925 Sterling Silver: What is it? From China, reviews

Online stores are full of offers for the sale of sterling silver jewelry. In photographs, the products look very attractive: the perfectly polished, shiny surfaces of the jewelry attract the eye like a magnet.

The price of the products is also quite attractive: it is significantly lower compared to jewelry made of blackened silver.

In this material, we will try to understand: what sterling silver is, how it differs from ordinary silver, how to care for jewelry made from this material, and also take an interest in reviews from customers who have already purchased sterling silver items in popular online stores.

What is 925 Sterling Silver? What are its features?

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Sterling is the name of an alloy of 925 silver. Silver alloys are used to make silverware, jewelry, coinage, and more. Pure silver, 999 standard, is not suitable for these purposes: it is too soft and fragile, quickly oxidizes and loses its appearance.

To give a silver product strength, ductility, noble color and other useful properties, alloys are used - admixtures of other metals. In silver marked 925, there are 7.5% of such impurities.

The following alloying metals can be used: copper, germanium, zinc, platinum, gold and titanium. Silicon and boron are added as auxiliary elements.

The alloy of silver with cadmium is one of the most expensive (much more expensive than gold). It is used in precision instrumentation and science because it has high electrical and thermal conductivity.

Silver alloyed with germanium does not turn black over time. And in combination with aluminum it becomes too porous.

The standard metal used to alloy 925 sterling silver is copper.

Quality under control

If gold-plated jewelry, watches, or teaspoons are 925, then it is silver, even if the seller claims it is pure gold. If the numbers 585 are engraved next to each other, then this should also raise red flags, since samples of different metals are not placed side by side. This type of fraud is designed for gullible people who do not have information.

Several effective experiments

However, the engraving itself is quite easy to fake, so there are several ways in which you can independently identify a fake. All stores in the world have a two-week guarantee rule. During this time, you can return the purchase back if there is evidence or doubt about its authenticity. There are several proven methods that can be used both in the store and at home. To do this you will need simple materials at hand:

magnet - it will not attract high-quality alloy, but will react to iron, which should not be in the composition;
iodine - it is better to check after making a purchase and on the inside, since iodine will leave a dark mark on real silver;
chalk - its influence darkens the white metal, so you need to thoroughly rub the surface and wait 5 minutes;
white paper - if you run a silver ring over it, a gray line will appear.

There is also a reliable test option using sulfur ointment. You need to lightly rub the surface with fine-grained sandpaper and apply a drop of ointment to this area. After 5 minutes, you can wipe it off with a clean cloth and see if a dark spot appears. Brass, cupronickel, aluminum will remain unchanged and only the noble metal will change color. The stain can be easily removed with toothpaste or a regular eraser.

Cost calculation

Noble metals do not depreciate even over time.
It is considered profitable to make long-term investments by buying gold and silver coins and bars. In 2022, Sberbank prices for 1 gram of metal are approximately 30 rubles. You can rely on this price when you are in another country, since the data is updated in accordance with quotes from international exchanges, but it will only be relevant for purchases at a bank. For jewelry, there is a different calculation system; several factors must be assessed and summarized:

1 gram of pure raw materials;
degree of complexity of the jeweler’s work;
gems and precious stones, if they are part of the product;
taxes;
profit of the seller and the store itself.

Thus, any decoration, cutlery, figurine, will cost much more than the material from which they are made. Another 30-50% is added to this cost if the product is sold under the name of a well-known brand. In Russia, they usually write the cost of the entire product, calculated together with the manufacturer and store owner. In stores in other countries, jewelry is weighed on jewelry scales in the presence of the buyer and multiplied by cost, taking into account labor and the purchase price. In Italy and Turkey you can get a discount that will never exceed 30% of the announced price.

Story

According to encyclopedic data, the name of the alloy was first found in the 12th century. By decree of King Henry II of England, the monetary unit pound sterling was established. It was minted from 925 silver. Thus, 240 coins were made from one pound of silver (350 g).

There are other versions of the origin of the name of the alloy: according to the compilers of the Oxford Dictionary, sterling was the common name for a Scottish small coin.

You can come across a version according to which the use of 925 sterling silver for minting coins first began in northern Germany.

The area in which the mint was located was called "Easterling". In the 12th century, it actively traded with England. Payment was made with durable, high-quality silver coins.

Interestingly, in Russia they do not make jewelry from sterling silver; it is used exclusively for cutlery.

In Japan, 925 alloy is also not common: they prefer pure silver, even despite its low strength and other disadvantages. In France you will not find 925 silver alloy. Brooches, earrings, and necklaces are marked 800.

