The Complete Guide to Buying 925 Sterling Silver Jewellery in India
Silver has always been around us – we have seen it in temple trays and in traditional anklets that make that soft sound when you walk, and you see the silver in the chains that you like to wear all the time. There is something incredibly familiar about silver.
But buying silver today is not as simple as it used to be. Why, one would ask, and the answer is that these days, there is a lot that looks like silver, but isn’t necessarily so. Unless you know what to check, you just might end up with something that looks like silver, but isn’t silver!
If you are in the market for some really good silver, you need a guide that can help you make the right choices!
That Tiny 925 Stamp And What It Really Means
You might have noticed a tiny stamp on jewellery that says, “925” and many of you might have just ignored it.
But did you know that the stamp is actually essential to identifying real silver? When silver jewellery or products are marked with this number, it means that the piece has 92.5% silver and the rest is probably copper, which is added so the jewellery doesn’t bend out of shape the second you start wearing it.
This mix of silver and copper is known as sterling silver and is the standardised version of silver.
In India, proper silver is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards – so, if a piece is genuinely hallmarked, it won’t just have 925, but also the BIS mark and a jeweller’s code. In case the piece you are considering doesn’t have any of these, you might want to pause your intention to buy.
Why Does The Hallmark Matter?
There will be those who will wonder why a hallmark or that 925 matter so much. The simple truth is this - if there’s no hallmark, you don’t really know what you’re buying. What you pick could be:
-
Silver-plated
-
Mixed with cheaper metals
-
Or it could not be silver at all
And if you have picked something that looks like silver, but isn’t it, you will notice it pretty quickly. The colour will fade, the shine will dull quickly and at times, your skin will react as well. And then there is the fact that only real silver holds value.
925, 92.5, 999 – What Is The Deal Behind Them All?
With so many numbers, it is easy to get slightly confused and many might not know what to do and how to choose. But truth be told, it isn’t all that complicated.
-
999 is almost pure silver and very soft. This means that is great for coins, but not really for daily wear.
-
925 (or 92.5) is what you want for jewellery, because it is strong enough, and is still real silver.
And in case you have silver items labelled “German silver” or “Tibetan silver”, you might want to ignore them, because these are generally just alloys with no actual silver.
Keep Your Silver Shining – 7 Ways of Keeping Your Silver Jewellery Looking Spectacular
How Do You Sense Check Your Silver – Easy Ways To Identify Silver At Home
Finding out if your silver is real or not isn’t rocket science – there are some simple tips and tricks that you can use to confirm that the silver you have purchased is real silver.
-
Hold a magnet to your silver jewellery – if it snaps toward the magnet, you can be pretty sure that something is wrong.
-
Put an ice cube on your silver – if the ice melts really quickly, consider it a good sign.
-
Rub your silver jewellery with a cloth because most times, real silver leaves a faint black mark.
-
Smell it! As odd as it might sound, silver actually doesn’t really smell like anything. So, if you sense any smell, maybe all is not right.
While none of these are the perfect ways to confirm the purity of silver, you can use a combination of these to try and gauge the authenticity of what you have bought. The easiest way out is to buy from places you can trust, such as Unniyarcha.
When Silver Changes Colours
Silver can turn black, silver can also leave green marks on your skin – but there is no real need to panic, because all these are normal, natural reactions that good quality silver will have.
If your silver turns black, it is completely normal. This is actually a reaction to the air, your sweat, perfume and any products that you might be using. This dark layer is actually called tarnish, and as annoying as it might seem, this is good thing, because the tarnish tells you that your silver is real.
Have you noticed that sometimes, when you wear silver, there is a green mark left on your skin? This happens when the moisture from your sweat reacts with the copper in the silver jewellery. While it might not happen to everyone, it is generally more likely in areas where humidity is high. Is this dangerous, you wonder? Not really, but it could be mildly irritating.
Are There Easy Ways To Keep Silver Clean?
In general, people choose to stay away from silver because they feel there is too much care required. But the fact is that you don’t need any special kits or care instructions. Here are the simplest ways to keep your silver jewellery clean:
-
Make sure you wipe your pieces clean each time, after usage.
-
Store the pieces in a soft cloth bag and keep the bag closed.
-
It is best that you not spray perfume directly on the pieces and not take them swimming!
-
You can try a little bit of baking soda and water to create a gentle scrub to clean the pieces.
It is best that you simply follow the instructions that you get when you buy the pieces – for instance, at Unniyarcha, we provide you with all the instructions you need to care for your silver jewellery and accessories. Just follow those, and you will be able to maintain your silver looking great for a long time.
Buying silver isn’t about being an expert. It’s just about not being careless. Just because it looks pretty and is easy on your pocket does not make it a good choice. Make sure you check for the 925 and hallmarking and once you get used to doing that, it will become easier.
So, go ahead and invest in some good quality silver, because it will be your best friend for the longest time!
