Silver Purity Explained: From Fine to Britannia

Silver purity is typically expressed in fineness, indicating the percentage of pure silver in an alloy. For example, 999 fineness means 999 parts out of 1000 are pure silver. Fine Silver (99.9% Pure) contains 99.9% silver content with minimal impurities and is suitable for investment coins and bars.

Sterling Silver (92.5% Pure), on the other hand, is the most common grade used in jewelry and household items, containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals like copper. Britannia Silver (95.8% Pure) contains 95.8% silver and 4.2% other metals and was introduced in Britain in 1697 as a higher standard than sterling silver.

The pricing of silver is not just the base price, but also includes making charges that vary by design and a 3% Goods and Services Tax (GST). Additionally, embedded stones are excluded when calculating the net silver weight for pricing.