| A great deal of silver jewellery available | | | | copper. Sometimes the craftsman replaces |
| today is called 925 silver. Have you ever | | | | copper with another material, or even a |
| wandered why we in the jewellery trade add | | | | combination of materials. Over the last |
| the number 925 in front of sterling silver? | | | | decade lower copper prices and an abundance |
| Before you part with your hard-earned money | | | | of copper due to improved refining techniques |
| buying jewellery for yourself, or as a gift | | | | have made it the first choice of many |
| for someone else, it is worth finding out | | | | designers and jewellery stylists. |
| what exactly 925 silver is. Furthermore, it | | | | |
| is important to understand why you must | | | | The beneficial properties gained by adding |
| always insist that your silver jewellery is | | | | the copper to the pure silver have made the |
| up to the high 925 standard. | | | | resulting product extremely popular with a |
| | | | host of silver craftsmen. Earrings, rings, |
| Before we look at what 925 silver is, we must | | | | bracelets and all other forms of jewellery |
| first consider the properties of this | | | | can be carefully designed with the assurance |
| fascinating metal. Pure silver is extremely | | | | that each intricate bend and turn will remain |
| malleable and therefore can easily damage. It | | | | firmly in place. |
| also softens over time, even at room | | | | |
| temperature. | | | | 925 silver is therefore a combination of |
| | | | mostly pure silver and a lower percentage of |
| Obviously, in this state silver is useless | | | | infused alloy metal. The addition of copper, |
| for jewellery purposes. To avoid the problems | | | | or occasionally a similar copper-like |
| of malleability and softening, and thus to | | | | substitute, helps to enhance your silver |
| increase the life-span of your silver | | | | jewellery and does not in any way detract |
| jewellery, other metals are added to the pure | | | | from its quality. |
| silver. The result of this blending process | | | | |
| with alloys is a combined silver and alloy | | | | It is important to check that your silver |
| substance which is far more resistant to | | | | jewellery is high quality 925 sterling silver |
| scratching and damage. | | | | before making a purchase. Remember that in |
| | | | many countries the 925 hallmark is an |
| 925 sterling silver jewellery is actually a | | | | assurance to you that your silver is of the |
| combination of 92.5% silver and usually 7.5% | | | | highest quality. |