterling silver is a common alloy of silver with a purity of 925. This purity means that a kilogram of the alloy contains at least 925 grams of silver. The master alloy in this alloy is represented by copper, although previously there were attempts to add other metals to the alloy, for example, zinc, germanium, titanium, platinum and boron. But it turned out that copper is an ideal alloy, since it gives the alloy the necessary strength and wear resistance.
From the very name of the alloy one can understand that it has something to do with the British national currency - the pound sterling. Indeed, the 925 alloy has its own history. So, in the twelfth century in England there was a silver coin called “sterling”. This monetary unit was considered very valuable, because it could be used to buy expensive household items, jewelry and other valuables. 240 silver coins had the same weight as one pound. If such an amount of sterling had a mass less than that of one pound, then the coins were considered counterfeit.
There is also a second version of the origin of sterling silver. Thus, in the eleventh century, in Northern Germany, the minting of special silver coins was established, intended for the implementation of settlement transactions with England. This version was put forward by the historian W. Pitchebeck in 1955.
Where did the name come from?
The name sterling silver appeared in the 12th century; it has different meanings and several versions of its origin. Moreover, it is not known exactly which of the options is closer to the truth. Considering that the assumptions appeared at approximately the same time in different territories, it is quite possible that they have some basis. This means that the name "sterling" could have originated in different countries at the same time.
According to one version, this definition of silver appeared thanks to the popular name for the Norman penny - steorling. This is an Old English word that came into use because of the design of the coin - it had stars on it.
English history. Brand
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the name "sterling" appeared in the 12th century. At that time, silver alloy was used to mint money. From 1 weight measure of precious metal exactly 240 coins were obtained. Thanks to this feature, it was possible to use pounds sterling (English silver) to check the quality of the metal. In this case, there was no need to use a branding tool. If the weight and size deviated, fraud was assumed. Since then, sterling silver has been used for other purposes, but the name comes from an ancient English coin.
925 Sterling Silver Rings
Germanic roots
Another version, authored by Walter de Pinchebecq, is more credible, and therefore more widespread. According to it, sterling silver received its name due to the area where this alloy was used. This was the eastern region of Germany. The area of 5 cities was called Esterling. This version also answers the question of what is 925 sterling silver. It is difficult to obtain more reliable information, because it has already been lost, and all that remains is to make guesses.
Application of this alloy
The sterling variety is used primarily for making jewelry - it is perfect for blackening and applying decorative enamel. In color it is indistinguishable from an alloy of a higher standard and is in amazing harmony with precious stones and pearls. Look at the photo - isn't it amazing?
Exclusive cutlery and tableware are also made from sterling silver. To make standard silverware, a less pure alloy is used due to its lower cost.
Sterling silver production technology
An alloy of uniform consistency can be obtained by heating the metal to 893.4°C. Thanks to this, the additives are distributed throughout the entire mass of silver. Moreover, the ligature completely dissolves in it, which improves the properties of the finished material. Additionally, the metal is fired and then hardened. To increase strength, its base is heated, but up to 300°C, and then bleached. This need is due to the formation of slag. The result is a white hard alloy. Due to the copper content, it may darken over time, but products can really be distinguished from counterfeit ones using 2 methods:
- you need to leave precious jewelry and jewelry nearby, carry out simple manipulations to remove contaminants: sterling silver will be cleared of darkening, which allows it to return to its white color, bright shine, the fake will be inferior to the product in appearance, its original color will not change;
- when an item acquires a red tint over time, this will mean that there is too much copper in the alloy, which means that the proportions corresponding to the standard were not maintained, sterling silver is not such, we are talking about a low-grade alloy with less Ag content.
Composition and properties
To obtain a sterling alloy with optimal properties, copper is most often added. The characteristics of the metal are excellent, but due to the tendency of copper to oxidize when exposed to oxygen, it becomes covered with a dark coating over time.
To rid sterling silver of this drawback, jewelers used various alloy additives: platinum, titanium, zinc, silicon, boron, cadmium and even germanium, which, by the way, completely eliminates the appearance of a dark coating from the alloy, but makes its cost too high.
Strength
The hardness of sterling silver is sufficient to not only create jewelry from it, but also use it for cutlery, dishes, and decorative elements. This alloy is less susceptible to deformation and more resistant to oxidative processes than other varieties, due to the high purity of the precious metal.
Samples
Sterling silver has a purity of at least 925, which guarantees that the product contains 92.5% pure noble metal and no more than 7.5% alloy additives.
There are options with a higher standard.
Sterling grade: advantages and disadvantages
Silver called “sterling” has many advantages:
- ability to maintain shape;
- non-susceptibility to oxidation (the metal darkens like other alloys, but not so quickly);
- attractiveness due to production technology - the metal is white and shiny;
- plasticity allows you to create products of different shapes;
- wear resistance;
- low risk of darkening the skin when wearing sterling silver items;
- bactericidal properties.
