Silver Knowledge You Need to Know

What is .925 silver

925 sterling silver is 92.5% silver with 7.5% of the alloy is recognized internationally as the standard silver jewelry making materials, international regulations, all 92.5% of silver can be called sterling silver. As the Bank itself, which makes the 100% of the silver in very soft, very easy to scratch, and not suitable for more sophisticated technology requirements, and the more modern popular cheap jewelry style rich and exaggerated demands. Plus 100% silver easily change color and lose their luster, In 1851, Tiffany has introduced the first set of silver containing 92.5% silver, the 925 silver will quickly become the main force for the cheap silver, and become Identification of whether the international silver silver standard. As inclusion of 7.5% of the alloy, so that silver has a good hardness, brightness and luster, and can mosaic all kinds of precious stones, jewelry from silver to bright colors, unique style, craft exquisite fashion taste, quickly swept the world. It should be said, .925 is the internationally recognized best quality, highest purity and the most suitable standard materials produced silver jewelry.

Purity
In its pure form silver is almost as soft as gold, and therefore is usually alloyed with copper for strength. Anything called "silver" or "sterling silver" is 92.5% pure. Sometimes silver from south of the border is designated "Mexican silver," which runs anywhere from 90% to 99% pure. Purity is really not something to worry about with silver.

Alloys
Fine Silver in its natural state, 999/1000 pure, is too soft an element for practical jewelry. To make it workable, an alloy such as copper is added. Here are the main silver alloys:

Sterling Silver: A mixture of 92.5 % pure silver (925 parts) and 7.5 % metal alloy.
Silver Plating: Also known as silver plated or silver coated. A base metal, usually nickel silver or brass, is coated with a layer of pure silver by a process called electroplating.
Vermeil: Sterling silver electroplated with at least 100 millionths of an inch of karat gold
German Silver or Nickel Silver: A silver-white alloy consisting of copper, zinc and nickel. 
Coin Silver: 90% (900 parts) pure silver and 10% (100 parts) metal alloy. A process of melting down coins done in the 19th century, and mostly discarded today.

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Silver Knowledge -- by Mondera