What does the 925 silver jewelry stamp mean?

I have 2 pieces of jewelry with this stamp and I myself wasn’t sure what the mark meant. I looked online because I didn’t want to pay a couple hundred dollars just to have the jewelry appraised, and on Zoara.com  I found a Silver Jewelry Guide Page: 
http://www.zoara.com/jewelry/silver#guide that explained all about silver jewelry and its marking. Basically, the 925 mark means that the jewelry is made up of 92.5% sterling silver. The last few percentages are a mix of nickel and other base metals such as steel or iron.

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Indicating a 925 stamp on sterling silver jewelry is actually compulsory by law. It was back in October 1st, 1981 that the United States Code appropriately named the Gold and Silver Marking Act went into effect. This act clearly states that a sterling silver mark, either in the form of "925" mark or a "sterling" mark has to clearly be stamped on the silver jewelry item. Failing to comply with these terms or forging a fake stamp on items which are in fact not sterling silver at all are both considered federal offences. By the way, a 925 mark basically means that the silver consists of 92.5% of pure silver, a figure which qualifies it to be regarded as sterling silver. The exact locations of this stamp varies from one item of jewelry to another, but rings are commonly stamped along the inside perimeter while necklaces are usually stamped on the clasp. Examining whether a silver item has a 925 or sterling stamp or not indicates the authenticity of your silver jewelry. Having said that, there is still genuine silver jewelry out there which is not properly marked. That is due to the fact that registering a trademark actually costs over $1000, a figure which the trader might not care to spend. Usually this is the case with small time silver artists or Native American silver craftsmen who rarely leave a hallmark mark on their silver work. But other than that, a 925 sterling silver trademark has become an important mean of determining that a silver item is in fact genuine. You can find more information on different jewelry marks online or by contacting websites specializing in high quality jewelry like Zoara.com

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Jewelry which exhibits the 925 stamp is pure sterling silver jewelry. The stamp denotes the silver's quality and purity. The stamp denotes that the metal alloy is at least 92.2% pure silver. The stamp also ensures that the silver jewelry is entirely nickel-free, and that it is hypoallergenic. 925 stamped sterling silver jewelry will not irritate your skin and will in no way turn your finger green. When searching for quality silver sterling jewelry, always look for the 925 stamp which guarantees that the item you are buying is of the highest quality and luster.

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