Alloy properties

Silver alloy is highly durable and wear-resistant. It was from this that silverware was made, which was passed down from generation to generation. The alloy is resistant to corrosion and many environmental factors.

The noble metal is still in demand in most countries of the world as a material for making jewelry, cutlery, candlesticks, figurines and coins.

Physical properties:

Metal reflects about 95% of visible light rays. Due to this property, the first mirrors were made of polished silver.
High thermal conductivity. This is why tableware is not made from silver.
In appearance, sterling silver resembles platinum.
Slowly oxidizes and cleans well.
Does not have magnetic properties.
High electrical conductivity.

Chemical properties:

Silver reacts with hydrogen sulfide to form sulfur sulfide.
When heated, the metal is able to adsorb oxygen and hydrogen.
Dissolves in mercury, nitric and sulfuric acid.
Reacts with iodine.
Insoluble in alcohol.

Try

To perfectly mix the silver and auxiliary metals, they are heated to a temperature of 800 °C.

The fineness of the alloy is determined by the percentage of silver, regardless of the alloy. But 925 sterling silver is precisely an alloy with copper in a percentage ratio of 92.5%/7.5%.

Real sterling silver can be easily distinguished from a fake if you put two pieces side by side: the real one will look snow-white. If the metal is cleaned of oxidation, it will shine brighter than white gold.

If the product acquires a reddish tint over time, it means that it contains much more copper than is stated by the sample.

Manufacturing technology

Sterling silver is produced by melting pure metal at 893 °C. At this temperature, the added copper does not simply mix with the main component, but completely dissolves in it, forming a so-called solid solution.

But simply mixing the components is not enough - after melting, it is first fired to eliminate heterogeneity and increase the strength of the metal. But the resulting alloy will not have the necessary ductility, so the next stage is hardening. The procedure increases the required parameter of the substance.

The sterling alloy is then subjected to aging by heating to 300 °C, which increases its strength by 2.5 times. And finally, the resulting product is bleached, removing any slag deposits that have appeared.

How is sterling silver different from regular silver?

It is not customary to make jewelry from pure silver due to the insufficient strength of the metal and its rapid oxidation from contact with air. Under the influence of hydrogen sulfide contained in the surrounding atmosphere, pure silver quickly oxidizes and becomes covered with a sulfide film.

By alloying silver with copper, one achieves not only an increase in the strength of products, but also an improvement in their appearance. In an alloy with copper, silver is much less susceptible to sulfides, which means oxidation and darkening.

Sputtering of a metal called rhodium allows you to protect jewelry from mechanical damage.

Rhodium-plated silver is easily distinguished by its mirror-like shining surface. The specific, unnatural appearance of rhodium-plated silver jewelry repels some buyers. In comparison, sterling jewelry has a more natural shine.

Pure silver is also not used for decorating interior items, making cutlery, or works of art. Sterling silver, on the contrary, is suitable for work of any complexity, even for the most delicate and sophisticated products.

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.

How to Test a 925 Sterling Silver Item

Find the rectangle with the hallmark on the product and make sure that the numbers 925 are indicated on it.
Silver does not have magnetic properties. Test this statement by holding a magnet close to your jewelry.
Rub the product on a piece of chalk. The crayon has turned black, which means the silver is real.
Apply a small amount of sulfur ointment to the surface of the product. After a few hours, the fake will change color, and the silver jewelry will only tarnish.
Determine the authenticity of the item from a jeweler.

Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage

As has already been said, silver needs to be looked after. Clean it systematically (we wrote about how to clean silver here and here) and store it properly.

Silver jewelry should be stored in a dark place, preferably separately from each other and away from cosmetics and household products. You can put it in a thick flannel bag or a box upholstered in soft fabric.

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Jewelers love to work with sterling silver for the following reasons: firstly, products made from this material are always relevant and in demand, and secondly, 925 sterling silver is a durable but malleable metal, which means it is easy to work with.

Metal makes jewelry that shines and lasts. Earrings, rings, chains are particularly sophisticated.

The alloy of silver and copper has a characteristic feature - it darkens when in contact with moisture and then the jewelry has to be cleaned frequently. If you choose a silver necklace, give preference to an alloy of silver with germanium or rhodium-plated silver.

How to clean sterling silver jewelry?

If the decoration has darkened slightly, wipe it with a cloth made of natural material.

