925 silver has become a popular type of jewelry in recent years, especially favored by many young people. So, do you know what 925 silver is? Let's explore this topic with Chariot Jewelry!
You might have purchased and used 925 silver due to its reasonable price and variety of designs. However, only a small number of people may actually be aware of the name 925 silver.
What is 925 Silver?
925 silver, s925 silver, or Italian silver are all terms referring to this type of product. Originating from the jewelry industry in Italy, the product's composition is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% metal alloys. This combination produces a robust, shiny silver that can be crafted into various types of jewelry while ensuring the durability of silver products.
Typically, pure silver is quite soft, making it difficult to craft into rings, bracelets, or small detailed items. Italian artisans combined silver with alloys, experimented multiple times to create the perfect formula, and eventually named this silver 925 silver.
Nowadays, most silver jewelry for both men and women is made from 925 silver, such as rings, bracelets, bangles, earrings, pendants, necklaces, hairpins, and charms. Its reasonable price and diverse designs make 925 silver popular among young people.
Benefits of 925 Silver
The primary component of 925 silver is still silver, and the low alloy content means that all products made from 925 silver have similar benefits to pure silver. Some of the benefits of 925 silver include:
Expressing Personality and Confidence
As a beauty accessory, wearing silver jewelry helps people create a unique highlight. A pair of earrings can make your face look brighter. For dresses with open necklines, a necklace can create a focal point.
Wearing a ring can also assert ownership, like couple rings or engagement rings.
Using Silver for Gua Sha
In the past, elders often used silver for gua sha (a traditional East Asian healing technique) on people with weak health or who were hit by the wind. Silver can be used alone or in combination with other items like chicken eggs or mint for gua sha. Note that gua sha should be performed in a private place by someone experienced or skilled.
Health Benefits of Silver
Silver has high antibacterial properties, which are very beneficial for health. Wearing silver helps protect your health by shielding you from the rain and wind. The reaction between silver and sulfur or sulfur precursors helps prevent the body from absorbing these substances, thus protecting you from skin poisoning.
Health Warning
It is normal for silver to change color over time. However, if your silver jewelry turns dark brown or bluish-gray shortly after wearing, you should check your health, as this indicates poor health. Busy work, irregular eating habits, or stress can cause changes in the body's atmosphere, leading to silver discoloration.
Recognizing Genuine 925 Silver
There are many ways to identify genuine 925 silver; here are some methods you can consider:
Check the 925 Mark on the Product
According to regulations, silver products sold on the market must have a mark confirming the silver's standard. In some cases, you might also find the manufacturer's logo on the products.
Therefore, 925 silver usually has the mark 925 or s925. For rings, this mark is typically on the inner side. For bracelets or bangles, it is on the clasp or the inner side. When buying any product, carefully observe and look for these marks. If purchasing online, ask the seller to show real images of the product with these marks for verification.
Silver Certificate
Not every store will have their silver products tested and certified. However, if the store where you purchase has a certificate, you can be more assured of your purchase.
Check the Price
When buying, evaluate whether the price is reasonable and if it is genuine 925 silver. Some places sell at low prices with additional gifts, which might indicate it is aluminum-plated silver rather than 925 silver. Similar to gold, when you buy necklaces or bracelets, they calculate the price of silver and add a crafting fee.
Based on the Product's Peeling
Besides the above methods, you can also identify silver through the product's peeling. However, this method requires a period of use to confirm. If it is fake or plated silver, after use, you will see signs of peeling or paint chipping.
Additionally, Chariot Jewelry has a detailed article on recognizing 925 silver, which you can view here: 8 ways to identify genuine 925 silver.
Does 925 Silver Tarnish Quickly?
Usually, 925 silver jewelry tarnishes due to reactions between the silver and sulfur in the air or sweat, leading to black spots on the silver. Whether pure silver (99.99%) or 925 silver, both will tarnish and darken over time. This process is a chemical reaction between silver and sulfur, creating Ag2S (silver sulfide), which precipitates and turns black on the jewelry.
This reaction is completely natural, so you don't need to worry too much when using silver. During use, store it properly and regularly clean it at home with simple ingredients like lemon and salt, dishwashing liquid, or buy silver cleaning solutions to use at home.
Three Ways to Shine 925 Silver at Home
Using Lemon and Salt
Mix in a 1:1:5 ratio (lemon: salt: water), put the silver in the water mixture and boil. When the silver shines again, turn off the heat, remove the silver, rinse with water, and let it dry.
Using Toothpaste
First, rub a layer of toothpaste on the silver. Then use a soft brush or cloth to scrub the silver until it shines. Remember to rinse with water, dry, and then use.
Using Silver Cleaning Solution
Specialized silver cleaning solutions contain ingredients that quickly remove black and tarnish. Simply pour the solution into a bowl, immerse the silver, and wait for the result.