What Is 925 Sterling Silver & How To Know If It’s Fake | Moon Magic

Sterling silver is an alloy, or combination of metal types. Unlike pure silver, which contains 99.9% elemental silver (Ag), sterling silver (925) contains one or more additional metals that add strength to the otherwise delicate material. Pure silver is naturally very soft, and would easily bend or break if used for jewelry without being blended with a stronger metal.

Functional silver jewelry is often made with 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% of metal in 925 sterling silver is most commonly copper, however, some silversmiths opt to add durability with alloys of zinc or nickel instead. Sterling silver fortified with copper is preferred by many jewelry collectors, especially those with sensitive skin.

The composition of your sterling silver jewelry and environmental factors like humidity and skin oils can impact whether or not your fingers will turn green when you wear it. Check out our jewelry care guide to learn more about sterling silver and other metals used in our jewelry.

Skin oils, moisture, and metal composition are all factors that can lead to tarnish in sterling silver jewelry.