When shopping for a ring like the one pictured above, you may notice the number "925" inscribed on the inside of the band. But what does it mean? The "925" mark is used to indicate the purity of sterling silver, a type of silver frequently used in making jewelry. The number "925" means that the silver is 92.5% pure silver, with the remaining 7.5% made up of other metals (usually copper) added to make the silver more durable and less prone to scratching or bending.
Sterling silver is a popular choice for jewelry because of its beauty and relative affordability. Silver may become less affordable in the future if it follows in the footsteps of gold, which is now close to $2,000 an ounce: https://www.monex.com/gold-prices/ The "925" mark is a guarantee that the jewelry is made of genuine sterling silver and can be easily seen with a jeweler's loupe: https://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/jeweler-loupes. If you're shopping for sterling silver jewelry, make sure to look for this mark to ensure that you're getting a genuine piece.
In addition to the "925" mark, other engravings can also be found on sterling silver jewelry, like the maker's mark by the jeweler or the country of origin. These additional symbols can provide further information on a piece of jewelry, like who made it or where it was made. I will be putting the ring pictured above up for sale in the near future so interested buyers can be assured that they are purchasing a high-quality piece of jewelry made of 92.5% pure silver. Keep your eyes open for the listing and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or interest in the piece.