Sell 925 Sterling Silver – Pricing, Value, & the Best Way to Sell

Sterling silver (925) is a very popular metal. Since it’s commonly used in household items and jewelry, a lot of people have some. Whether it’s from an inheritance or just items you’ve collected over the years, the increase in price and interest in silver recently might mean it’s a good time to gather it up and sell it.

Below, we’ll take a look at what exactly Sterling Silver 925 is, how it’s valued, and how to go about selling it.

What is (925) Sterling Silver?

Sterling silver is an alloy consisting of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper. The addition of other metals enhances the durability and strength of the silver, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Why is Sterling Silver also called “925”?

As you might guess from the above, the 925 refers to the composition. 925 stands for 92.5%, or the percentage of the piece that is comprised of silver. Later, we’ll see that it means the value of the piece will be 92.5% of its total weight in silver.

How Much is (925) Sterling Silver Worth?

The value of a sterling silver piece is determined by several factors, including the current market price of silver, the weight of the item, and any additional brand or collector value. As a cash for gold and silver company, we’re primarily focused on the intrinsic value of sterling silver when buying pieces. That said, we do take into account the secondary market for items if you’re selling antiques, collectibles, or premium brand items in excellent condition.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you understand what the intrinsic value of your sterling silver is:

1. Determine the Weight

First, you need to know the weight of your sterling silver item in troy ounces or grams. Most jewelers can weigh your silver for you if you don’t have a precise scale. It’s best to have a scale capable of weighing small items to several decimal places.

2. Calculate the Pure Silver Content

Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver. To find the amount of pure silver in your item:

• Price of Sterling Silver In Ounces: Multiply the total weight by 0.925.
• Price of Sterling Silver In Grams: Multiply the total weight in grams by 0.925, then convert to troy ounces if necessary (1 troy ounce = 31.1035 grams).

3. Check the Current Market Price of Silver

As of writing this on June 14th, 2024 (we’ll update this periodically), the price of silver is $29.07 per troy ounce.

In the past year, the price of silver has fluctuated from about $20 to $32, so it’s a highly volatile commodity. Make sure to check the current market price of silver (silverprice.org is a good place to check) to properly calculate the value of your items.

4. Calculate the Value of the Silver Content

Once you have the weight of the pure silver and the current market price, calculate the value:

• Value: (Weight of pure silver in troy ounces) × (Current market price per troy ounce)
• For example, if you have 2 troy ounces of pure silver and the current price is $29.07 per troy ounce, the value is: (2 ounces) × ($29.07) = $58.14.

Note that this is the intrinsic value of the silver. If you’re selling it to a cash for silver company, jeweler, or pawn shop, you can expect them to pay less than the intrinsic value for your pieces. How much less? Well, that depends, and it’s largely based on how much you have to sell. Here is some more information on our silver pricing.

5. Consider Additional Factors

• Brands & Craftsmanship: Items with intricate designs, brand names, or historical significance may carry additional value beyond the raw silver content.
• Condition: Well-maintained items may fetch a higher price than damaged or heavily tarnished ones.
• Market Demand: The demand for certain types of sterling silver items can influence their value.

For example, if you have new Tiffany silver, an antique tea set in beautiful condition, or collectible silver coins in high demand, you’re likely to fetch more for your items than the scrap value of the silver.

Do you have silver coins to sell? Learn more about common silver coins and what they’re worth!

That said, we must stress that MOST sterling silver is purchased for its intrinsic value. We’re specialists in antiques and collectibles (a lot more experienced than your typical cash for gold shop), so if you have something special we’ll tell you, but it’s likely that most jewelry and flatware based on its precious metal value.

