Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying Any Silver Jewellery

Silver looks the same on a shop shelf whether it is sterling, plated brass or something in between. That is why checking before you pay matters more than choosing the design. We supply sterling, plated and gold-plated pieces through our silver jewellery range, and the same checks apply whether you are buying one ring or stocking a shop.

Here is what to check, in the order that saves the most money.

The 60-second check

• Find a hallmark with a purity number, and verify it where a verification system exists.
• Get the material in writing: “925 sterling silver,” not “silver” or “alloy.”
• Ask for the weight and the making charge as separate figures.
• Match the piece to how often you will wear it.
• If metals irritate your skin, ask about nickel and plating before you buy.
• Confirm the return and buyback terms before you pay.

Know which “silver” you are paying for

The word “silver” on a tag describes a colour as often as a material. These are the materials you will actually meet:

Oxidised silver is a finish, not a metal. Jewellers darken silver on purpose to bring out engraving and texture. That finish can sit on genuine sterling, but cheap costume pieces use it on brass too. The finish tells you nothing about the metal underneath, so check the hallmark.

Read the hallmark properly

A “925” stamp is a claim. A hallmark applied by an independent testing body is evidence. Learn the difference for your market.

India. Silver hallmarking is voluntary. Hallmarking with a unique ID (HUID) has been available since 1 September 2025 under the revised standard IS 2112:2025. A hallmarked piece should carry three things: the BIS mark with the word “SILVER,” a purity grade, and a six-character HUID. The grades are 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990 and 999.

You can verify the HUID yourself:

1. Enter it in the BIS CARE app.
2. The app shows the purity, the type of article, the jeweller who submitted it and the testing centre.
3. Check that this matches the piece in your hand.

Two more practical points from BIS guidance. Each item of a pair (and each detachable part) should carry its own HUID. Jewellers are also expected to keep a 10X magnifier so you can see the mark. The rules are recent, so check bis.gov.in for current requirements.

United Kingdom. A UK hallmark has three compulsory marks: the maker’s or sponsor’s mark, the fineness mark (925 for sterling) and the assay office mark. Silver items under 7.78 grams are exempt, so a missing hallmark on a light earring is not proof of a fake.

United States. There is no assay-office system. The FTC’s consumer guide on buying platinum, gold and silver jewellery explains the terms sellers may use.

What a hallmark cannot tell you:

• It does not prove where a piece was made.
• It does not cover unmarked pieces. Where hallmarking is voluntary or weight-exempt, you need the seller’s documentation or an independent test instead.
• A stamp on its own, with nothing behind it, can be faked.

Make the seller prove it

A good seller answers purity questions in specifics. Before you pay in a shop, check that the bill shows:

• the purity (925, not “silver”),
• the weight in grams,
• the rate per gram,
• the making charge as its own line,
• the HUID, where the piece is hallmarked.

Buying online? The product page should state the purity and weight, name the plating type (if any), and say what any stones are. Ask for a clear photo of the hallmark. A vague phrase like “high-quality silver” is a reason to ask more questions. Read the return window before you order.

Sourcing stock for a shop? Ask for samples and for the material of each design, and ask what test documentation exists for the pieces you want. We arrange samples before bulk orders and confirm the material per design. You can request a sample and the material details for the styles you are considering.

Work out what you are really paying

A silver price has two parts: the metal and the making. Split them before you compare offers:

Price = weight × purity × silver rate + making charge + tax

Here is an illustration, using a round rate of ₹250 per gram of fine silver (about where Indian rates sat in late October 2026). Check the live rate before you shop.

• A 20 g sterling piece contains 20 × 0.925 = 18.5 g of fine silver.
• Metal value: 18.5 × ₹250 = ₹4,625.
• A 15% making charge adds about ₹694, making roughly ₹5,319 before tax.

Three things follow from this:

• Making charges vary widely. They are often quoted at 10–25%, depending on the design and the seller. A heavily worked piece costs more to make, but compare the charge per gram between shops.
• You rarely get the making charge back. Resale usually reflects the metal value, and many jewellers only offer a scrap rate. Buy for the piece, not as an investment.
• A price at or below the metal value is a red flag. If the tag is close to what the silver alone is worth, the piece is not what the label says.

Silver rates also move daily. Indian market rates fell about 4% between 1 and 21 October 2026, so a price quoted last week may not hold. Ask which day’s rate the quote uses.

Match the piece to how you will wear it

Different pieces fail in different places. Check the weak point for the item you are buying:

For daily wear, solid sterling in a simple design lasts longest. Plated and gold-plated pieces suit occasional wear, because the coating thins with friction, sweat and cosmetics. For finishes, proportions and styling, see our guide to choosing silver pieces that look more expensive than they are.

Tarnish, green marks and allergies are three different things

Buyers often treat these as one problem. They are not.

Tarnish is silver reacting with sulfur compounds in the air and on skin. The copper in sterling speeds it up, and humid weather and sweat make it worse. Tarnish does not mean the piece is fake, and polishing removes it.

Green or black marks on skin come from copper, or from the base metal under a plated piece, forming salts on contact with skin. They are harmless and depend on your skin chemistry, sweat and the products you wear. If a piece sold as silver marks your skin within days, suspect worn plating or a base-metal core.

Allergic reactions are a different thing. Nickel allergy causes redness, itching or a rash. Sterling’s usual alloy metal is copper, but alloys vary by maker, so ask whether a piece is nickel-free. Rhodium plating adds a barrier, but it wears off with use. If you have reacted to jewellery before, buy one small piece first and check the return policy. If a rash persists, see a doctor.

What home tests can and cannot tell you

Use the magnet to rule things out, not to confirm silver. For anything you are paying real money for, rely on the hallmark plus a jeweller’s test.

Plan for care before you buy

Expect silver to darken, and plan for it:

• Keep unworn pieces in an airtight pouch or an anti-tarnish bag, somewhere cool and dry.
• Put jewellery on after perfume, lotion and cosmetics, and remove it before swimming and showers.
• Polishing cloths and harsh dips can strip oxidised finishes and plating, so clean those pieces gently.
• Keep your bill. You will need it for warranty claims, repairs, resizing and resale.

FAQs

Is 925 silver pure silver?
No. It is 92.5% silver, with 7.5% other metals added for strength. Pure (fine) silver is 99.9% and too soft for most jewellery.

Is oxidised silver real silver?
It can be. Oxidising is a darkening finish, so the hallmark is the only way to know what metal sits underneath.

Can I trust a 925 stamp by itself?
Treat it as a claim, not proof. Stamps can be faked, so look for a hallmark from a testing body, a seller’s written purity statement and a bill that matches.

How much are making charges on silver jewellery?
They are often quoted at 10–25% and vary by design and seller. Compare the charge per gram between shops, and get it listed as its own line.

Is it safe to buy silver jewellery online?
Yes, if the listing states the purity and weight, shows the hallmark, names any plating, and comes with a clear return window.