Fineness expresses the share of pure silver in thousandths: 999 (fine), 925 (sterling, the modern standard), 800 (old silverware). The higher the fineness, the greater the fine weight, and thus the metal value.
The fineness of a silver item indicates how many grams of pure silver it contains per thousand grams of alloy. 999 silver (three nines) is called fine or pure: it is used for investment bars and coins. 925 silver, or sterling, contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper; it is the modern standard for jewellery and cutlery. 800 silver and 835 are found on old silverware and some coins.
The remainder (usually copper) provides the hardness needed for use. A high fineness means a softer but silver-richer metal. To identify an item's fineness, refer to the hallmarks: our guide on identifying solid silver explains how to read them.
The metal value depends directly on fineness. The calculation is proportional: multiply the total weight by the fineness to get the fine weight, that is, the amount of pure silver actually present. For equal weight, an item in 925 contains more silver than one in 800, and is therefore valued higher.
Concretely, the same weight of 800 silver holds 80% pure metal, against 92.5% for 925 and 99.9% for 999. It is this fine weight, not the gross weight, that serves as the basis for a buyback. Once the fine weight is known, simply multiply it by the day's price to estimate an order of magnitude, before the professional's margin is applied.
During a buyback, the professional checks the fineness via the hallmark, weighs the item, calculates the fine weight then applies their rate. A well-identified fineness smooths the transaction and makes the offer clearer. Items without a hallmark require a further test to confirm the fineness.
Remember that fineness does not set a price: it only determines the proportion of pure silver. The final value still depends on the day's price and the buyer's margin. To compare several offers on an identical basis, always relate the price proposed to the fine weight. Our silver buyback page helps put professionals in competition.
For equal weight, 925 silver contains 92.5% pure metal against 80% for 800, about 15% more pure silver. The fine weight, the basis for the buyback calculation, is therefore higher for 925.
For equal weight, 999 silver contains the most pure metal, so the fine weight is highest. But the final value also depends on the day's price and the professional's margin, which are identical whatever the fineness.