What does 925 mean in silver?

925 means the metal is 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper. The mix is called sterling silver and is the standard for jewellery.

Is recycled silver worse than newly mined silver?

No. After refining, recycled sterling silver 925 is chemically identical to newly mined silver. The same hardness, the same shine, the same durability.

Journal

What is recycled sterling silver 925?draft: text

Everything that leaves the studio is recycled sterling silver 925. Here is what those numbers mean and why the material is recycled.

The numbers

Pure silver is too soft to wear. A ring in pure silver would bend out of shape with everyday wear. It is therefore alloyed with other metals, usually copper, and the mix is given a number that states how much silver it contains.

925 means 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals. That mix is what sterling silver is, and it is the worldwide standard for jewellery. If you see 925 stamped in a piece, you know what you are holding.

Why recycled

Mining new silver has a cost. Not primarily in money, but in land, water and energy. Silver is usually mined as a byproduct in lead, zinc and copper mines, and those mines leave traces that remain long after they close.

Recycled silver comes from material already above ground instead: old jewellery, industrial scrap, electronics. It is melted, refined and becomes raw material again. Silver can be recycled any number of times without degrading.

Can you tell the difference?

No. A silver atom is a silver atom regardless of where it came from. After refining, recycled 925 is chemically identical to newly mined 925: the same hardness, the same shine, and it ages the same way. The difference lies in what did not have to be dug up.

Common questions

What does 925 mean in silver?: 925 means the metal is 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent other metals, usually copper. The mix is called sterling silver and is the standard for jewellery.
Is recycled silver worse than newly mined silver?: No. After refining, recycled sterling silver 925 is chemically identical to newly mined silver. The same hardness, the same shine, the same durability.