Understanding Silver Purity: A Guide to Fineness and Authenticity
The purity of silver is often expressed in fineness, indicating the percentage of pure silver in an alloy. For instance, 999 fineness means that 999 parts out of 1000 are pure silver.
Fine silver, also known as pure silver or .999 silver, contains 99.9% silver content with minimal impurities. This is the most commonly available form of silver to consumers.
Sterling silver, on the other hand, is a more common grade used in jewellery and household items. It contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. Britannia silver has a slightly higher purity at 95.8%, while coin silver contains 90% silver and 10% copper.
When buying silver, the showroom price will always be higher than the daily rate online due to making charges and GST. It's essential to check for BIS hallmarking and purity grade to ensure authenticity.