By definition, pure silver must contain 99 to 100% silver. But its use in this form is impossible in jewellery, pure silver is too soft. Other metals are therefore added to it, including copper (the most often used). Pure silver is in the majority but its exact content is not specified. To know the quantity of silver used in the alloy, one must refer to the type of punch.
Silver 950‰ consists of 95% pure silver and 5% copper. Despite the higher silver content, silver 950‰ jewellery damages and darkens much faster than silver 925‰ jewellery.There is no specific hallmark for silver 950‰. It is the Minerve 1st hallmark when the weight is over 30g.
Silver 925‰, 1st grade has a minimum content of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. It is called 925 silver or Sterling Silver 925 in English. Jewellery must have, when its weight is over 30 g, the Minerve hallmark 1st title, which is bordered by an octagonal frame and the number 1.
Silver 800‰ is the minimum grade to designate a work as silver. This is because it consists of 80% pure silver and 20% copper. Jewellery must have, when its weight exceeds 30g, the Minerve hallmark 2nd title, which is bordered by a frame and the number 2.
Rhodium-plated silver, the term "rhodium-plated" means a treatment to slow down the oxidation of the metal, to protect it and to give it a brilliant shine. Rhodium is a very rare metal that costs much more than gold. It is stainless, very hard, very bright white and completely non-allergic. Also used for white gold, it gives exceptional durability and protects against wear. Rhodium plating has a certain cost, making rhodium-plated silver a high-end material.
Vermeil is not an alloy but silver coated with gold (750‰ for the plating and 800‰ for the silver). The gold layer should not be less than 5 microns. It is considered a precious metal.
Silver plating, silver metal with no silver content or at best covered with a thin layer of silver. Jewellers can also do this to neutralise the fire marks of silver that appear during soldering, repair, polishing or other processes.
Here are some hallmarks to recognize your silver jewellery:
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