Jun 15, 2026

Purity and Hallmark – The Ultimate 925 Silver Jewellery Guide

Buying silver jewellery sounds simple enough – until you are standing in the middle of the store trying to pick the right piece or scrolling through a website with an immense selection of products and you are suddenly lost! You realize that every product looks similar and those detailed descriptions sound just like the other ones!

Sterling silver. Hallmarked silver. Silver plated jewellery. 925 silver.

You see all these terms, but you are not really sure about what these all mean! What’s the difference between all these or is there really a difference? Do these terms actually matter? And how do you know that you are getting proper value for the money you are spending?

The truth is, a little knowledge goes a long way and once you have understood the basics, spotting the good quality silver jewellery should become super easy!

While the easiest way to buy silver is to come to Unniyarcha, you should know more about what you are investing in. Whether you're buying your first silver ring, investing in a timeless chain, or looking for a meaningful gift, here's everything you need to know before you shop.

What is 925 Silver?

Let's start with the term you'll see most often - 925 silver.

While most people might think that silver jewellery is made using pure silver, the truth is slightly different. Pure silver, which technically contains 99.9% silver, sounds good on paper, but in reality, it is too soft to be used. Any jewellery made using pure silver will never last really long, because it will bend out of shape over time and break.

This is why all the best brands will sell you 92.5 silver – this means that while 92.5% is pure silver, the remaining 7.5% is another metal, most commonly copper. This addition not only makes the silver stronger, but also more suitable for daily usage.

Think of it this way - pure silver is beautiful, but sterling silver is practical!

When you are looking to pick sterling silver jewellery, you want not only looks and character, but also value for money and of course, durability.

So, when you take a look at that piece from your mother’s collection that you have always loved to wear, chances are that it is made using 925 silver jewellery!

Pair of silver minimal toe rings from Unniyarcha Jewellery, crafted in 92.5 sterling silver with a sleek, modern design

Understanding The Difference Between Sterling Silver And Silver-Plated Jewellery

You would think that silver jewellery and silver-plated jewellery would be pretty much the same, because at first glance, they do look similar. If you were to see silver and silver-plated jewellery, you wouldn’t even know the difference.

Sterling silver contains silver throughout the entire piece; so when you scratch it, polish it, or wear it for years, you're still looking at silver.
Silver-plated jewellery is different, because it starts with a base metal, like brass or copper, and on top of it, there is a thin layer of silver.

When it's brand new, silver-plated jewellery can look beautiful. The challenge comes with wear, because over time, the coating will start to wear away and the base metal will become visible.

Think of it like painting on a wall – in the first few weeks, the walls look amazing, but eventually, the layers will start to wear down and you will start to see the bare walls in a few years.

Read any silver hallmark guide and you will see that sterling silver doesn’t have any such issues, because the entire piece does contain silver.

If you are looking to shop on a budget or need pieces that you can use for a short time and then replace, then silver-plated is a good way to go. But if you want something that will last, then you have to look at sterling silver.

How Do You Identify Real Silver Jewellery

If you are feeling lost while trying to buy genuine silver pieces, trust us, you are not alone. But the good news is that you really don’t need to be a jewellery expert to find those high quality, stunning silver pieces. There are a few simple checks that can tell you exactly what you need to know.

All The Hallmark Symbols - Explained!

One of the easiest ways to identify genuine silver jewellery is by looking for a hallmark. This is essentially a stamp, which tells you about the purity of the metal. But you do remember that know that some times, these hallmarks are tiny – you might need a magnifying glass to locate one. You should be able to find these hallmark signs on rings, necklace clasps, pendant backs and clasps of anklets.

The most common hallmark is the 925 – this tells that the piece you have picked is made with 92.5% pure silver and that is what designates it as sterling silver.

You could also see sterling, sterling silver or 925 silver and these are all generally good enough. If you are shopping online, do make sure that you are looking for the hallmark; a worry you don’t need to harbour, if you are shopping at Unniyarcha.

The Common Signs of Fake Silver

Not every piece that is advertised as silver actually is silver and while there might not be any obvious giveaway, you might notice a few warning signs; simple ways on how to identify real silver:

While everyone loves a good bargain, if the price is too low, there could be something wrong.
Silver does not peel, but if your piece is then maybe you have picked silver plated jewellery instead of the real thing.
Real silver pieces carry a certain amount of weight, so if the piece feels light, it might not be silver at all.
And in case there are no markings related to silver purity or hallmarking, stay away!

Do remember that real silver will tarnish over time – so if it is tarnishing, you probably have the real deal!

The ABC of Maintaining 925 Silver Jewellery

Silver jewellery is surprisingly low maintenance, but a little care goes a long way and this is something that any trustworthy 925 silver jewellery guide will tell you about.

Start with storage – don’t leave your silver jewellery lying around. Store it in a cloth pouch or airtight container. Lesser the exposure to air, slower the tarnishing.
Keep your silver away from items like perfumes, hair sprays, moisturisers, chlorinated water, household cleaning products and such.
Take a few minutes to clean the jewellery, once you are done using it for the day.
And use them often – because silver just ages better when you use it regularly!

Silver jewellery doesn't have to be complicated – once you know that 925 silver and sterling silver are essentially the same thing, understand the difference between solid silver and silver-plated jewellery, and know where to look for hallmarks, you are well on your way to picking silver jewellery that will become your daily habits!