Types of Silver Grades - Alloys & Purity
There are many types of silver available on the market today. It is important to be familiar with the silver quality standards and alternatives in the industry. Don't assume you are buying sterling silver jewellery when something is just called "silver." Below you will find definitions and comparisons of the different silver metals used to make jewellery around the world.
Silver Grades
1. Fine 999 Silver
Fine silver is the closest metal to the pure element silver. It is marked 999 which indicates 99.9% purity. The 0.1% remainder consists of trace elements of insignificant quantity. Fine silver has a more vitreous luster than the bright polish of sterling. It appears grayer and slightly dull. This type of silver is quite soft and will scratch, dent and change shape fairly easily. For that reason, it is less common in jewellery because items will not wear well over time.
2. Sterling 925 Silver
Sterling is the jewellery quality standard in international markets. It is an alloy of 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% is usually copper though it is sometimes other metals such as nickel. The other metals in the alloy increase hardness so the material will be more durable. Alloy additions also create the color and luster that is so prized by consumers. Sterling silver is the silver color we are most familiar with and the most common type of silver in jewellery stores. It is very bright and shiny but it will tarnish. Tarnish is easy to clean with readily available polishing products.
All our silver pieces are 925 silver, and some bear the hallmark like this.
3. Coin Silver
Coin silver was once a more common alloy. The technical "coin silver" alloy is 900 silver, or 90% silver and 10% copper. Some collectible coins or coin investment instruments have higher silver content. They are marked as such with a quality stamp and usually come with certificates of authenticity. Coin silver jewellery that is still on the market will bear a quality stamp of 900. Many of these pieces are antiques.
5. Silver
Jewellery sold as just "silver" is a bit of a mystery. The term is thrown around in the market as a color descriptor, especially in fashion. However, in the jewellery trade, items should be clearly identified as a specific standard quality. If not, it is unlikely that the silver alloy is of very high quality. Jewellery artists and manufacturers are legally required to either stamp pieces when space permits or tag finished products with quality designations.
6. Silver Plated
This is a base metal type of silver with an extremely thin plating layer of silver applied to the surface. Even when jewellery is described as fine silver-plated, the overall silver content is a tiny fraction of a percent. Silver-plated jewellery is affordable costume jewellery. Plating can tarnish and will eventually wear off to expose the base metal underneath. Costume jewellery will not have a quality stamp but it may bear the manufacturers logo or hallmark.
Silver Grades
1. Fine 999 Silver
Fine silver is the closest metal to the pure element silver. It is marked 999 which indicates 99.9% purity. The 0.1% remainder consists of trace elements of insignificant quantity. Fine silver has a more vitreous luster than the bright polish of sterling. It appears grayer and slightly dull. This type of silver is quite soft and will scratch, dent and change shape fairly easily. For that reason, it is less common in jewellery because items will not wear well over time.
2. Sterling 925 Silver
Sterling is the jewellery quality standard in international markets. It is an alloy of 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% is usually copper though it is sometimes other metals such as nickel. The other metals in the alloy increase hardness so the material will be more durable. Alloy additions also create the color and luster that is so prized by consumers. Sterling silver is the silver color we are most familiar with and the most common type of silver in jewellery stores. It is very bright and shiny but it will tarnish. Tarnish is easy to clean with readily available polishing products.
All our silver pieces are 925 silver, and some bear the hallmark like this.
3. Coin Silver
Coin silver was once a more common alloy. The technical "coin silver" alloy is 900 silver, or 90% silver and 10% copper. Some collectible coins or coin investment instruments have higher silver content. They are marked as such with a quality stamp and usually come with certificates of authenticity. Coin silver jewellery that is still on the market will bear a quality stamp of 900. Many of these pieces are antiques.
5. Silver
Jewellery sold as just "silver" is a bit of a mystery. The term is thrown around in the market as a color descriptor, especially in fashion. However, in the jewellery trade, items should be clearly identified as a specific standard quality. If not, it is unlikely that the silver alloy is of very high quality. Jewellery artists and manufacturers are legally required to either stamp pieces when space permits or tag finished products with quality designations.
6. Silver Plated
This is a base metal type of silver with an extremely thin plating layer of silver applied to the surface. Even when jewellery is described as fine silver-plated, the overall silver content is a tiny fraction of a percent. Silver-plated jewellery is affordable costume jewellery. Plating can tarnish and will eventually wear off to expose the base metal underneath. Costume jewellery will not have a quality stamp but it may bear the manufacturers logo or hallmark.