When compared with other types of silver (higher and lower standards), products with the 925 hallmark have practically no disadvantages, which is why such proportions of the alloy are considered the standard. However, during operation, features still appear that can worsen the appearance of jewelry:
- metal darkens when stored in the sun;
- sterling silver loses its attractiveness after contact with chlorine and ammonia;
- metal does not tolerate moisture or sweat, it needs to be cleaned regularly, although not as often as others.
Branded jewelry
Most often, jewelry is made from 925 sterling alloy. Metal containing less silver (72-87.5%) is of lower quality. On the other hand, there are high-grade metals (960 standard), they are characterized by low hardness, but do not darken. But due to the fact that the alloy is not resistant to mechanical loads, it is less used for the production of jewelry. Products made from 925 sterling silver are distinguished by their sophistication, durability, and shine. This metal is most often used by famous jewelry houses (Tiffany, Cartier, etc.).
Branded sterling silver jewelry
Sterling for dishes and household items
Due to the content of a sufficiently large amount of Ag, the alloy tolerates mechanical loads well. This can mean that finished products can often be used for different purposes. Metal with less silver (916, 875) or high-grade material (960, 999) will not work. This is explained by the fact that the dishes are constantly exposed to aggressive substances. This feature of sterling is the main difference from other types of silver.
Price
Every year the demand for sterling gold increases, which leads to an increase in prices for products made from this metal. Experts predict a continuation of this trend: a decrease in prices should not be expected in the near future. The price of the noble metal per gram is $0.8. This means that finished precious items, taking into account the difficulty of manufacturing and markups, cannot cost less than $5.
| Regular ($/g) | Sterling ($/g) | Chinese sterling ($/g) |
| 0,5 | 0,8 | 0,7 |
Table 1 - comparison of the cost of regular, sterling and Chinese sterling gold.
Coating for sterling
Considering that the metal of the reference sample (925) also gradually darkens, which is due to the content of the alloy, products are often covered with a protective layer. Rhodium is used for this purpose. The metal is precious, but is quite expensive. Its use increases the cost of jewelry, and therefore it is necessary to determine what is more important: buy a product at a more suitable price without coating or purchase jewelry protected from darkening. In addition, the protective layer increases the hardness of the metal. Products last much longer.
Where can you buy and sell sterling silver - price per 1 gram today
Sterling silver is the highest quality alloy among those used in the production of jewelry, cutlery, and other things. They are unlikely to be purchased inexpensively, due to the content of a significant proportion of precious metal. You should look for them in jewelry stores. Another option is pawn shops. The price per 1 gram is constantly changing, depending on many factors:
| A store | Price per 1 gram, rub. |
| Jewelry stores | from 40 and above |
| Purchase | 26-31 |
| Pawnshop | 18-28 |
925 sterling silver from China – what is it, fakes from Aliexpress
In theory, sterling silver must be manufactured to meet standards. But in practice it turns out that there is a difference between Chinese and ordinary precious metals (Russian, European). Moreover, it lies not in the shape and size of the products, but in the composition and characteristics. As a result, 925 sterling silver from Aliexpress may not be what you expected. This is due to the following reasons:
- when a mark is placed, it does not always correspond to reality, because no one controls the quality of the metal;
- silver-plated metal differs from a precious alloy in its designation, sometimes you can see the inscriptions: Silver plated, sterling silver plated or silver on copper, but some sellers from China exclude the word plated, as a result it remains silver, which is misleading.
What kind of silver is this
Sterling silver is a high-grade 925 alloy that is used as a raw material to create jewelry, watch cases, and cutlery. Pure silver, like gold, is a very soft and porous metal that is prone to abrasion. To improve performance characteristics, various metals are added to its composition as a ligature component.
Brief history of origin
The name itself originates from the silver penny, a coin that was minted in the northern cities of Germany under the name Easterling.
Such money was originally called Easterling Silver, which means “silver from the eastern lands.” Subsequently, the name was shortened to sterling silver and became the designation of silver for coinage.
TOP 5 ways to detect a fake
It happens that when purchasing through an online store, doubts arise about the authenticity of the jewelry. You can verify its quality in different ways, but upon receipt:
- make a notch on the back side of the product, a fake can be easily identified - the base metal under the coating is somewhat darker;
- take it to a jeweler for evaluation, in this case you can definitely find out what the real price of the product is;
- cost is an indirect factor that should also be paid attention to, for example, too low or high a price is a sign of a fake;
- you can clean the product: real silver will brighten and shine, but if you hold a fake in your hands, it will remain the same color, and may acquire a non-standard shade if the metal comes into contact with the reagent;
- evaluate the external qualities: silver shines, has a noble tint, and is quite heavy due to its average density (for comparison, Ag weighs more than most metals used for the production of jewelry).
