Is Your Sterling Silver Jewelry Really Sterling Silver?
Why Knowing What You're Buying Matters
When you see a piece of jewelry stamped 925, you probably assume you know what you're buying: genuine sterling silver.
Unfortunately, a recent investigation in the United Kingdom provides a troubling reminder that a stamp or online product description doesn't necessarily guarantee what's actually inside a piece of jewelry.
The Sunday Times purchased inexpensive jewelry from third-party sellers on Amazon and TikTok Shop and sent the pieces to the Birmingham Assay Office for independent testing. One ring advertised as "925 silver" was found to contain approximately 92.3% cadmium—not 92.5% silver. Charms from another bracelet advertised as sterling silver contained approximately 33% cadmium. The products were removed or recalled after the marketplaces were informed of the findings.
For consumers, the story raises an important question:
When jewelry says "925 sterling silver," how do you know that's really what you're getting?
What Does 925 Sterling Silver Actually Mean?
Sterling silver has a very specific meaning.
Pure silver is relatively soft, so it is typically combined with a small amount of another metal to make it stronger and more practical for jewelry.
Genuine sterling silver contains:
92.5% pure silver
with the remaining 7.5% consisting of other metals, traditionally including copper.
That's where the familiar 925 stamp comes from—it represents 925 parts silver out of every 1,000 parts of the metal.
In the United States, Federal Trade Commission guidance states that jewelry described as "Sterling Silver," "Sterling," or "Ster." should be at least 925/1,000 pure silver.
A 925 Stamp Isn't a Guarantee
This is perhaps the most important lesson from the recent investigation.
A stamp is simply a mark placed on a piece of jewelry.
If an unreliable manufacturer stamps 925 onto a piece made from another metal, the stamp itself doesn't magically make that jewelry sterling silver.
The Sunday Times investigation illustrates just how dramatic the difference can be: a ring marketed as 925 silver reportedly contained approximately 92.3% cadmium.
And this isn't the only recent example. In June 2026, the UK's Office for Product Safety and Standards reported that a silver-colored snake ring sold through Amazon contained 86.7% cadmium. Authorities classified it as presenting a serious chemical risk, and the shipment was rejected at the border.
Why Is Cadmium in Jewelry a Concern?
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal. According to UK product-safety authorities, it can accumulate in the body, damage organs, and may cause cancer.
This doesn't mean briefly touching a contaminated piece of jewelry will cause cadmium poisoning. But toxic metals have no place being secretly substituted for the precious metal consumers believe they are purchasing.
The larger issue is both safety and honesty.
If you're paying for sterling silver, you should receive sterling silver.
At BeJeweled, Sterling Silver Means Sterling Silver
For more than two decades, we've built BeJeweled around artisan jewelry and materials we can stand behind.
When we describe a piece as sterling silver, we mean genuine 925 sterling silver.
We work with established artists, designers, and jewelry manufacturers and have long-standing relationships with many of our suppliers. We don't source anonymous jewelry simply because we can find it at the lowest possible price.
That distinction matters to us.
We want to know what we're selling, where it came from, who made it, and what materials were used to create it.
Why Does Genuine Sterling Silver Cost More?
We hear variations of this question all the time:
"Why is this sterling silver ring $85 when I saw one online for $12?"
Sometimes there are perfectly legitimate reasons for price differences—design, gemstone quality, craftsmanship, country of manufacture, labor, silver weight, and retail markup all affect price.
But there's another question consumers should consider:
Are the two pieces actually made from the same material?
Silver is a precious metal with a real commodity value. A substantial sterling silver bracelet, necklace, or ring requires actual silver to manufacture.
When something advertised as sterling silver is being sold at an extraordinarily low price, it's reasonable to ask questions.
Low price alone doesn't prove that jewelry is counterfeit. But when a price seems almost impossible for the amount of precious metal supposedly being sold, consumers should look more closely at the seller and product information.
Sterling Silver vs. Silver-Plated Jewelry
There's also nothing inherently wrong with silver-plated jewelry when it's accurately described.
Silver-plated jewelry generally consists of another metal covered with a thin layer of silver. It can be attractive and affordable, but it isn't the same material as sterling silver.
That's why accurate descriptions matter.
Sterling silver is sterling silver.
Silver plate is silver plate.
Silver-colored metal is silver-colored metal.
Consumers deserve to know which one they're purchasing.
How Can You Shop for Sterling Silver With Confidence?
A few simple habits can help when buying silver jewelry:
- Look for 925, Sterling, or Ster. markings, while remembering that a stamp alone isn't absolute proof.
- Buy from established jewelers, artists, and retailers who clearly identify their materials.
- Be cautious when a price seems unusually low for the size and weight of the piece.
- Look for detailed product descriptions rather than vague terms such as "silver tone," "silver color," or simply "silver."
- Ask the retailer about the metal if the description isn't clear.
- Consider who is actually selling the item when shopping through a large online marketplace.
A reputable jewelry seller should be comfortable telling you exactly what you're buying.
Why Knowing Your Jeweler Still Matters
Online shopping has given consumers access to more jewelry than ever before, which can be wonderful. But it has also made it easier for products from thousands of unknown manufacturers and third-party sellers to appear side by side.
That's one reason we believe there's still tremendous value in knowing your jeweler.
At BeJeweled, we personally select the jewelry we offer. We examine the pieces, work directly with our suppliers and artists, photograph our jewelry, write our own product descriptions, and educate our customers about the gemstones and materials they're purchasing.
After more than 24 years in business, our reputation matters far more to us than selling the cheapest piece of jewelry we can find.
What You Buy Matters
Jewelry is personal.
It's worn against your skin. It's given to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, and life's important moments. Some pieces become keepsakes that are worn for decades and eventually passed from one generation to another.
We believe you should know what those pieces are made from.
When you purchase a piece of sterling silver jewelry from BeJeweled, our commitment is simple:
If we tell you it's 925 sterling silver, it's 925 sterling silver.
Because beautiful jewelry shouldn't just look good.
You should feel confident about what you're wearing, too.