Introduction: The Enduring Legacy of Silver and Hallmarking in India
From a newborn’s anklets to a pooja thali passed down generations, silver has always been part of our Indian family life. It’s not just beautiful—it’s symbolic. A gift of silver marks blessings, purity, and tradition.
But with so many silver items in the market today, how do you make sure what you’re buying—or gifting—is genuine?
That’s where silver hallmarking becomes important. Knowing how to check silver hallmark in India helps you pick items that are not only beautiful but also trustworthy. Whether you’re buying a baby’s silver spoon, gifting for a wedding, or preparing for a pooja, this guide will help you understand silver hallmarks—so you can feel confident and peaceful about your choice.
You can also explore our silver gifting ideas here.
- BIS hallmark is the official guarantee of silver purity in India.
- Always check for the 5 official components in a BIS silver hallmark.
- Simple at-home tests can help but aren’t fully reliable alone.
- 925 silver means 92.5% pure—ideal for daily use jewellery and gifts.
- Look for hallmarked silver especially when buying for poojas, newborns, or weddings.
Table of Contents
- What Makes a Silver Hallmark Special: A Family Jeweller’s Guide
- Simple Home Tests for Silver: What Our Grandparents Taught Us
- When to Trust the Experts: Professional Silver Testing
- Silver in Our Traditions: Choosing the Right Purity for Every Occasion
- Your Questions About Silver Hallmarking: Answered
- Final Thoughts: The Peace of Mind in Hallmarked Silver
What Makes a Silver Hallmark Special: A Family Jeweller’s Guide
The BIS Hallmark: Your Assurance of Pure Silver
In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the only body that officially certifies silver for purity. A BIS hallmark means your silver item has been tested at a certified centre and is guaranteed for its silver content.
I remember when my father would take me to the workshop as a child. He would always tell me, “Beta, a hallmark is like our family’s promise—it tells the customer we stand by our silver.”
Whether it’s a silver coin for Dhanteras or a pooja diya, a BIS hallmark gives peace of mind to anyone buying or gifting.
The Story Behind Each Mark: Understanding Your Hallmark
When you look at a hallmark, it’s like reading a small story about your silver piece. Here are the five elements that tell this story:
| Hallmark Part | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| BIS Standard Mark | A triangle with a dot inside – the official sign that your silver meets Indian standards. |
| Purity Grade (e.g., 999, 925) | Shows the level of silver—999 means 99.9% pure, 925 means 92.5% pure (sterling silver). |
| Assaying Centre’s Mark | Which BIS-approved lab tested your item. |
| Jeweller’s Identification Mark | The code that tells you which jeweller made or sold the piece. |
| Year of Marking | An alphabet showing which year your silver was hallmarked. |
Finding Your Silver’s Hallmark
You’ll usually find the hallmark in these spots:
– The back or edge of a silver coin
– The bottom of a bowl or glass
– Near the clasp on jewellery
– On the handle of a spoon or serving piece
Sometimes the mark is tiny—my grandmother always kept a small magnifying glass just for checking her silver pieces!
Simple Home Tests for Silver: What Our Grandparents Taught Us
Before fancy machines and official hallmarks, our families had their own ways to check silver. These simple tests won’t replace a hallmark, but they’re good first checks—especially for old family silver that might not have modern markings.
The Magnet Test: A First Glance
Here’s a simple trick we’ve used for generations: Real silver won’t stick to a magnet. If your piece jumps toward the magnet, something’s not quite right.
My grandfather taught me this test when I was just eight years old. “Silver has no interest in magnets,” he would say with a smile.
But remember—just because something doesn’t stick to a magnet doesn’t automatically mean it’s silver. Some non-silver metals also don’t react to magnets.
The Ice Cube Test: Silver’s Cooling Touch
Place an ice cube on your silver piece. Silver conducts heat very well, so the ice will melt faster than it would on other materials. This happens because silver pulls heat away from the ice quickly.
In our family shop, we often share this test with curious customers who want to understand silver’s special properties.
The Ring Test: Listen to Your Silver
Gently tap your silver with another metal object. Pure silver makes a clear, bell-like sound that lasts a few seconds. If you hear a dull or flat sound, it might not be genuine silver.
When my father taught me this test, he said, “Silver sings, but fake silver stays silent.”
The Limits of Home Testing
These home tests are like a first conversation with your silver—they give hints, but always trust a professional’s expert eye. Designs, silver plating, and alloys can sometimes confuse these tests.
One customer brought in what she thought was pure silver based on the ice test, but it turned out to be silver-plated brass. The thin silver coating passed the simple test, but wouldn’t have passed proper hallmarking.
When to Trust the Experts: Professional Silver Testing
Some moments call for absolute certainty—like when you’re selecting a silver gift for your daughter’s wedding or buying pooja items for your home temple.
Modern Testing Methods: How Experts Check Silver
Today’s jewellers and testing centres use scientific methods that go beyond our grandparents’ simple tests:
XRF Testing: This machine uses X-rays to identify exactly what metals are in your piece. It’s quick, doesn’t damage your silver, and gives precise results. When we’re unsure about an antique piece, this is often our first choice.
Specific Gravity Test: This method compares your silver’s weight in air versus water. Pure silver has a specific density, and this test can detect if other metals are mixed in.
