What Does "925" Mean on Jewelry? (Everything You Need to Know)

If you've ever picked up a piece of jewelry, turned it over, and spotted a tiny stamp that reads 925, you've found one of the most important marks in the entire jewelry world. Here's exactly what it means — and why it matters every time you buy.

The short answer

The "925" stamp means the jewelry is made of 92.5% pure silver. It's the international hallmark for genuine sterling silver. Anything labeled "silver" without this stamp is, technically, not real sterling silver.

Why is silver mixed with other metals at all?

Pure silver (.999 or 99.9% silver) is too soft for jewelry. It bends with a fingernail. It dents in your pocket. It loses shape in days.

So silversmiths have been alloying silver with stronger metals for over 800 years. The standard mix is 92.5% silver + 7.5% copper. The result is a metal that's strong enough to hold a setting, sharp enough to take detail, and still beautiful enough to wear forever.

That 92.5/7.5 ratio is the international legal standard. In the UK, France, Germany, the US, Australia — sterling silver means 925, full stop.

What does 925 vs other stamps mean?

• 925, S925, .925, Sterling, Ster: Real sterling silver. 92.5% silver.
• 950, 999: Higher-purity silver (sometimes used in Mexican silver). Softer than 925.
• 800, 835: Lower-purity continental European silver. Still real silver, but less standard.
• Silver-plated, S/P: Base metal coated with a microscopic layer of silver. Wears off in weeks.
• Silver-tone, silver-color: Marketing terms for non-silver alloys. Run.
• No stamp at all: Treat as not silver. Real sterling jewelry is legally required to carry a hallmark.

Will 925 silver tarnish?

Yes, slowly — and it's reversible. The copper in the alloy reacts with sulfur in the air over time, creating a thin dark layer on the surface called silver oxide. A 30-second buff with a silver polish cloth removes it instantly.

Modern sterling silver jewelry like Livora's is typically finished with rhodium or platinum plating, which slows tarnishing dramatically. With normal care a Livora piece will look new for years.

Will 925 silver turn skin green?

No — if it's actually 925 sterling silver. Green skin is caused by copper oxidation in cheap base-metal jewelry. The tiny 7.5% copper in sterling silver doesn't cause this reaction.

If your supposedly "sterling" piece turned you green within a week, you got a fake.

Is 925 silver hypoallergenic?

For most people, yes. Sterling silver is nickel-free, and nickel is the #1 cause of jewelry allergies (about 17% of women, 3% of men are allergic to it). If you've reacted to costume jewelry in the past, sterling silver will almost certainly be fine for you.

How to verify a 925 stamp is real

1. Look closely: Real hallmarks are tiny but crisp. Fake stamps are often slightly blurry or misaligned.
2. Use a magnet: Real silver is not magnetic. If the piece attracts a magnet, it's fake regardless of the stamp.
3. Polish test: Rub with a white cloth. A small black streak (silver oxide) means real. Colored residue means fake.
4. Check the seller: Trustworthy sellers show the hallmark stamp clearly in photos and offer real returns.

Why Livora uses 925

Every Livora piece is genuine 925 sterling silver, hallmark-stamped, and finished with rhodium or platinum plating for lasting shine. Real materials. Real value. Real jewelry that lasts decades.

Browse the collection — every piece carries the 925 stamp, every time.