Is S925 the same as 925?

Yes. The S is simply an abbreviation for silver and adds no meaning. Both mark an alloy that is 92.5% silver.

Is 925 silver real silver?

Yes. It is 92.5% pure silver, alloyed with a small amount of another metal, usually copper, to make it hard enough to wear. It is the standard for quality silver jewellery worldwide.

Will 925 silver turn my finger green?

Rarely, and when it happens it is the copper in the alloy reacting with acids on your skin, not a sign of fake silver. It is harmless and washes off. Keeping the piece dry and clean usually stops it.

925 vs Sterling Silver: What the Stamp Means

Sterling silver is an alloy containing 92.5% silver and about 7.5% other metal, usually copper. The marks 925 and S925 indicate a claim to that fineness. A stamp alone is not proof of composition or an independently applied hallmark; ask about the evidence behind it if authenticity is uncertain.

Updated 2026-10-15

Why silver is alloyed at all

Pure silver, sold as fine silver and stamped 999, is too soft for most jewellery. A ring made from it would bend out of round in ordinary wear and a prong setting would struggle to hold a stone.

Adding roughly 7.5% copper produces an alloy hard enough to hold shape, take a high polish and survive daily wear, while staying almost entirely silver. That ratio has been the standard for sterling for centuries, which is where the fixed 92.5% figure comes from.

Reading the stamps

The marks you will see on genuine sterling are 925, S925, .925 or STER. All of them mean the same thing. S925 is simply the convention more common on pieces made in Asia, and it carries no different standard.

Marks that do not mean sterling are worth knowing: 900 and 800 are lower grade silver alloys, still real silver but softer in colour and less valuable. EPNS means electroplated nickel silver, which contains no silver in the base at all. Sterling silver plated and silver filled both describe a thin silver layer over another metal.

Telling real sterling from plate

Look for the stamp first, usually inside a ring band, on a chain clasp tag, or on the post of an earring. An unstamped piece is not automatically fake, but on modern commercial jewellery the absence of any mark is a reason to ask.

Neither a magnet nor tarnish can prove that a piece is sterling. Silver plate can tarnish too, and nonmagnetic base metals can pass a magnet check. A jeweller or assay office can advise on appropriate testing; acid tests can mark the piece and are best left to a professional.

What 925 does not tell you

A fineness stamp describes the claimed alloy, not the quality of the work. An independent hallmark includes the marks required by its assay system. Two pieces made from sterling can differ in seam finishing, polish, stone setting and the thickness of a surface finish.

It also says nothing about what is on the surface. A rhodium plated sterling piece is still sterling underneath and still correctly stamped 925, even though what you are looking at and touching is rhodium.

Common questions

Is S925 the same as 925?: Yes. The S is simply an abbreviation for silver and adds no meaning. Both mark an alloy that is 92.5% silver.
Is 925 silver real silver?: Yes. It is 92.5% pure silver, alloyed with a small amount of another metal, usually copper, to make it hard enough to wear. It is the standard for quality silver jewellery worldwide.
Will 925 silver turn my finger green?: Rarely, and when it happens it is the copper in the alloy reacting with acids on your skin, not a sign of fake silver. It is harmless and washes off. Keeping the piece dry and clean usually stops it.

Keep reading

Shop the collection Silver care guide Sterling silver vs white gold vs platinum

Sources & further reading

These references explain general materials and care. Our product details and policies describe Selestial pieces. Ask us if a method is suitable for your finish or setting.