Finding a BIS Hallmarking Centre
BIS-approved hallmarking centres are located throughout India. These official centres test silver items and then stamp them with the five-part mark we discussed earlier. According to the Times of India (2024), silver hallmarking is voluntary but officially recognised.
If you have older silver pieces without hallmarks, many of these centres can test and certify them for a small fee.
The SM Jain Jewellers Approach to Silver Quality
Our family has been in the silver business for generations—from the narrow lanes of Old Delhi’s silver market to our present home in Krishna Nagar.
When customers bring in family silver for assessment, we first examine the pieces with the trained eye that comes from handling silver daily for decades. Then, for pieces that need formal verification, we guide them to proper testing options.
For new pieces, we only work with BIS-certified silver. Whether it’s a small silver coin or an elaborate pooja set, we ensure every piece meets proper standards.
You can read more about our family’s silver journey here.
Silver in Our Traditions: Choosing the Right Purity for Every Occasion
Silver isn’t just metal—it’s memory, blessing, and tradition in Indian families. Different occasions call for different types of silver.
Silver for Sacred Spaces: Pooja Articles and Temple Offerings
For items used in prayer and worship, purity matters deeply. In many homes, including my own family’s, we prefer 999 silver (99.9% pure) for:
– Lakshmi-Ganesh idols for the home mandir
– Pooja thalis for aarti
– Silver kalash for sacred water
– Temple offerings and donations
I remember a grandmother who came to our shop seeking a silver Nandi for her grandson’s thread ceremony. “Only the purest for God’s blessings,” she said firmly. We helped her select a 999 silver piece that matched her family’s tradition.
Silver for Life’s Beginnings: Baby Gifts and Blessings
When welcoming a new life, silver has always symbolized purity and protection:
– Silver anklets (payal) to ward off negative energy
– First feeding bowls and spoons
– Comb and brush sets that become keepsakes
– Silver rattles and toys
For baby items, many families choose 925 sterling silver (92.5% pure) because it balances purity with durability for items that will be handled often.
Silver for Celebration: Weddings, Anniversaries and Festivals
For life’s biggest celebrations, silver carries our good wishes:
– Silver coins for Dhanteras and Diwali
– Gift trays and bowls for wedding presents
– Silver photo frames for anniversaries
– Rakhi gifts between brothers and sisters
One beautiful tradition we’ve observed in many Delhi families is the gifting of a silver pooja thali to a new bride—symbolizing her role in continuing family traditions.
Choosing the Right Silver: A Guide for Different Needs
| Silver Grade | Best Uses | Special Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| 999 Silver (99.9%) | Pooja items, coins, investment pieces | Very pure but softer; requires careful handling |
| 925 Silver (Sterling) | Jewellery, serving pieces, baby items | More durable for daily use; still considered very pure |
| 900 Silver | Some antique pieces, some regional jewellery | Less common in new pieces but found in heirloom items |
Your Questions About Silver Hallmarking: Answered
Over the years, families have asked us many questions about silver. Here are the most common ones:
Is all unhallmarked silver fake?
Not necessarily. Many family heirlooms and pieces made before hallmarking became standard may be genuine silver without marks. My own grandmother’s silver glass has no hallmark but has been tested and confirmed as pure silver. For newer pieces, however, a missing hallmark should raise questions.
How can I tell silver plating from solid silver?
Silver-plated items have only a thin layer of silver over another metal. Over time, this plating may wear through, showing the base metal underneath (often at edges and high-use areas). Solid silver, even when tarnished, never reveals another metal beneath. A BIS hallmark guarantees solid silver, not plating.
Can I get my old family silver hallmarked now?
Yes! If you have unmarked family silver that you believe is genuine, you can take it to a BIS-approved center for testing and hallmarking. Many families do this before passing heirlooms to the next generation.
Why does some silver turn black?
Silver naturally reacts with sulfur in the air, creating a blackish layer called tarnish. This is actually a sign of real silver! It’s completely normal and can be cleaned with proper silver polish. In fact, in many homes, the annual pre-Diwali cleaning of silver is an important tradition.
Does the hallmark guarantee the entire item is silver?
The BIS hallmark certifies the silver content of the main body, but small parts like screws or non-metal decorative elements may be different materials. When buying complex items, always ask which parts are silver and which may be other materials.
How do I report suspected fake hallmarking?
If you believe a seller is using fake hallmarks, you should contact your nearest BIS office or file a report through the BIS website. Misusing hallmarks is a serious offense that hurts both customers and honest jewellers.
Final Thoughts: The Peace of Mind in Hallmarked Silver
When you choose hallmarked silver, you’re not just buying metal—you’re continuing traditions that connect generations. The small marks on your silver tell a story of quality and care that adds meaning to every occasion.
From the first silver anklets for a newborn to the pooja thali that witnesses decades of family prayers, knowing how to check silver hallmark in India helps ensure these precious items are as genuine as the moments they mark.
In our family’s decades of silver crafting, we’ve seen how a simple hallmark can bring peace of mind—knowing that the silver kalash holding Ganges water, the coins gifted during Dhanteras, or the baby’s first bowl all carry genuine blessings.
You are welcome to visit our Krishna Nagar showroom to explore silver gifts in person. Whether you’re continuing your family traditions or starting new ones, we’re here to help you choose silver that will carry your good wishes for generations to come.
