An alloy of 92.5% pure silver strengthened with copper and other metals. Pure silver is soft and deforms easily, so it's alloyed to give the hardness suited to jewellery. It is a global-standard jewellery material that balances beautiful shine with durability.

Most silver 925 pieces are nickel-free, and it is widely used as a material chosen with metal allergies in mind. That said, individual sensitivities vary. If you're concerned about a skin reaction, do a patch test or consult a specialist.

Yes. Reacting with airborne sulphur and with sweat and sebum, its surface can tarnish (sulphidise/oxidise) over time. But this is a surface phenomenon — the material itself does not degrade. A light wipe with a soft cloth restores the original shine in most cases.

This aging is silver's own character; with continued proper care, it stays beautiful for a long time. For detailed care, please see this guide.

"Surgical steel (SUS316L)" is originally an industrial material for cookware and medical equipment. It increasingly circulates as jewellery, but its nature is fundamentally different from a precious metal.

Surgical steel including 316L also contains a trace of nickel, and cases have been reported where sensitive skin, worn for long periods, develops trouble from reaction with sweat. The pitch that "it's nickel-free, so it's safe" is not always accurate.

Silver 925, by contrast, is nickel-free and holds a precious metal's true value in workability, texture and resale. For details, see our silver 925 vs. surgical steel comparison.

Brass is low-cost and easy to form, but it tarnishes easily and, depending on the product, can contain nickel — which can cause allergy. As a non-precious metal, its resale and material value also differ from silver.

Silver 925 is often nickel-free and gentler on the skin — a material well suited to jewellery meant for long-term use.

The market has many products where non-precious metals like brass or steel are silver-plated and sold as "silver accessories." They're hard to tell apart by sight, but the material underneath is entirely different.

Coatings like rhodium or gold are legitimate finishes that boost shine and durability — if the base is a precious metal. But if the base is non-precious, worn plating means the material touches skin directly, raising allergy and tarnish risk.

The claim that "surgical steel is nickel-free" is, in cases, inaccurate — since 316L contains a trace of nickel. Before buying, we recommend always checking what the base material is.