How to Check If Silver Is Real: Finding 925 Sterling Silver Purity

What does 925 silver mean?

925 sterling silver is an alloy made of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Pure silver is too soft for everyday jewellery, so the copper adds strength while keeping the bright silver finish. The number 925 is the fineness mark and the standard for good-quality silver jewellery.

Step 1: Look for the hallmark

Genuine sterling silver is normally stamped with a tiny mark, usually on the inside of a ring or band, on the clasp or tag of a chain, or on the back of a pendant. Look for any of these:

• 925
• S925
• 92.5
• Sterling
• Ster

Use a magnifying glass or your phone camera zoomed in. In India, jewellery may also carry a BIS hallmark, so ask the seller what marks to expect and what they mean. A stamp on its own is not final proof, because fake pieces can be stamped too. That is why it should be combined with the steps below, and with buying from a trusted seller.

Step 2: Try simple home checks

These checks give clues, but none of them is conclusive on its own. Use them together.

The magnet test

Silver is not magnetic, so a strong magnet should not stick to a real silver piece. If it sticks, the piece is not solid silver (it is likely steel or iron). But note that many fakes, such as brass, copper and aluminium, are not magnetic either, so passing this test does not prove the piece is silver.

The ice test

Silver conducts heat better than almost any other metal. Place a piece of ice on a flat part of the jewellery, and it should melt noticeably faster than on a normal piece of metal. Other metals such as aluminium also conduct heat well, so this is a clue and not a guarantee.

The cloth test

Rub the piece firmly with a clean white cloth. Black marks on the cloth suggest silver, because tarnish is a normal sign of real silver. If the piece is plated, you may instead see the plating wear off and a different metal show through.

Step 3: Ask for a professional test

The reliable way to confirm purity is to have a jeweller test it. They can use a controlled acid test or an electronic XRF analyser, which measures the metal content without damaging the piece. Avoid doing acid tests yourself, because the chemicals are dangerous and can damage your jewellery.

Sterling silver vs silver-plated jewellery

Silver-plated jewellery has only a thin layer of silver over another metal. It looks like silver at first, but the plating wears off with time and reveals a different colour underneath, and it usually has no 925 stamp. Solid 925 silver is silver all the way through, so it can be polished and repaired for years.

Tips for buying real silver

• Buy from the brand’s own website or authorised sellers. Our guide on fighting counterfeits explains how to buy safely.
• Ask for an invoice and check the return policy before you pay.
• Be wary of prices that look too low for the weight of silver.
• Check the hallmark and keep your invoice and packaging.
• Learn how real silver changes with wear in our guide on how to care for silver jewellery.