925 Sterling Silver for Custom Jewelry
Quick answer
925 sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver alloyed with 7.5% other metals — usually copper — for strength. It's the most affordable metal we work in, which makes it ideal for first samples, budget and fashion lines, and everyday pieces. It has honest limits: silver is soft, so prongs on valuable stones can wear over time, and it tarnishes and needs occasional polishing. We set it to your specification and you approve the CAD before anything is cast.
What 925 sterling silver actually is
Sterling silver is an alloy, not pure silver — and that is deliberate.
- 92.5% pure silver, 7.5% other metals — usually copper — added for strength.
- Marked 925, the standard that means a piece is fit to be worn.
- Pure silver is too soft for jewelry on its own; the alloy lets a piece keep its shape and hold its settings.
Where silver is the right call
First samples
The lowest material cost makes early samples and prototypes affordable to iterate on.
Budget and fashion lines
A real precious-metal story at a price that lets you reach more customers.
Everyday pieces
Durable enough for daily wear when you want silver's look.
Design development
An economical metal to prove a design before committing a piece to gold.
Honest limits to know up front
Softness
Silver is soft, so prongs on a large, valuable stone can wear and loosen over time — we recommend gold for a valuable center stone.
Tarnish
Sterling silver darkens with air and skin over time. It is expected with 925 and reverses with a simple polish.
Plating wear
Some pieces are rhodium-plated for a brighter white; that plating wears with use and can be refreshed.
925 silver questions, answered
What does 925 mean on silver?+
925 is the sterling silver standard: 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Pure silver is too soft to wear, so the alloy is what lets a piece hold its shape and its settings.
Is 925 sterling silver good for everyday wear?+
Yes. It is durable enough for daily pieces. Sterling silver tarnishes over time when it meets air and skin — that is expected, not a defect — and it comes back with a simple polish. We tell you how to store and care for it.
Can I set diamonds or stones in sterling silver?+
For smaller or semi-precious stones, yes. We are cautious about setting a large, valuable stone in silver: it is a soft metal, so prongs can wear and loosen over time. For a valuable center stone we usually recommend a gold setting.
Why is silver cheaper than gold?+
Its price per gram is far lower, and metal price-per-gram times weight is the base of a quote. That makes silver the natural choice for samples and budget-conscious lines.
Does silver plating last?+
Some sterling pieces are plated — often with rhodium — for a brighter white finish. Plating wears with everyday use and can be refreshed, so we are clear about what is plated and what is solid.
Is solid silver better than silver-plated?+
Solid 925 can be polished and repaired again and again; a plated base metal eventually wears through. We work in solid 925 and mark clearly where a piece is plated.
Related reading
Design a piece in 925 sterling silver.
Send your idea and we will confirm the silver specification that fits your design and budget — CAD you approve, a sample before bulk, and quality control, with per-product minimums.