Rules for the safe purchase and sale of sterling
In a store, before purchasing, there is no way to check the jewelry using improvised methods (make a scratch, apply a reagent, you need to rely on indirect signs). Accordingly, the color, sound, and weight of the product are usually assessed. Additionally, attention is paid to other factors: the degree of trust in the seller and the characteristics of the brand.
Reputation of the seller and jewelry network
Some brands are known to most people. Such products are of high quality, but are quite expensive. Product certificates are provided upon request; there are usually no problems with the type of product meeting the declared characteristics. The seller values his reputation, which means he offers only genuine jewelry.
According to Government Decree No. 55, jewelry cannot be returned or exchanged, so you should carefully select such products.
Sterling silver
Study of the mark
Usually the sample is placed on the back side (on watches, rings). If we are talking about earrings or chains, then the mark should be looked for on the clasp. When magnified, the sample should have regular outlines, straight sides, and clear symbols. To designate silver and gold, one designation is used - a female head in a kokoshnik, but the numerical designation of the sample is different. In addition, the actual shape of the stamp is also different – barrel-shaped.
The test is not always set; it happens that it is missing on imported jewelry, but this does not mean that the product is fake. In such cases, you should contact a jeweler to determine the composition of the metal.
Tips for choosing silver jewelry
Expert opinion
Vsevolod Kozlovsky
6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds
When purchasing such a product, be sure to pay attention to the brand. Silver jewelry, in accordance with international standards, is marked with the s925 mark. The requirements for the brand are traditional - it must be clear, legible, without merging symbols.
When buying silver on the Internet, be guided by the price - it cannot be cheaper than the market value of the metal, and also pay attention to the number and nature of reviews about the merchant, giving preference to those who have already proven themselves positively.
How to properly wear and store sterling silver
When silver jewelry is misused, it turns black. It is necessary to follow simple rules to increase their service life:
- store jewelry in a dark place;
- use boxes or cases;
- do not keep silver next to other items, especially if they are made of another metal;
- remove jewelry before taking a shower/bath;
- do not play sports or do physical work while wearing a chain, bracelet or other silver items.
Sterling and regular: what's the difference?
Silver products have long been known as symbols of wealth and prosperity. This is true whether you own the pure or sterling variant.
Silver is one of the elements on the periodic table with the symbol Ag. Pure metal contains the maximum possible amount of this element, namely 99.9% and very few trace elements. Marking on the product is “999”.
It is quite soft and difficult to shape correctly, which makes it difficult to make items intended for daily use. Therefore, such metal is not usually used for making fine jewelry.
Because they are soft, fine silver items are not as durable. They can be easily bent, deformed or damaged.
TOP 5 popular ways to clean and polish silver at home
A dark coating appears even if the rules for using such things are followed, but it does not happen so quickly. Methods can be used to remove stains and polish silver items. Examples of remedies and recipes:
- boiling with foil and soda: for 500 ml - 2 tbsp. l. powder, put an aluminum coating in the pan, when the liquid boils, add soda, and then decorations, after 2 minutes they need to be taken out and washed;
- toothpaste (gel, children’s) – used for polishing using a lint-free rag;
- soap solution: the number of components is arbitrary, you need to achieve the appearance of foam, dip objects into the solution, wipe the contaminated areas with a rag;
- GOI paste: apply a small amount of the substance, polish, it is important to choose the right product, because GOI is represented by 4 types, among them there is an option with large particles (to eliminate serious defects) and smaller ones (for polishing);
- Special preparations for cleaning silver are available for sale.
925 sterling silver from China: reviews
I ordered jewelry on Aliexpress, the characteristics said “sterling”, the price was good. It looked like it was actually base metal. I didn’t immediately believe in such a generous offer, but the reviews convinced me. I ordered a couple of rings, they arrived in Ukraine quite quickly. Already on the spot he assessed whether the jewelry was precious. They are heavy in weight, but they also look great in appearance. No complaints yet.
Arkady R., Lvov
Lydia Sh., Kislovodsk
I ordered a lot from Chinese sites. The goods are always different, sometimes I received things from the “expectation-reality” category. I also took silver, of course, luck didn’t work here. The Chinese sterling turned out to be counterfeit, but this is her own fault, such things need to be taken in a store, personally inspected, and certificates checked, because silver and gold, like medicine, cannot be returned. And what’s most interesting is that the prices were not so low for those “decorations”, it’s a bit of a pity for the money.
I have met Chinese sterling more than once: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok. The appearance is always different, apparently there were fakes. I don’t buy jewelry from small stores; my choice is only a large chain of a well-known brand. If I doubt the authenticity, I can ask for a certificate.
Maria L., Kostroma
