What Is 925 Sterling Silver?

The 925 hallmark on silver jewellery or silverware means the item is made of sterling silver — an alloy that is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper). It is the most widely used silver standard in the world for jewellery, cutlery, and tableware.

What Does the 925 Hallmark Mean?

The number 925 is a millesimal fineness mark, indicating 925 parts per 1,000 are pure silver. In the UK, sterling silver must be hallmarked by an Assay Office before it can legally be sold as silver. The hallmark guarantees the metal composition has been independently verified.

Silver Purity Grades Compared

Grade	Purity	Hallmark	Common Uses
Fine Silver	99.9%	.999 / 999	Bullion bars, investment coins
Britannia Silver	95.84%	.958 / 958	UK silverware, some coins
Sterling Silver	92.5%	.925 / 925	Jewellery, cutlery, tableware
Coin Silver (US)	90.0%	.900 / 900	Pre-1965 US coins
800 Silver	80.0%	.800 / 800	European silverware

How Much Is 925 Sterling Silver Worth Per Gram?

The melt value of sterling silver is calculated by multiplying the current silver spot price per gram by its purity factor of 0.925:

Our live silver calculator applies this formula automatically and updates every 60 seconds across USD, GBP, EUR, and more.

Is Sterling Silver Good Quality?

Yes. Sterling silver is the international standard for quality silver jewellery and has been used for centuries. Pure silver (99.9%) is too soft for most practical uses — the added copper in sterling silver makes it significantly more durable while retaining most of the material value.

Does 925 Sterling Silver Tarnish?

Sterling silver does tarnish over time due to the copper content reacting with oxygen and sulfur in the air. This is normal and does not reduce the metal value. Tarnish can be removed with a soft cloth or silver polish. Storing silver in anti-tarnish pouches significantly slows the process.

How to Sell 925 Sterling Silver

When selling sterling silver, dealers will assess the item’s weight and apply the 0.925 purity multiplier against the current spot price to calculate melt value. Most buyers offer 60–80% of melt value. Always calculate your baseline first using our calculator before approaching any buyer.