Example 925 Sterling Silver Value Calculation

Let’s go through an example based on the above steps. Note that the conversion to troy ounces shown in Step 3 below is more like a Step 2.5 based on the process detailed above (if you want the step numbers to line up):

1. Weight of the Item: 100 grams
2. Pure Silver Content: 100 grams (weight) × 0.925 (sterling silver composition) = 92.5 grams of pure silver
3. Convert to Troy Ounces: 92.5 (pure silver) ÷ 31.1035 = 2.9739 troy ounces
4. Current Market Price of Silver: $29.07 per troy ounce (example price)
5. Value of Pure Silver: 2.9739 (troy ounces of silver) × 29.07 (price of silver) = $86.45

So, your 100-gram sterling silver item would be worth approximately $86.45 based on the silver content alone. We’re assuming there’s nothing special about the 925 Sterling Silver and it would be sold for its intrinsic/scrap value.

Not a big fan of math? Use our Silver Value Calculator to automatically calculate values based on current market prices!

How to Sell Sterling Silver

At Cash for Gold Mailer, we make it easy to sell your sterling silver. We’ll also buy gold, platinum, precious metals, diamonds, and gems too!

Simply request a free gold (and silver) mailer on our website, and we’ll send you everything you need to sell your silver, including a prepaid mailer with packaging materials. Put your valuables in our discreet, fully-insured packaging and send it off to our valuation facility via FedEx.

At Cash for Gold Mailer, we offer same day processing and offers, and you’ll be notified as soon as an offer is available in your account. It will detail what items you have and how much we can offer you for them. If you accept your offer, you’ll be paid within 24 hours for your silver and values. If you decide not to sell, we’ll return them free of charge!

Request a free mailer now!

We offer transparent pricing and are all business when it comes to offers, so you don’t need to spend your time haggling. But if you sell locally, you should be prepared, as you never know how reputable the person you’re dealing with might be. In these cases, we recommend using the calculations detailed above so you understand exactly how much your silver is worth, giving you the information to set a reasonable expectation when it comes to selling to a local dealer.

Common Types of 925 Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is used in various products you can find around the home. Due to its durability and appearance, it has gained popularity as the metal of choice for a lot of classier household gifts. Here are just a few common types of pieces often made of sterling silver:

Jewelry: Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and watches.

Flatware: Forks, spoons, knives, and serving utensils.

Decorative Items: Picture frames, vases, candlesticks, and collectible figurines.

Coins: Some collectible and commemorative coins are made of 925 Sterling Silver. More popularly, they contain closer to 90% silver. Either way, worth selling rather than spending. Learn more about common silver coins and what they’re worth!

Why Sterling Silver?

Wondering why Sterling Silver is so popular? It’s combination of durability and attractiveness make it a great metal for daily life. Due to the other metal alloys, it isn’t frequently used in commercial and industrial processes (fine silver may be, though). So most of the sterling silver you find will be for consumer applications.

Durability – Sterling silver is more durable than pure silver, which is soft and prone to damage.

Luster – It maintains a bright, shiny appearance, making it popular for jewelry and decorative items.

Tarnish – Sterling silver can tarnish over time due to exposure to air and moisture, but it is easily polished back to its original shine.

How to Identify Sterling Silver

Sterling silver items are usually marked with a stamp indicating their authenticity. Common hallmarks include:

• “925” or “.925”: Indicates 92.5% silver content
• “Sterling” or “Ster”: A traditional marking for sterling silver
• Assay Marks: Country-specific symbols or icons verifying the silver content, often found alongside the “925” mark

Summary

Sterling silver is a versatile and durable material prized for its beauty and functionality. Whether used in jewelry, flatware, or decorative items, its combination of high silver content and added strength makes it a popular choice for many applications. Proper care and maintenance ensure that sterling silver items remain attractive and valuable over time.

When it comes time to sell your sterling silver, we’re ready to buy! We make it easy to sell your Sterling Silver (925) pieces with our free mailer kits. You can request one of your own here!

POSTED IN: 925 Sterling Silver, Antique Silver, Inherited Silver, Jewelry Identification Marks, Jewelry Silver, Purity Marks, Silver Coins, Silver Flatware, Silver Purities, Sterling Silver, Value of Silver