Silver fineness – what are the markings and types of silver?
Both in jewelry and other areas where precious metals are used, special attention is paid to fineness. Silver has several types of markings, which differ in the quality and durability of the alloys. What type of silver is considered the best for creating the highest quality jewelry? Check out our guide!
What is silver fineness and why is it important?
Silver fineness is, in simple terms, the content of pure silver in an alloy, expressed in per mille.
The most popular grade, from which silver jewelry is made, is 925 - containing 92.5% pure silver (925 per mille) and 7.5% other metals (75 per mille). Earrings, necklaces and bracelets cannot be made 100% only of silver due to its softness. To increase the durability of jewelry, an alloy is created with other metals, including copper or nickel.
Marking silver with a specific fineness is key to identifying the quality of the alloy – the higher the precious metal content, the more valuable and durable the product is considered to be.
What are the finenesses of silver in jewelry?
We can distinguish five most popular silver tests. They differ in the amount of silver in the alloy, and therefore in their properties and quality.
Silver fineness 999
Silver 999/1000 is the purest type, containing 999 per mille of silver and 1 per mille of other metals, such as copper, nickel or tin. We also know it as mil silver. Due to its great softness and susceptibility to deformation, it is extremely rarely used in jewelry.
They are used in the production of bars, medals, collector's coins and other products that require the use of very high-quality raw materials.
Silver 925 test
The 925/1000 grade is also called sterling silver and, as we have already mentioned, it is the most popular type of alloy. In addition, it is the most valuable grade in jewelry.
Jewelry made from it is characterized by high quality, high resistance to damage, corrosion and rust, which allows it to serve for many years, maintaining its shine.
Silver fineness 875
The 875/1000 fineness is considered to be high-quality silver, which is ideal for small pendants with charms.
Silver fineness 830
Another frequently encountered fineness on the jewelry market, 830/1000, enjoys its popularity thanks to its reasonable price combined with good quality.
Silver fineness 800
The last grade in the classification, 800/1000, has the lowest silver content. It is used to make cheaper jewelry, and is also used in the clasps of bracelets and chains.
What silver grade is best?
To define the best silver grade, it is worth answering the question of what we want to use it for. The favorite is of course the purest 999 grade, in which more and more people invest their savings by buying bars or coins made of it.
Buying the best quality 925 silver jewellery can also be considered an investment. If you are thinking about a valuable cutlery set, choose 925 or 875 silver, which will retain their value for years.
Differences between 925 and 999 silver
What is the difference between the highest silver grade and the best grade used in jewelry? 999 is the purest, most valuable grade of this metal, but due to its properties it cannot be used to create jewelry. For this reason, 925 is considered the highest quality grade for jewelry, which is more durable than 999 due to the addition of metals.
What silver hallmarks can be found on jewelry?
Wondering why you can find a hallmark on some silver items and not on others? In jewelry, it depends on the weight of the item. If all parts of one piece of jewelry made of a silver alloy weigh 5 g or more, the jeweler is required to submit them for official marking. In practice, this means that they must have a hallmark, i.e. an official mark stamped on the product informing what hallmark a given trinket has.
The marking consists of three elements:
- symbol – woman's head in a headscarf;
- letter – abbreviation of the name of the city in which the jewelry was marked;
- sample information – sample number from which the decoration was made.
If the weight of the product does not exceed 5 g, the jeweler is not obliged to stamp this information on the trinket. How do we know what weight the jewellery has? According to Polish law, the manufacturer is obliged to include information on the fineness and weight of parts made of precious metal on the label attached to the jewellery.
How to recognize real silver?
To invest in jewelry that will last for years, it is worth having basic knowledge on how to recognize the quality of silver. If you want to buy a given piece of jewelry in a brick-and-mortar store, first of all check the label and the marking stamped on the product. In addition, we recommend using home remedies, including rubbing the jewelry on a soft fabric.
If the piece of jewelry has left darker streaks in the rubbed spot, you are dealing with a silver product. You can also use a magnet (even one from the fridge). Silver is diamagnetic, which means it does not react to a magnetic field. This means that a piece of jewelry made of silver cannot stick to a magnet – otherwise it is not considered silver or is made of low-grade silver.
And how can you check the quality of jewelry purchased online? Trust proven brands that transparently present the composition of materials on their websites. At Berries, we use 925 silver, which guarantees the best quality and longevity. In addition, our alloy does not contain nickel, a common allergen that causes allergies manifesting itself in swelling or itching.
Choose safety for your skin and a valuable glow for years to come with Berries!
