What Does 925 Mean on Jewelry?
The complete guide to silver and gold hallmarks — and what they mean for value.
Silver Purity Marks Reference
| Mark | Description | Purity | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999 | Fine Silver | 99.9% | Bullion coins, bars |
| 990 | Fine Silver | 99.0% | Rare, some bullion |
| 925 | Sterling Silver | 92.5% | Standard jewelry worldwide |
| 900 | Coin Silver | 90.0% | Pre-1965 US coins |
| 800 | European Silver | 80.0% | Older European items |
Gold Purity Marks Reference
Gold uses a fineness system (parts per thousand) alongside the familiar karat system. Both appear on jewelry.
| Mark / Karat | Purity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 999 / 24k | 99.9% | Fine gold bullion |
| 750 / 18k | 75.0% | High-end jewelry, European standard |
| 585 / 14k | 58.5% | Most common US jewelry |
| 417 / 10k | 41.7% | Minimum legal gold in US |
| 375 / 9k | 37.5% | Common in UK and Australia |
Other Common Stamps to Know
Not all stamps indicate genuine precious metals. These marks on jewelry mean little or no precious metal value.
| Stamp | What It Means |
|---|---|
| EPNS | Electroplated Nickel Silver — no precious metal value |
| EP / Silver Plate | Electroplated silver over base metal — negligible value |
| GP / GF | Gold-plated / Gold-filled — thin gold layer over base metal |
| HGE | Heavy Gold Electroplate — thicker plating but not solid gold |
| 800 | European silver (80% pure) — less common in North America |
Is 925 Silver Valuable?
Yes — 925 sterling silver contains real precious metal that has market value. At today's live spot price:
A typical sterling silver necklace weighing 15–25 grams has meaningful scrap value. A full sterling flatware set (800–1,200 grams) can be worth several hundred dollars in silver content alone.
How to Tell Real 925 Silver from Fake
Hallmark Inspection
Look for a clean, crisp stamp — 925, Sterling, or STG. Genuine hallmarks are pressed clearly into the metal. Fuzzy, smeared, or painted-on markings are red flags. Check clasps of necklaces, inside ring bands, and backs of earring posts.
Magnet Test
Silver is not magnetic. If a strong magnet attracts the piece, it contains ferrous metal — it's not silver. If it doesn't attract, it might be silver (or another non-magnetic metal like aluminum or copper). This test rules out fakes; it doesn't confirm genuine silver.
Color & Appearance
Sterling silver has a distinctive bright, cool white metallic color. Tarnishing (dark gray/black oxidation) on silver is normal and actually a positive sign — fake silver-colored metals often don't tarnish in the same way. Tarnish polishes off easily.
For definitive testing, bring items to a coin dealer or jeweler. A silver acid test confirms purity definitively.
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