A little guide, made useful
What Is 925 Sterling Silver? UK Fineness and Hallmarking
The useful bit first
The answer in 30 seconds.
925 sterling silver contains 925 parts of silver per thousand. The remaining alloy gives jewellery more practical strength than pure silver. A “925” fineness mark describes metal purity; it should not be treated on its own as proof of a complete UK hallmark.
Official UK Dealer's Notice
Watch the official Dealer's Notice B for online jewellery sales. This is the online notice linked by the British Hallmarking Council's GOV.UK guidance.
What a UK hallmark tells you
A complete hallmark uses approved marks to identify the sponsor or maker, the Assay Office and the precious-metal fineness. Product-specific hallmark status depends on the exact article and its supporting records; we do not infer it from a generic 925 description.
Under current British Hallmarking Council guidance, silver articles below 7.78 grams are exempt from compulsory hallmarking. An exemption does not change what 925 means, and it does not make a fineness stamp equivalent to a complete hallmark.
Sterling silver, plating and vermeil
Sterling silver describes the core metal. Rhodium plating, gold vermeil and rose-gold vermeil describe a finish over that core. The relevant product variant should state the exact finish, gold purity and layer thickness where those facts are verified.
For finish construction and care, read our sterling silver and vermeil guide and jewellery care guide.
How to check a product
- Read the material details for the selected variant.
- Do not assume every silver-coloured or gold-coloured item has the same construction.
- Ask us for the exact item's hallmarking information if it affects your purchase.