A significantly oxidized product should be washed in warm water with a small amount of dishwashing detergent. Ammonia or hydrogen peroxide are suitable for cleaning the surface. After chemical cleaning, be sure to wipe the jewelry with a dry natural cloth.

To return a necklace or earrings with stones to their original appearance, contact a jewelry maker who will treat the jewelry with a special compound that does not contain phosphates.

It is not recommended to use toothpowder and toothpaste to clean silver jewelry to avoid scratching the surface.

In jewelry stores you can find a special liquid for cleaning coins, with its help you can independently restore the snow-white shine to a tarnished large item.

In order for silver jewelry to retain its appearance for a long time, it should be stored correctly. Use a separate bag for each unit. Store bags in a cool, dry place.

Reviews

Natalia:
I ordered a bracelet from China. In general, I can’t say anything bad, but it’s getting darker faster than I expected, perhaps the standard isn’t high enough.
Read also: Rhyolite is a rock from fossilized ancient volcanoes

Elizabeth:
I brought a chain and pendant from Turkey as a gift to my mother, they are very elegant, my mother has been wearing them for several years without taking them off, she cleans them at home with toothpaste, but not whitening one - it has hard particles in it, she is afraid of scratching.

Olga:
I got massive silver earrings with blackened silver from my grandmother. The product has darkened over time, but I don’t risk cleaning it for fear of ruining it. And I don’t wear them myself, I keep them as a memory.

Marina:
I almost lost my pearl set when I decided to clean it with vinegar. It’s good that my mother saw this and stopped me, otherwise I would have been left without my favorite jewelry. It turns out that pearls dissolve in vinegar! It’s a pity that manufacturers of such jewelry do not warn about this.

Sterling silver from China

Extremely mixed reviews from buyers of 925 sterling silver jewelry, which is produced in China and distributed through online stores.

Today, China is the world's largest manufacturer of sterling silver jewelry. This is due to the low cost of labor compared to European countries.

The cost of Chinese jewelry is significantly lower than that of other manufacturing countries. But what can we say about the quality of the products?

The main complaint of Chinese sterling silver jewelry buyers is:

oxidation;
darkening and general loss of appearance of jewelry within a very short period of time from the date of purchase.

Everything points to cheap counterfeits of sterling silver, in which the required proportion of silver and copper is not maintained. If the copper content is significantly more than 7.5%, the product begins to oxidize, turn red, dull and deteriorate.

If the product instantly oxidizes under the influence of water, perfume or soap, you have a fake that contains too much copper alloy. Be extremely careful when buying Chinese jewelry and do not fall for the tricks of scammers.

Italian luxury

Many Russians, accustomed to blackened silver, for a long time considered Italian silver to be a fake.
The bad attitude was facilitated by second-hand sales on black markets, but as soon as the white metal appeared in the windows of jewelry stores in the late 90s, the beauty and sophistication of the style overcame all doubts. Italy has indeed been a monopolist on the silver market for three centuries; in stores in this country it is impossible to buy silver below 925 purity. The jewelry techniques and techniques of Italian masters are different from all others. They have their own special style, minting and engraving techniques, many of which are not disclosed to this day.

The main secret of success is the special galvanic treatment of products. This includes the following techniques:

Double silvering - a decent layer of pure 999 metal is applied on top of the base. This is done not only for beauty, but also for the durability of the decoration, because raw materials without impurities do not oxidize when in contact with water or air.
Blackening - the technique differs from the Russian one; the composition used to melt the base contains similar components - lead, copper, sulfur and cadmium, but the technology itself is developed by the master individually for each large store or fashion house. The blue-black finish and provocative design make these pieces incredibly popular.
Rhodium plating - having many of the characteristics of platinum, rhodium not only protects silver from darkening and oxidation, but also makes products made from it look like platinum.
Gilding is a signature Italian style. A thin layer of high-quality gold is sprayed onto the silver surface of jewelry or tableware, creating not only a unique design, but also the effect of gold at the price of silver. The coverage can be complete or partial, but the standard will be the same - 925.

Sterling Silver Plated

When ordering jewelry through an online store, read the description very carefully. People who do not speak English, when they see the word “Sterling 925,” immediately assume that the supplier is offering a product made of sterling silver. But often, it is assumed that a product made of cheap metal or jewelry has only sterling coating.

Each such decoration comes with a list of prohibitive recommendations, upon seeing which you should be wary and understand that this is cheap. Products coated with sterling should not be slept in, washed with hands, or exposed to perfumes, soaps, detergents, etc.

The main sign by which a fake can be identified is its low cost.

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.