If you’ve got old sterling silver jewellery, broken chains, or tarnished silverware tucked away in a drawer, you might be sitting on more money than you realise. With silver prices holding strong through 2025, now is a sensible time to understand what your 925 silver is actually worth.

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how 925 silver scrap prices work in the UK, what factors affect the rate you’ll be offered, and how to ensure you get a fair deal when selling your silver in Birmingham and beyond.

What Is 925 Silver?

The “925” stamp you see on silver items indicates sterling silver—an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, typically copper. This small addition of copper makes sterling silver significantly more durable than pure silver, which is too soft for everyday items like jewellery, cutlery, and decorative pieces.

In the UK, sterling silver items weighing more than 6 grams should carry a full hallmark, which includes the iconic “lion passant” symbol. Lighter items will typically just display the “925” stamp. Both are accepted by reputable buyers, though fully hallmarked pieces may command slightly better rates as their authenticity is already verified.

Current 925 Silver Scrap Prices in the UK

As of January 2026, UK dealers are paying approximately £1.30 to £1.50 per gram for 925 sterling silver scrap. We pay up to £1.59 per gram. This rate fluctuates daily based on the international silver spot price, which is currently trading around £54-55 per troy ounce for pure silver.

Here’s how the maths works: since sterling silver is 92.5% pure, the scrap price is calculated as a percentage of the pure silver spot price, minus the dealer’s margin for testing, processing, and refining.

Quick reference for typical scrap silver items:

• Silver ring (3-5g): approximately £4-7
• Silver chain necklace (10-20g): approximately £13-28
• Silver bracelet (15-30g): approximately £20-42
• Set of silver teaspoons (100g+): approximately £130+

These figures are estimates based on current rates—the actual value depends on weight, purity verification, and the dealer you choose. Use our Scrap Calculator to work our current 925 Scrap price and what we would pay:

Factors That Affect the Price You’ll Receive

1. The Global Silver Spot Price

Silver is traded internationally as a commodity, with prices changing throughout the day based on supply and demand, economic conditions, inflation expectations, and geopolitical events. The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) sets the benchmark silver price twice daily, which UK dealers use as their reference point.

2. Hallmarking and Verification

Fully UK hallmarked silver—bearing the lion passant, assay office mark, and date letter—typically fetches the best rates. Items with only a “925” stamp may be valued slightly lower as the dealer needs to verify authenticity through testing. Unhallmarked items require the most verification and may attract lower offers.

3. Weight and Quantity

Larger quantities of scrap silver generally command better per-gram rates. If you’re selling a substantial collection, you’re in a stronger position to negotiate. A few grams might not be worth the trip, but 50g or more makes the transaction worthwhile for both parties.

4. The Dealer’s Margin

Every scrap dealer applies a margin between the spot price and what they pay you—this covers testing equipment, staff time, refining costs, and business overheads. Reputable dealers are transparent about their rates and how they relate to the live silver price. Be wary of any dealer who only quotes the spot price without explaining their actual buying rate.

How to Calculate Your Scrap Silver Value

Before visiting a dealer, it helps to have a realistic expectation of what your silver is worth. Here’s a simple calculation:

1. Weigh your items using accurate digital scales (kitchen scales work, but jeweller’s scales are more precise)
2. Verify the purity by checking for hallmarks or a “925” stamp
3. Check the current rate—look at what reputable UK dealers are paying per gram for 925 silver today
4. Multiply the weight by the per-gram rate

For example: a 25g silver bracelet at £1.35/g = approximately £33.75

Keep in mind this is the scrap value only. Some items may have additional worth due to craftsmanship, maker’s marks, or antique value—though most broken or worn pieces are valued purely for their metal content.

What Types of Silver Can You Sell?

Scrap silver buyers accept a wide variety of items, including:

• Jewellery: rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, brooches (broken or intact)
• Flatware: spoons, forks, knives, serving pieces
• Decorative items: picture frames, candlesticks, vases
• Coins: pre-1947 British silver coins (which contain sterling silver)
• Dental silver: silver amalgam and dental scrap
• Industrial scrap: silver contacts, wire, and other trade silver

Items don’t need to be in good condition—tarnished, broken, single earrings, and damaged pieces are all acceptable. The value is in the metal content, not the appearance.

