Sterling silver 925 and coin silver: what the marks mean
The minimum silver content behind each word.
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Sterling means 925
Section 23.5(b)(2) says "solid silver", "Sterling Silver", "Sterling", or "Ster." should describe only metal that is at least 925/1,000ths pure silver.
Coin silver
Section 23.5(b)(3) says "coin" or "coin silver" should describe only metal that is at least 900/1,000ths pure silver.
The word "silver" alone
Section 23.5(b)(1) says the unqualified word "silver" should come with a fineness figure in parts per thousand immediately before it, for example "750 silver".
Plated and coated
Under section 23.5, a product that only has a surface layer of silver should be described so that it is clear the product is only coated. 15 U.S.C. 297 says silver plated articles should not be stamped "sterling" or "coin".
Tolerance
A footnote to section 23.5 says that under the National Stamping Act, sterling silver articles or parts with no solder have a permissible tolerance of four parts per thousand, and ten parts per thousand if the part tested contains solder. The Act itself is 15 U.S.C. 296.
FAQ
General information only. We are not a jeweler, appraiser, or gemological lab, and we do not grade, appraise, or verify any stone or metal. Before you buy, read the seller's full description, including whether a diamond is mined or laboratory-grown, any treatment, the metal's karat or fineness, and the weight, and check any grading report with the lab that issued it.
Next: stamps and marks
How to read a quality mark.
