Guides / Real 925 silver

Is it real 925 silver? How to tell

A piece that says “925 silver” is not 925 silver just because it says so. This guide explains what the stamp means, which tests you can do at home without damaging the piece, which ones are better left alone and who can confirm it for certain.

Updated on September 26, 2026

1. What “925” means

That out of every 1,000 parts of the alloy, 925 are silver: 92.5%. The rest, almost always copper, makes it harder, because pure silver is too soft for jewelry you wear every day. That same mix is what darkens over time, and the care guide explains why and how to clean it.

2. Where the stamp is and what it can say

On a ring it goes inside; on a chain, near the clasp; on earrings, on the post or the hook. It is very small, so a magnifying glass or your phone camera zoomed in helps.

The stamp is put there by whoever makes the piece. It is a clue, not a guarantee: some imitations carry it too. That is why it is worth adding the tests below.

3. Three tests at home that do not damage the piece

• The magnet. Silver is not magnetic. Bring a strong magnet close, such as a neodymium one: if it sticks firmly, there is iron or steel inside and it is not 925 silver. If it does not stick, that still proves nothing, because copper, brass and nickel silver do not stick either. On a chain, test the links and not the clasp, which usually has a steel spring.
• The worn edges. Look at whatever rubs the most, like the inside of a band, the tips or the edges. If a yellow or reddish color shows there, it is plating over brass or copper wearing through. Solid silver is the same color inside and out.
• The white cloth. Rub a hidden spot with a clean white cloth. A gray or black mark is the layer silver forms with the air: a good sign. If the piece was just polished, or has a rhodium plating to keep it from darkening, the cloth may come out clean and it can still be silver.

And one more sign, before you buy: the price. Silver is paid for by weight, so a thick “925 silver” chain at costume jewelry prices is almost never silver.

4. What not to do

Do not pour bleach on it, which darkens silver in seconds and can damage it, and do not file or scratch it to see what is underneath. Those tests are for a jeweler, on a hidden spot and knowing how to read them.

5. Who can confirm it

• The acid test. The jeweler files a hidden spot and adds a drop of nitric acid, which turns dark red on silver and green on a base metal. It is quick and cheap, but it leaves a small mark and only reads the surface.
• The X-ray meter. It tells what the surface is made of in seconds, without touching the piece or leaving a mark. Some jewelers and metal labs have one.

And the Hinge Ring?

We cast it in 925 silver and it carries the 925 stamp inside, on a different link from your engraving. If you ever want to check it, any jeweler can measure it with the tests above. The Spiral Earrings in silver are 925 silver too.