925 silver: characteristics and properties

The economies of countries are constantly being restructured, money is depreciating, and precious metals still remain the safest type of investment.

This article will provide answers to what 925 silver is, what combination of metals will give the alloy the best properties, and also how much 1 gram of silver costs.

Argentum (Latin) is a soft, precious silvery-white metal known since ancient times. Every year, about 22 thousand tons of ore are extracted from the bowels of the planet. The main mining sites in the world are Peru, Chile, Poland, Australia, Mexico, and the USA.

Basic physical and chemical properties:

What is 925 proof?

The composition of 925 silver suggests that the product contains 92.5% of the chemical element argentum, and the remaining 7.5% are various impurities. Pure metal is very soft, prone to deformation and rapid oxidation. It was experimentally found that the quality of products made from it can be improved by adding other elements. The content of impurities also determines how much a gram of 925 silver costs.

Effect of metal impurities

The quality of any alloy is ensured by the optimal ratio of strength and precious substance content in the product. Therefore, the amount of impurities present in argentum affects its properties:

In addition, products can be plated with rhodium. Radiant silver has the following properties:

• snow-whiteness, additional shine;
• oxidation resistance;
• gradually wears off and requires updating.

What types of gold are there?

In Russia, precious metals presented on store shelves must be labeled. There are only 7 gold hallmarks. At present, some of them are outdated:

1. 375. Precious metal content 37.5%. The rest is a ligature (admixture).
2. 500. Contains 50% pure gold. It is rare nowadays.
3. 583. Precious metal content 58.3%.
4. 585. 58.5% precious metal. This includes 80% of jewelry sold.
5. 750. Contains at least 75% pure gold. Widely distributed among exclusive jewelry and diamond jewelry.
6. 958. 95.8% precious metal. A small number of such jewelry were produced in past centuries.
7. 999. Pure gold. The metal is too soft, so it is not used in jewelry.

As you can see, 925 is not among them.

Türkiye

Turkish silver is widely known for its quality products, variety of shapes, fine workmanship and intricacy. The jewelry craftsmanship of this country has rich traditions, and the craftsmen are able to make any product, be it a men's chain, a woman's silver ring or silver cutlery (teaspoons, Turks, trays).

The most commonly used metal in work is 925 grade metal. Less commonly, 960-grade metal, products from which will be much more expensive.

Local products can be purchased at relatively low prices. However, there is a risk of buying a fake in Turkey. Therefore, when making a transaction, it is recommended to ask sellers for quality certificates.

Composition of alloys with silver

To form an alloy with silver, several impurities are not added. Only one metal is used as an addition to give strength and durability to the jewelry or other product. Thousands of silver is too soft, it does not hold its shape, and therefore it requires an alloying process. The following is used as a ligature:

• Copper. The most commonly used metal. This is what gives it the yellowness. The greater the amount of copper, the yellower the product.
• Platinum. An expensive element that imparts durability and reduces oxidation.
• Nickel. Harmful to the body because it tends to accumulate and cause allergies.
• Gold. An alloy of silver and gold is called white gold. In addition to silver, other metals are added to white gold. But this option is the most popular, reduces the cost of decoration and looks stylish.
• Cadmium. An expensive element, it is used in jewelry only by order of the buyer.
• Zinc. It wears off quickly and also leaves black marks on the skin.

Each impurity has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, platinum and cadmium are very expensive metals. Therefore, they are not used in decorations too often. Such jewelry will cost more than its gold counterparts.

Each metal added to silver imparts a new shade to the piece. And in this way you can solve the problem of silver oxidation and blackening. It is enough to apply a layer of rhodium to the product. It will add shine to the jewelry, and you won’t have to clean it after a while. Products made from rhodium-plated silver resemble white gold in appearance.

Most often, copper can be seen as an auxiliary element that gives strength to the alloy with silver. But adding this metal in large quantities affects the color, giving the product a yellowish appearance. Copper also promotes oxidation.

Silver plate

Brand

Various silver samples - 925 and others - have their own mark, which allows you to estimate the percentage of impurities and identify the manufacturer. For example, a 925 ring will be stamped with the number 925 and the quality mark of the inspection organization that is engaged in official quality supervision. If there is no stamp or it does not contain a quality mark, and the seller cannot present a certificate, then most likely the product will be counterfeit.

Unfortunately, there is no single stamp sample. So, if you intend to buy a silver ring or something else made in a particular country, it is better to first familiarize yourself with the hallmarks and quality marks accepted there.

How to distinguish silver and white gold?

It is difficult to understand with the naked eye how silver differs from white gold. Reading the labels will help. New items - both silver and gold - can be the same color due to the finishing treatment - rhodium plating. Platinum group metal is applied to enhance shine and protect against darkening.

