Festive Silver Buying Guide: Use this Method to Spot Real Silver from Fake Quickly and Easily

If you want to buy silver coins, utensils, or gifts this Dussehra, Diwali, or Dhanteras, you are not alone. Silver brings luck and good money. It is a long tradition in Indian homes. Before buying, check if the silver is real. Silver hallmark shows it is pure. It is an official mark that proves the silver is real.

What is Hallmarking?

Hallmarking means checking and officially recording the exact amount of pure metal in gold or silver. It is a way to make sure the metal is as pure as said.

The main purpose of hallmarking is to protect buyers from fraud. Sometimes gold or silver is mixed with other metals and sold as pure. Hallmarking stops this problem. It also helps India grow as a big gold and silver market and improve exports.

A hallmark shows important details like metal purity, which jeweler sold it, where it was tested, and the year it was made.

How to Check Hallmark

Hallmarks have these marks:

1. BIS logo: A triangle showing the product is BIS certified.
2. Purity grade: For silver, 925 means 92.5% pure.
3. Assaying center code: Shows where the metal was tested.
4. Jeweler ID: Shows which registered jeweler sold it.

Tips for Buying Silver

• Always buy BIS hallmarked silver.
• Make sure the bill says “BIS Hallmarked.”
• Check the hallmark using the BIS Care app.
• Buy silver coins, utensils, or jewelry only from a registered jeweler.
• Keep the bill and hallmark receipt safe for future use.

From September 1, a new hallmark system started for silver with seven purity grades: 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990, 999. This gives more options and better transparency.