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Hallmark field guide

What Does 925 Mean on Jewelry?

925 is a silver fineness claim of 925 parts silver per 1,000, commonly known as sterling silver. Read the complete mark and the object together before drawing a conclusion.

Updated August 5, 2026Sources listed on page

FTC consumer guidance describes 925 as 92.5% pure silver.

In a UK hallmark, the fineness appears as part of a larger set of compulsory marks.

Common interpretation

92.5% silver; sterling silver standard

Material category

Silver alloy

What the mark can suggest

925 is a silver fineness claim of 925 parts silver per 1,000, commonly known as sterling silver.

What it does not prove

  • That the piece is solid silver throughout
  • That gold-colored surfaces are solid gold
  • Maker, age, gemstone identity, or market value

What to check next

  1. 1Look for the full hallmark or maker mark
  2. 2Check for plated, weighted, filled, or bonded construction disclosures
  3. 3Have unusual, valuable, or mixed-material objects examined before polishing

Frequently asked questions

Is 925 sterling silver?

925 is the standard fineness claim for 92.5% silver, commonly called sterling silver.

Can a gold-colored item be marked 925?

Yes. Sterling silver can be gold plated. The underlying silver mark does not make the surface layer solid gold.

Sources and further reading

This guide summarizes the official and institutional references below. Open the original source for its full scope, jurisdiction, definitions, and updates.

  1. U.S. Federal Trade Commission

    Buying Platinum, Gold, and Silver Jewelry

    Consumer guidance on karat marks, silver fineness, plating, filled products, and maker marks.

    https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buying-platinum-gold-and-silver-jewelry

  2. UK Government / British Hallmarking Council

    Hallmarking: fineness guidance

    Official reference for recognized UK precious-metal fineness standards.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hallmarking-fineness-guidance

  3. UK Government / British Hallmarking Council

    Permitted descriptions for gold-plated silver articles in the UK

    Shows why a plated item must be described in context and why a gold-looking surface is not evidence of solid gold.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gold-plated-silver-articles-guidance-on-description/permitted-descriptions-for-gold-plated-silver-articles-in-the-uk

  4. UK Government

    Hallmarking is the law: guidance summary

    Explains compulsory elements of a UK hallmark and how fineness is expressed in parts per thousand.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hallmarking-guidance-notes/hallmarking-is-the-law-guidance-summary

Continue your research

958 jewelry mark95.8% silver; Britannia silver standard in the UKBrowse metal and hallmark guidesLearn how fineness, maker, assay, plating, and construction clues fit together.

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