925 Silver vs Other Silver Purities

Not all silver is created equal. Here’s how different purities compare:

• 999 Fine Silver (99.9% pure): The highest purity, typically found in bullion bars and coins. Commands the best rates.
• 958 Britannia Silver (95.8% pure): A British standard sometimes used for fine silverware.
• 925 Sterling Silver (92.5% pure): The most common purity for jewellery and silverware in the UK.
• 900 Coin Silver (90% pure): Found in some older coins and continental silver.
• 800 Silver (80% pure): Common in European continental silver items.
• 500 Silver (50% pure): Found in pre-1947 British coins (post-1920).

Lower purity silver is worth proportionally less per gram. A reputable dealer will test your items and pay according to the actual silver content.

Tips for Getting the Best Price

Get Multiple Quotes

Rates vary between dealers, sometimes significantly. Before committing, get quotes from at least two or three buyers to understand the market and ensure you’re receiving a fair offer.

Visit a Specialist Dealer

High street pawnbrokers and cash-for-gold shops often offer lower rates than specialist bullion dealers. Look for established precious metals businesses with transparent pricing and good reviews.

Sell In Person When Possible

While postal services exist, selling in person allows you to see your items weighed, ask questions, and receive immediate payment. You also avoid the risk of items going missing in transit.

Check the Live Price Before You Go

Silver prices change throughout the day. Check the current spot price before your appointment so you know what to expect. If a dealer’s offer seems dramatically low, ask them to explain their calculation.

Bring Identification

Legitimate dealers are required to verify your identity under anti-money laundering regulations. Bring a valid passport or driving licence to avoid any delays.

Selling Scrap Silver in Birmingham

Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter has been the heart of Britain’s precious metals trade for over 250 years. Home to the Birmingham Assay Office—one of four UK offices authorised to hallmark precious metals—the Quarter remains the natural place to sell silver in the Midlands.

The concentration of specialist dealers in the Jewellery Quarter means competitive rates and expert valuations. Unlike anonymous online services, you can meet the buyer face-to-face, watch your silver being tested and weighed, and walk away with payment the same day.

At SMP Bullion and Diamonds, we buy all types of scrap silver at competitive rates based on the live silver price. Whether you have a few pieces of old jewellery or a significant collection of silverware, we provide honest valuations with no obligation to sell. Visit us in the Jewellery Quarter for a free assessment of your silver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is now a good time to sell silver?

Silver prices have remained relatively strong through 2024 and into 2025, supported by industrial demand and investment interest. While no one can predict future prices with certainty, current rates are historically favourable for sellers. If you have silver you no longer want, there’s no compelling reason to wait.

Do I need to clean my silver before selling?

No. Tarnish doesn’t affect the metal content or the price you’ll receive. In fact, aggressive cleaning could damage hallmarks or remove silver-plated coatings, potentially reducing value. Leave items as they are—dealers prefer to assess items in their natural state.

How can I tell if my silver is real?

Look for hallmarks or a “925” stamp. You can also try the magnet test—silver isn’t magnetic, so if a magnet sticks, the item is likely plated steel. However, professional dealers have testing equipment that can verify silver content definitively, so even unmarked pieces can be assessed.

What about silver-plated items?

Silver-plated items have a thin layer of silver over a base metal core and are worth very little as scrap—the silver coating is too thin to recover economically. Most dealers don’t buy silver plate, or offer only nominal amounts. Items marked “EPNS” (Electroplated Nickel Silver) or “silver plate” have no significant scrap value.

Do you buy silver coins?

Yes. Pre-1947 British silver coins (florins, half-crowns, shillings, sixpences) contain either 92.5% silver (pre-1920) or 50% silver (1920-1946) and are bought based on their silver content. Post-1947 British coins are made from cupro-nickel and contain no silver.

Ready to Sell Your Scrap Silver?

If you have 925 sterling silver to sell in Birmingham, SMP Bullion and Diamonds offers fair, transparent pricing based on the live silver price. Located in the historic Jewellery Quarter, we’ve been helping customers turn unwanted silver into cash with honest valuations and same-day payment.

Visit us today for a free, no-obligation valuation of your scrap silver.

---

Meta Title: 925 Silver Scrap Price UK: What Your Sterling Silver Is Worth in 2025

Meta Description: Find out today’s 925 silver scrap price in the UK. Learn what affects sterling silver prices, how to calculate the value of your scrap silver, and where to sell in Birmingham.

Target Keyword: 925 silver scrap price uk

Secondary Keywords: sterling silver price uk, scrap silver price per gram, sell silver Birmingham, silver scrap value calculator, 925 silver price today