Are they silver?

[clovis97]

About 5 or 6 years ago, my wife bought some costume jewelry on ebay, and got them for a song.

Two of the rings are marked "925". They look and feel like silver. A magnet does not stick to them.

My wife says that the 925 is a ring size...but I think they are marked 925 because they are silver. She says the seller said that the rings were 9 1/4 in size.

What do you think?

Thanks!!!!!

[RustyRelicHunter]

925 is a standard marking for silver; the original seller was incorrect and your wife was able to buy silver at a bargain price.

[jerseyben]

I can almost guarantee they are sterling IF a magnet does not stick to them. Do they say Italy? Is the 925 mark small/hidden? Does it make a high pitched "cling/ring" when dropped on a solid surface? Any evidence of wear that reveals different colors in the worn part?

[Jason in Enid]

Congrats on scoring cheap silver! 925 is absolutely a purity mark.

[diggummup]

Tell your wife that for once in your life... you are right and she is not!

Tell her to read this-http://www.articleclick.com/Article/...Silver-/930878
I can count on one hand the number of times i've seen a size inscribed on a ring.

[clovis97]

Thanks so much fella's!!! I appreciate the help!!!!

[Dylan]

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925.

Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for producing functional objects; therefore, the silver is usually alloyed with copper to give it strength while preserving the ductility and beauty of the precious metal. Other metals can replace the copper, usually with the intent to improve various properties of the basic sterling alloy such as reducing casting porosity, eliminating firescale, and increasing resistance to tarnish. These replacement metals include germanium, zinc and platinum, as well as a variety of other additives, including silicon and boron. A number of alloys, such as Argentium sterling silver, have appeared in recent years, formulated to lessen firescale or to inhibit tarnish, and this has sparked heavy competition among the various manufacturers, who are rushing to make claims of having the best formulation. However, no one alloy has emerged to replace copper as the industry standard, and alloy development is a very active area.