* Silver hallmark
The 999 hallmark: meaning, purity & value
Fine silver (99.9%). Too soft for most wearable jewelry; used for bullion, fused-silver art jewelry, and some Eastern bridal pieces. Disambiguate from 999 gold by metal context.
Published May 30, 2026
Quick facts
- Metal
- Silver
- Purity
- 99.9%
- Fineness
- 999/1000
- Common regions
- international
- Density
- 10.49 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 961 °C
- Standard
- ISO 9202
Stamps that mean the same thing
This purity may be struck into jewelry as any of: 999 / FINE SILVER / .999 / 999 SILVER. The mark differs by country and era, but the metal content is identical.
What 999 tells you
Fine silver (99.9%). Too soft for most wearable jewelry; used for bullion, fused-silver art jewelry, and some Eastern bridal pieces. Disambiguate from 999 gold by metal context.
How to value it
The melt value of a 999 piece is silver spot price × 0.999 × weight (g). A buyer typically deducts 5–15% for assay, refining, and margin, so the cash offer lands just under that figure. Stones and complex settings are usually excluded from the metal weight.
How to check it yourself
- Examine the stamp under a 10× loupe — genuine marks are crisp and evenly struck, not doubled or smeared.
- Confirm the mark reads 999 or an equivalent such as FINE SILVER.
- Weigh the piece and estimate its volume — the density should land near 10.49 g/cm³ for this alloy.
- Photograph it in the Jewelry Identifier app to read the metal, hallmark, and any gemstones from the image.
- For a binding result, have an assay office or gemological lab run an XRF purity test.
Sources
- LBMA Good Delivery Rules
- Wikidata Q1090
* Frequently asked
FAQ
- Q. Is 999 the same as FINE SILVER?
- A. Yes. 999, FINE SILVER, .999, 999 SILVER all denote the same material — 99.9% silver. Different markets and eras stamp it differently, but the purity is identical.
- Q. How much is 999 worth?
- A. Its melt value is the silver spot price × 0.999 × the weight in grams. Buyers then deduct roughly 5–15% for refining and margin, so a quoted buy-back price sits a little below that theoretical figure.
- Q. How do I confirm a 999 stamp is genuine?
- A. Look at the mark under 10× magnification for crisp, even strikes, cross-check the weight-to-volume ratio against the expected density (10.49 g/cm³ for this alloy), scan it with the Jewelry Identifier app, and — when it matters — have an XRF test done by an assay office or gemological lab.
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