If you’re looking to sell your silver pieces, you may be concerned about finding a fair buyer in order to get the best price for your precious metal. Luckily, there are kind and legitimate pawn shops in Orange County that will gladly offer you the best experience with the fairest prices for your 925 silver. But first, you should know what you’re holding to save you any unnecessary trouble later on.
What Is 925 Silver?
When it comes to any sort of authentic silver, the most common uses involve the collection of investment pieces like bars and coins or the formation of stunning jewelry. Although more rare nowadays, there is still value to be found in silver through antique dinnerware and silverware. What some people may not realize is that there are also plenty of other surprising uses for authentic silver, with an example being the antimicrobial properties of silver being utilized for medical reasons. But what exactly does the term “925 silver” mean, and how can you identify it so you can sell it for its full worth?
Sterling Silver vs. 925 Silver
You’ve likely heard about sterling silver more than 925 silver, but which one is better or holds more value? That is a trick question as they are quite literally the same thing. In order for a piece to be classified as sterling silver, it needs to have a purity rating of at least 92.5% silver which is where the number 925 comes from. The other 7.5% is typically composed of other alloys such as zinc, copper, or nickel. If a metal contains less than 92.5% silver, it cannot be classified as sterling or 925 silver. When attempting to sell your 925 silver at a pawn shop in Orange County, it’s important to make sure that it meets this criteria. Thankfully, the best pawn shops in the area will be able to appraise it for you.
Surface Level Composition
Although you can own pure or fine silver with a purity rating of 99.9%, this composition isn’t commonly used because silver is naturally soft. Imagine a silver fork that bends with every poke, or a silver pendant that dents easily. The other 7.5% of alloys in 925 silver provides a certain hardness factor that makes a silver piece more practical for everyday use. Most (if not all) 925 silver pieces are expertly stamped as proof of authenticity. Some counterfeit pieces may attempt to mimic a silver stamp to pass off a bunk piece as legitimate which is why it’s still a good idea to get your 925 silver professionally appraised even if you’re able to find one of these markings. However, many plagiarists won’t spend the time to forge a stamp since the average person won’t know to check for it.
What Is 925 Silver?
When it comes to any sort of authentic silver, the most common uses involve the collection of investment pieces like bars and coins or the formation of stunning jewelry. Although more rare nowadays, there is still value to be found in silver through antique dinnerware and silverware. What some people may not realize is that there are also plenty of other surprising uses for authentic silver, with an example being the antimicrobial properties of silver being utilized for medical reasons. But what exactly does the term “925 silver” mean, and how can you identify it so you can sell it for its full worth?
Sterling Silver vs. 925 Silver
You’ve likely heard about sterling silver more than 925 silver, but which one is better or holds more value? That is a trick question as they are quite literally the same thing. In order for a piece to be classified as sterling silver, it needs to have a purity rating of at least 92.5% silver which is where the number 925 comes from. The other 7.5% is typically composed of other alloys such as zinc, copper, or nickel. If a metal contains less than 92.5% silver, it cannot be classified as sterling or 925 silver. When attempting to sell your 925 silver at a pawn shop in Orange County, it’s important to make sure that it meets this criteria. Thankfully, the best pawn shops in the area will be able to appraise it for you.
Surface Level Composition
Although you can own pure or fine silver with a purity rating of 99.9%, this composition isn’t commonly used because silver is naturally soft. Imagine a silver fork that bends with every poke, or a silver pendant that dents easily. The other 7.5% of alloys in 925 silver provides a certain hardness factor that makes a silver piece more practical for everyday use. Most (if not all) 925 silver pieces are expertly stamped as proof of authenticity. Some counterfeit pieces may attempt to mimic a silver stamp to pass off a bunk piece as legitimate which is why it’s still a good idea to get your 925 silver professionally appraised even if you’re able to find one of these markings. However, many plagiarists won’t spend the time to forge a stamp since the average person won’t know to check for it.
| Common 925 Silver Stamps |
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Is My 925 Silver Fake?
While you should still bring your silver piece to an appraiser, there are some at-home authenticity tests that you can do to help you determine if it’s true 925 silver. Perhaps the easiest test you can do is to check for a stamp or marking, but there are other doable tests that involve things that you may have lying around the house. For instance, natural silver does not give a strong magnetic pull, so if your “precious” metal is clinging onto a magnet like its life depends on it, that means its main composition is that of other metals and is not primarily silver. And since silver has high thermal conductivity, you can place an ice cube on top of your piece to see if it melts at a fast rate. An exhaustive list of at-home tests include:
- The odor test
- The flake test
- The polish test
- The ice test
- The magnet test
- The hallmark test
These are all easy and rather fun tests to do at home if you have the time and the means, but the best way to check for your 925 silver’s genuineness is to take it to an appraiser like the ones at your local pawn shop in Orange County.
Ways to Sell 925 Silver
Once you know that your 925 silver is truly authentic, where should you sell it? If it’s a jewelry piece, your first instinct may be to take it to a jewelry retail store. The problem with this is that you may have trouble getting the store to take it off your hands. These retail stores are primarily interested in pieces that are either trending or appear fresh-out-the-box so they can resell it instantly for a premium. If your silver jewelry is outdated, even if it’s gorgeous, a jeweler may still turn you down. Mail-in services may seem convenient, but the process actually takes longer than if you were to just visit your local pawn shop. Plus, there’s always the possibility of your item getting “lost” during transit leaving you with absolutely zero profit. Selling your 925 silver online to individual buyers is a sure way to get the least amount of cash back since these people only care about getting the lowest possible price. So where is the best place to sell your 925 silver? Pawn shops like the ones in Orange County are your best bet.
A well-established general pawn shop will gladly take anything of value which is how they’re able to keep such a large and constantly-rotating inventory of various goods. As long as your 925 silver is real and worth something, they’ll likely buy it off of you. A pawn shop with an appraiser on hand is also a great way to ensure that you get the best price for your silver since they go by the current market value and consider hard factors to give you a calculated cost. Certified pawn shops are also verified by legitimate groups such as the California Pawnbrokers Association so you know that they’re bound by certain rules, regulations, and guidelines for your safety.
The Best Pawn Shop In Orange County
Rather than sorting through every pawn shop in Orange County to find a place to sell your 925 silver, you’ll have a much easier time trusting in Westminster Pawn. This established pawn shop is now new and improved under the ownership of experts in the pawning business with decades of experience within the industry. Sister shops include Azusa Pawn and Central Mega Pawn, both of which have a loyal customer base earned through years of exceptional service backed by hundreds of outstanding online reviews. Stop by today with your silver piece so you can enjoy the best pawn shop experience and leave with a wad of cash in hand!