Related Precious Metal & Finance Calculators
How to Use the Sterling Silver Calculator
- Enter Weight: Weigh your sterling silver item and enter the weight. Select the correct unit (grams, troy ounces, or standard ounces).
- Check Silver Price: The calculator attempts to fetch the current spot price of silver. You can also manually enter a different price per troy ounce.
- Calculate: See the estimated melt value of your item, which is based on its 92.5% silver content.
What is Sterling Silver?
Sterling silver is a popular silver alloy that is commonly used in jewelry, flatware, and other decorative objects. It is not pure silver. By international standard, sterling silver is **92.5% pure silver** and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. This is why you often see items stamped with "925" or ".925".
The addition of other metals makes the silver much more durable and less soft than pure silver (99.9% fine silver), which is too delicate for most practical uses. This calculator automatically accounts for the 92.5% purity when determining the value.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is "Melt Value"?
Melt value is the intrinsic value of the precious metal within an item if it were to be melted down and sold purely for its metal content. It does not include any value from craftsmanship, brand name, or historical significance. Pawn shops and "cash for gold" businesses typically buy items based on a percentage of their melt value.
What is a "Troy Ounce"?
A troy ounce (ozt) is the standard unit of measurement for precious metals like silver and gold. It is slightly heavier than a standard (avoirdupois) ounce. 1 troy ounce is equal to 31.103 grams, whereas 1 standard ounce is approximately 28.35 grams.