Below is what the numbers on silver jewellery mean, five ways to check whether a piece is real, and how to keep sterling silver bright.
What "925 sterling silver" means
Pure silver, sold as fine silver or 999, is 99.9% silver. It is beautiful but too soft for a ring or bracelet: it bends, scratches and loses detail quickly. Adding a small amount of copper makes the metal much harder while keeping the look of silver. The standard mix of 925 parts silver to 75 parts other metal is called sterling silver, and it has been the benchmark for silver jewellery for centuries.
You will also meet other marks:
- 925, Sterling, Ster or S925: sterling silver, 92.5% silver.
- 999 or Fine Silver: almost pure silver, mostly used for bullion and delicate pieces.
- 800 or 835: lower-grade silver alloys found in older European pieces.
- EP, EPNS or "silver plated": a thin layer of silver over another metal. The plating wears through over time.
- Nickel silver, German silver or Alpaca: despite the name, these contain no silver at all. "Tibetan silver" is also often a base-metal alloy.
How to tell if silver is real: 5 simple checks
1. Look for the hallmark
Check the inside of a ring band, the clasp of a bracelet or chain, or the back of a pendant for 925, Sterling or a national assay mark. A stamp is a strong sign but not proof on its own, because stamps can be faked. Combine it with the checks below.
2. The magnet test
Silver is not magnetic. Hold a strong magnet, such as a fridge magnet or neodymium magnet, near the piece. If it pulls towards the magnet, it is not sterling silver. If nothing happens, the piece may still be another non-magnetic metal such as brass or copper, so this test rules things out rather than proving them.
3. The ice test
Silver conducts heat better than any other metal. Place an ice cube on a flat silver piece, or on a silver coin next to a steel one: on real silver it starts melting almost immediately, as if the metal were warm.
4. The cloth test
Rub the piece with a soft white cloth. Real silver usually leaves faint black marks, which is the surface tarnish coming away. No mark at all on an old, unpolished piece is a reason to look more closely.
5. Ask a jeweller
For certainty, a jeweller can do an acid test on a hidden spot or an XRF scan, which reads the exact metal content without touching the piece.
Does sterling silver tarnish?
Yes. Silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air and forms a thin layer of silver sulphide, which looks yellowish at first and then dark grey. It is not rust and it does not weaken the metal. Tarnish is actually one of the signs that a piece is real silver.
Some things speed it up:
- humidity and damp storage, such as a bathroom shelf
- sweat, perfume, aftershave and hand cream
- chlorine in pools and hot tubs
- rubber, wool and some foods such as eggs and onions, which release sulphur
Some sterling silver is finished with a thin rhodium layer, which slows tarnish considerably. Pieces worn every day also tarnish less, because skin contact keeps polishing the surface.
How to keep sterling silver bright
- Put it on last and take it off first. Let perfume and cream dry before wearing silver, and remove it before swimming, the gym or cleaning.
- Store it dry and separate. A closed pouch or box with an anti-tarnish strip slows tarnish a lot and stops pieces scratching each other.
- Polish with a silver cloth. A few strokes remove light tarnish without chemicals.
- Wash when needed. Warm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid, a soft brush, then dry thoroughly.
- Protect oxidised details. Many engraved men's rings are darkened on purpose so the pattern stands out. Silver dips and harsh polishes strip that finish, so use only a cloth on engraved and oxidised pieces.
Is sterling silver a good choice for men's jewellery?
It is the most practical precious metal for jewellery worn every day. It is hard enough to hold engraving, stone settings and heavy chain links, it takes both a bright polish and a dark oxidised finish, and it costs a fraction of gold. Scratches can be polished out, and the metal keeps its value as real silver. Our men's silver rings, bracelets and necklaces are made in 925 sterling silver for exactly these reasons.
Handcrafted in 925 sterling silver
Frequently asked questions
Is sterling silver worth anything?
Yes. It contains 92.5% silver, so it always has metal value, although the value of a jewellery piece comes mostly from its design and craftsmanship rather than its weight.
Can you shower with sterling silver?
Plain water will not harm it, but soap film, shampoo and hard water dull the surface, and some stones used in silver jewellery dislike water. It is best to take it off.
Does sterling silver turn your finger green?
Occasionally. The copper in the alloy can react with sweat and leave a harmless green mark on the skin. Keeping the ring clean and dry usually stops it.
Will a magnet stick to sterling silver?
No. A magnet that grips a piece firmly tells you it is not sterling silver, or that it has a steel core.
Not sure what size to order? Our men's ring size chart shows how to measure at home.
