What Is S925 Silver
s925 meaning is sterling silver which is a silver alloy made up from combination of pure silver and copper. It is the most common silver alloy used in jewelry making. It contains 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent copper by weight. Other names for this silver are “925 sterling silver”, “925 silver” or just “sterling silver”.
In this article we’ll take a look at questions what is s925 silver, is it real, what does s925 mean on jewelry and should you buy it.
How s925 Sterling Silver is Made
Pure silver is soft, easy to scratch and bendable metal. It cannot be used for jewelry making with these properties. That’s why copper is mixed with pure silver to make it somewhat harder. Once both are mixed together, it forms an alloy. An alloy is a combination of two or more metals.
Is s925 Silver Real Silver
Yes, s925 sterling silver is real. It is the other name of sterling silver with no difference in composition. So, whenever someone is talking about s925 sterling silver, they are actually referring to sterling silver.
What does s925 Mean on Jewelry
It means that your jewelry is made of sterling silver which is an alloy of silver.
s925 Sterling Silver vs Fine Silver
S925 Sterling silver and pure silver both are known for the versatility and beauty they provide. But on the other hand, they are distinct in different aspects of the jewelry discussed below.
1. Composition
Pure silver is 99.99% made up of silver where the remaining 0.01% constitutes of impurities. Whereas sterling silver is an alloy that has 92.5% silver and 7.5% of either copper or nickel by weight.
2. Strength and Toughness
Pure silver is a soft and easy to bend metal which can not be used for jewelry making. Softness does not allow metal to hold gemstones and since it cannot hold gemstones. On the other hand s925 silver or should I call it sterling silver, is tough enough to hold stones and resist damages and scratches.
3. Cost
Pure silver and sterling silver have slight difference in price. Pure silver is more expensive than sterling one as it has higher percentage of silver. Since copper or nickel are less expensive than silver, sterling silver has slightly less price.
4. Maintenance
Both of these variants of silver demand high level of care. Both can be tarnished and susceptible to turning your fingers green. The main cause behind it is the reaction of silver with skin oils and lotion.
Other Types of Silver Alloys
Every silver jewelry owner must know the silver type their jewelry is made of. Other types of silver used in jewelry making are:
1. Nickel Silver
Nickel silver is made up of other cheaper metals like nickel, copper and zinc. There is no silver involved in the composition of nickel silver. It does look like silver and has similar appearance, that’s why it is named as nickel silver. It is mostly used in fake ornaments or very cheap fashion jewelry. It can cause skin allergy.
2. Mexican Silver
Mexican silver or 950 silver is another variant of silver composed of 95% silver and 5% nickel. This alloy of silver is brighter in appearance than sterling silver. However, can be scratched easily.
3. Argentium Silver
Argentium silver is a tarnishing resisting silver alloy containing 93.5 – 96% silver. It is specifically created for metal to be a non-tarnishing one. It is a patented form of silver and only a few jewelers can make it.
Apart from this, jewelry owner should know how to check your silver jewelry’s genuineness.
Is s925 Sterling Silver Good
s925 sterling silver is good for someone who wants classic silvery looks with a wide range of designs. It provides white lustrous look at a low price than other white metals like white gold and platinum. However, it does tarnish as well and you can expect to spend some time on cleaning silver jewelry regularly at least once a month.
If you don’t have the time for maintenance of your jewelry and can spend more, then it is better to look for other options.
Why Should You use Sterling Silver?
Sterling silver is known for its white shiny beauty. Other shiny white metals such as rhodium, rhodium plating, platinum and palladium are either less lustrous or too much expensive.
Apart from this, sterling silver also offers versatility in terms of jewelry designs. Different types of jewelry such as wedding rings, nose rings, anklets and necklaces can be made out of it with ease.
When compared to pure silver, sterling silver is skin friendly and can be worn by people with sensitive skins. Ones who have allergies with pure silver must try sterling silver.
If you are one who cares for environment and wants to go for sustainable solutions, silver might be the best choice for you. One it is a metal in its purest form. Secondly silver can be recycled and has ecological vibes.
How to Identify 925 Sterling Silver
Sterling silver can be identified by a number of methods. For identifying sterling silver, you can use any of the following methods.
1. Looking for Hallmarks
Authentic pieces of sterling silver have their hallmarks engraved. These stamped pieces of jewelry will have “925“, “.925” or “S925” written over them. Another variation which is also used is “Sterling” or “Ster“.
Common places to find these hallmarks are under the ring band, back of a pendant or clasp of a necklace.
2. Magnet Test
Another way to find out original sterling silver is to do a magnet test. All you need for this test is a strong magnet. Take a magnet and put it near to the jewelry you want to check out. If their is minimal of attraction between the magnet and jewelry, it is not sterling silver.
Remember that sterling silver is not magnet responsive.
3. Acid Test
If you’re still unsure about the jewelry you’re testing, silver acid test is a great choice. For this test you will need a silver testing kit containing nitric acid. As nitric acid is a strong acid, you should use all the protective gears included such as goggles, gloves and coat etc.
For this test all you have to do is to scratch a small area on the silver item and put a drop of nitric acid on it.
If a milky white colored reaction is observed, then your silver jewelry is made of sterling silver. If green color is appeared, your jewelry is made up of lower purity level of silver.
How to Remove Tarnishing From Sterling Silver
Tarnishing is a chemical process and for removing it you will need some chemicals. There are many chemicals available in the market for this purpose but almost all of the jewelers do not recommend those. It is better to use some mild strength chemicals so it can not damage your sterling silver jewelry.
Baking soda is an excellent choice of chemicals for its affordability and chemical nature. All you have to do is to take a bowl of warm water and dip your tarnished jewelry in it.
On the other hand mix some baking soda in lemon juice to make a thick paste. Now take out the jewelry from water and start applying this paste on it with the help of a tooth brush. You can also rub gently for better results.
After 2 to 3 minutes, you’ll see tarnish is starting to disappear. Once all tarnish is removed, immediately rinse your jewelry and remove all extra water with a soft cloth.
How to Care for Sterling Silver Jewelry
Sterling silver jewelry has its own pros and cons. Point where it provides more affordable way for owning jewelry, it also has a big problem of tarnishing. Following are the care tips you must follow for s925 sterling silver jewelry.
- Do regular cleaning of your jewelry.
- Save your jewelry from water while swimming, washing or bathing.
- Avoid any chemicals such as skin oils, lotions while wearing jewelry.
- Regularly visit your jeweler for identifying any damages.
- Store your sterling silver jewelry in a tight storage box with no air coming.
- Use anti tarnish bags in jewelry storage box.
Common Questions about s925 Sterling Silver
What does s925 mean on a ring?
925 sterling silver is a common alloy of silver used in silver jewelry making.
What is the difference between s925 and 925 sterling silver?
There is no difference between s925 and 925 sterling silver. Both are same.
Is 925 Silver pure or Not?
925 silver is not pure. It is made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper or nickel.
Is 925 Sterling Silver waterproof?
No. You have to save your 925 sterling silver from water or it will get tarnished.
Is sterling silver and 925 the same?
Not necessarily. 925 is one of the type of sterling silver. Other types are 940 sterling silver and 950 sterling silver.
Conclusion
S925 Sterling silver is a great choice in metallic jewelry when it comes to affordability. Common traits of silver jewelry are its white color, shine and cost effectiveness. Another pro is that it can be recycled. Similar to the pros it provides, it also has some cons. Tarnishing is the biggest problem which can effect any silver jewelry. As it is a natural process, you cannot stop it. Rather you can minimize its effect by taking care of your jewelry and it will become like a new one.