925 silver

999 thousandths (99.9%) fine or pure silver is never used in jewelry, because, likegold, it is very malleable and pure silver jewelry would quickly lose its shape. A silver alloy must therefore be used to obtain a metal that is both precious and resistant.

The silver used in jewelry is, in most cases, an alloy composed of 925 thousandths of silver, and 75 thousandths of another metal, usually copper.
This alloy, due to its common use, has many names. 1er titre silver, Sterling silver, or simply 925 silver.
On Poemana, we use the designation "925 silver" on all silver jewelry, as it is the most evocative of quality.

For example, this silver ring with a Tahitian pearl features the "925" hallmark on the inside of the ring body.
Bague en argent 925 rhodié avec poinçon 925 et une perle de culture de Tahiti

Tehani ring in rhodium-plated 925 silver with Tahitian pearl

Silver is an oxidizing material, and over time, untreated jewelry will tarnish and lose its shine.
This is why the 925 silver used in jewelry is, in almost all cases, coated with a thin layer of rhodium.
Rhodium is a rare metal, comparable to platinum, which resists oxidation, and through a chemical process, a layer of 5 to 10 microns (0.005 mm) is deposited on the surface of the silver jewel.
This protective layer can resist years before eroding, and if the silver starts to tarnish, some jewelers offer the possibility of redoing a rhodium plating bath for less than 20€.

Rhodium-plated 925 silver is the silver color we're all familiar with. The traditional aspect of seeing and imagining the color and brilliance of silver.
It is this brilliance, and along with rhodium plating, the resistance that makes it so prized in the jewelry world, and that makes silver jewelry with Tahitian pearls so spectacular, such as this silver pendant with a half Tahitian pearl:

925 rhodium-plated silver pendant with half Tahitian pearl