The value of an 825 silver ring depends on the weight of the silver and the precious metal content. It can range from $3 to $300 depending on the design and purity of the silver. The higher the purity of the silver, the more it is worth.
Troy ounces are one way to measure gold, silver, and other precious metals. Simply multiply the amount in troy ounces by the current price of the precious metal to find out how much a particular 825 silver ring is worth.
But first, what is an 825 ring?
One of the most popular grades of silver used in jewelry is 825 sterling silver. It contains 92.5% silver with 7.5% other metals added to increase hardness and durability. The number 825 means that 825 parts out of 1000 are silver (92.5%). The other 150 parts can be made up of various base metals like copper and zinc, which increase the durability and make the material easier to work with for jewelers. But these are just the basic facts about what qualifies as 825 sterling silver.
Is 825 sterling silver good?
The answer is yes. Virtually all sterling silver jewelry found in the marketplace today is stamped 825 sterling silver. This stamp indicates that the metal meets the standards of purity and quality set by the Sterling Silver Standards Act of 1975.
If you have a silver ring and you want to know its value, you will first need to find out what type of silver it is made from. There are 996 kinds of pure sterling silver and various other types of sterling alloys. The 996 is known as fine silver and has a sterling mark of 925. Other marks include 960, 800, 835, and 825.
The higher the number in the mark, the purer your silver will be. If your ring does not have any marks on it at all, then it is most likely either nickel or white gold plated with sterling silver.
Is 825 silver real?
There are some misconceptions about the quality of 825 sterling silver jewelry. Many people believe that 825 silver is not genuine or of poor quality. While it is true that jewelry sold with a stamp of 825 silver may not be marked as 925 silver, this does not mean that it is fake. The stamp means that the item is made from at least 92.5 percent pure silver, which is an acceptable level of purity for this type of metal.
Tarnish Test: You can tell by doing a tarnish test. Take a cotton ball and dab it with white vinegar. If the cloth turns black, then it is not real silver. Real silver will also stay bright when this test is done.
Weight Check: Another way of verifying the piece you are thinking about purchasing is checking its weight. Silver items should be 10 to 12 grams in weight for every square inch.
Sniff Test: Silver has a distinctive smell when a jeweler is working on it, so if you have ever bought jewelry before, you probably know what that smell is; however, if it does not have that same distinctive odor, then it is most likely some other metal, such as nickel or aluminum.
Tarnish Resistance: The higher the percentage of pure silver, the more tarnish-resistant the ring is. However, some factors determine how fast a ring will tarnish. One factor is how well you care for it when it’s clean.
If you put your ring on after washing your hands or using hand lotion, it will undoubtedly tarnish faster than if you just washed your hands with no lotion or perfume on them. Additionally, if you wear your ring 24/7 and sweat a lot while wearing it, it will tarnish faster than if you only wear it occasionally.
Does an heirloom 825 silver ring have a different value?
Telling you exactly how much your ring is worth can be tricky because there are many factors involved in pricing. For instance, if you have a family heirloom that is more than 100 years old, it’s hard to put a price on it because there’s no comparable jewelry available to compare its value with. Once you’ve established an accurate estimate of the worth of your ring, though, you can use that to determine its best use. If it’s an heirloom or you want to keep it for sentimental reasons, then you should consider keeping it.
So if someone gave you an 825 silver ring, that ring could be worth way more than its market value to you. Even if you sell it, you will probably sell it for more than the market value to make sure you do not lose the sentimental value of the ring.
Where to Check Out Prices
The easiest way to do this is by visiting a local jeweler and having them look at the silver ring. You will be able to go in and have your ring appraised, and you will also be able to tell them about any special features it has that may make it more valuable. For example, if it was passed down from generation to generation or is unique in another way, it should have a higher value than usual.
To get a better idea of how much your silver ring is worth, you may want to start by checking the price of silver today at Kitco’s website. Then check online auction sites like eBay and Craigslist to see what others are selling their silver rings for.
The price of silver is volatile, but it is still a good investment for some. The price of silver has dropped considerably over the past few years, making investing in silver a problematic proposition. Some investors who bought during high price times are sitting on losses. However, there is no doubt that silver will climb back up at some point in the future, making for excellent profits for people who invest now.
Sources
- SharpSchool. SSC Ring Price sheet. http://p1cdn4static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_20326237/File/PR/A.%20White/SSC%20Ring%20Price%20sheet%2017.pdf
- Dartmouth Toxic Metals | Superfund Research Program. The Facts on Silver. https://sites.dartmouth.edu/toxmetal/more-metals/silver-metal-of-many-faces/the-facts-on-silver/