If there are no markings, you can check the quality of the metal at a pawnshop or workshop. The employee will conduct a rapid analysis using:

1. Reagents. To check, you will need to file the product a little so that a fresh cut appears, onto which the reagent is applied. There should be no reaction when testing gold. If it passes, it means that the metal does not correspond to the declared standard. When checking silver, the cut area will acquire a reddish-brown tint. If this is not the case, it means that this is a product made from a different alloy.
2. Touchstone. Alloys of precious metals are tested using individual rocks. The product is rubbed on the touchstone. If the trace left does not meet established standards, then the alloy contains a lower percentage of pure metal than stated.
3. Electronic analyzer. Some stores, workshops or pawn shops have equipment that determines the exact percentage of precious metal content in the alloy. Rarely seen.

At home you can perform the following check:

1. Paper. Draw metal along the sheet. Gold jewelry will not leave a mark, silver (even high, 925) should leave a dark stripe behind it.
2. Acid. Pour a spoonful of vinegar into a glass of water and stir. After this, place the item being tested into the solution. If you have silver in front of you, the water will change color and become dark. The product itself will oxidize. This will not happen with gold: it is not afraid of an acidic environment.
3. Iodine can be used to draw a stripe on an object. There will be no mark left on gold jewelry. If it is silver, the product will become stained and it will be difficult to remove the iodine.

Prices

Let's figure out how much 925 silver costs. The starting price per 1 gram is fixed, does not depend on the place of extraction and is set in England. However, there is no single cost for all products.

On the international market, the cost of 1 gram of 925 silver is constantly changing under the influence of stock quotes, which depend on:

• on world currency rates;
• from interest rates of the world's central banks;
• from the raw material needs of jewelry manufacturers.

Based on these indicators, the Central Bank of Russia calculates new prices every weekday. The best price per gram in 2021 was 34.72 rubles. As of May, fluctuations from 29.96 to 31.55 rubles were recorded, and from May 31, 2017, the Central Bank predicts a further increase in prices.

Directly on the consumer market, the cost of 925 silver also depends on the composition of the products discussed above, on the place and form of their sale.

Precious metal can be purchased in the following form:

• ingots;
• scrap;
• coins;
• decorations;
• silver plate;
• Houseware.

Metal ingots of the highest purity 999.9 are the best investment. Scrap 925 silver has the lowest price, since it always needs further processing and the buyer will probably melt it. The value of coins depends not only on their content, but also on their rarity and antiquity. The cost of 925 silver depends on various reasons. For example, the price at which you can buy a silver ring depends on its weight, manufacturing technique, the presence of inserts and the name of the manufacturer.

The method and place of sale also matters. Today in Russia the cost of one gram is as follows:

• pawnshop – 18–28 rubles per gram;
• purchase – 26–31 rubles;
• jewelry stores - from 40 rubles and above.

This difference in prices for 1 gram of 925 silver is determined by the characteristics of the sale of goods. Buying silver purchases a product without the possibility of return. Specialty stores include the cost of creating the item in the final price.

The price of 925 silver is steadily growing, since according to geological reports, at a steady rate of mining, its reserves will last for a maximum of half a century, and there is nothing to replace the precious metal yet.

Reviews

Victoria, 32 years old: “For me personally, the main difference between silver and white gold is color. The silver is much lighter, the models are ordinary, almost unremarkable. White gold jewelry is dark, bright, and almost always encrusted with diamonds or semi-precious stones.”

Tatyana, 20 years old: “My beloved gave me a ring with a stone, I thought for a long time what kind of metal it was, until I took a magnifying glass and examined “925.” It turned out to be silver..."

Anna, 36 years old: “I don’t understand how to distinguish white gold from silver. As for me, they are exactly the same metals. And is it worth overpaying?

Svetlana, 28 years old: “I adore white gold, but only in its original color without any coatings. A little yellow looks natural and does not require additions. Silver is not for everybody.”

Care

Taking good care of a precious metal means ensuring its long life and beauty. Jewelry and accessories made of 925 silver are more susceptible to oxidation, since they come into contact with the environment more often than other products. For example, a rare woman, starting to wash the dishes, will take off her silver ring. Metal does not tolerate light and humidity well and darkens under their influence. Caring for your silver also includes cleaning it.

Cleaning methods:

1. After removing the jewelry, you need to wipe it with a thick, soft cloth: flannel or microfiber.
2. A darkened item can be washed in warm soapy water, then wiped with alcohol. But you should not use alcohol when trying to clean a silver ring or other blackened item.
3. Jewelry cosmetics, widely available in specialized stores, are best suited for cleaning.

The issue of storage deserves special mention. To prevent oxidation, it is advisable to store 925 silver jewelry in a dark, dry place. And individual covers or cases will help avoid scratches.

Noble metals will always be valued by people. They allow you to save capital and are assistants in technology and medicine. And their beauty and plasticity enable jewelers to create real masterpieces.

Tips for choosing jewelry of this sample

When choosing jewelry, you should pay attention to the presence of markings. All precious goods on store shelves must have manufacturer's tags with contact information and a retail chain price tag.

Expert opinion

Vsevolod Kozlovsky

6 years in jewelry making. Knows everything about samples and can identify a fake in 12 seconds

Please note the absence of piercing elements in the design of the model. The decoration should be comfortable and light. It is advisable that the stone (or path of stones) is not raised too high.

If the product contains diamonds over 4 mm in diameter, see if there is a certificate for the stone.