How silver is priced in the Philippines
In the Philippines, the price of silver (presyo ng pilak) is usually discussed per gram. This is how jewellers, silversmiths and buyers of old jewellery price 925 sterling silver. Bullion investors also follow the price per troy ounce. The figures on this page are the international silver spot price converted into pesos at the live exchange rate. They show the metal value before VAT, workmanship and dealer margins, so a shop will sell above these numbers and buy back below them.
VAT on silver in the Philippines
Sales of goods by VAT-registered sellers carry 12% value added tax, and silver has no special exemption. That covers silver bars, coins and silver jewellery. Gold is different: sales of gold to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are VAT-exempt under Revenue Regulations No. 13-2018 (Sec. 4.109-1(B)(1)(z)), and small-scale miners selling gold to the BSP also get income and excise tax relief. No equivalent provision exists for silver, so expect VAT in the price of silver bought from a VAT-registered shop. Ask for an official receipt.
How silver is priced locally
The Philippines has no local silver exchange or official daily silver fixing. The BSP's precious-metals role centres on gold. Dealers and jewellers work from the international spot price in US dollars, convert it to pesos, then add margin and workmanship. For jewellery, workmanship and design often matter more than metal value. When you sell, buyers usually pay per gram of tested silver, well below spot for 925 pieces after melting and refining costs. Use the 925 setting in the calculator above to see the metal value of sterling silver jewellery.
925 sterling and 999 fine silver
Most silver jewellery sold in the Philippines is sterling silver stamped "925", meaning 92.5% silver. Investment bars and bullion coins are usually 999 or 9999 fine. Cheaper "silver" fashion jewellery is often only plated or made from other alloys, and has little or no scrap value, so check for a fineness stamp and buy from established shops. A 10 g sterling silver bracelet contains 9.25 g of pure silver, which is the amount a scrap buyer will value.
Baguio silver and buying tips
Baguio City is the centre of Filipino silver craft. Its hand-made silver jewellery has a generational tradition behind it, and its silver craft forms part of Baguio's designation as a UNESCO Creative City for crafts and folk art. Local workshops such as Pilak (the Filipino word for silver) compete with cheaper imported machine-made pieces by focusing on intricate hand-made designs. For investment, silver is bulky, attracts 12% VAT and has wide buy/sell spreads, so it suits long-term buyers. Keep receipts that show weight and purity.
Tax and duty information last reviewed October 2026. Rules change — confirm with your dealer or tax authority before a large purchase.