Diwali 2026 shopping: Planning to buy silver coins, jewellery or utensils? How to check purity levels and hallmarking

Planning to buy silver coins, jewellery or utensils this Diwali? Know what purity grades such as 999, 925 and 800 mean, whether hallmarking is mandatory, how to verify a six-digit HUID using the BIS Care app, and what buyers should check before making a purchase.

With the festive season underway, many people will be buying silver coins, utensils and jewellery on Dhanteras and Diwali. Before making a purchase, however, it is important to check the purity of silver and understand how to verify its hallmark.

While consumers are familiar with gold hallmarking, silver also has recognised purity grades and hallmarking rules that buyers should know. Here is what an expert recommends checking before buying silver this festive season.

What are the different silver purity levels?

Amit Modak, Director of P. N. Gadgil & Sons, said higher purity does not necessarily make a silver product better suited to every use. Due to its softness, fine silver is more likely to get scratched, bent, or deformed. For this reason, alloyed silver is a good choice for items that need to last longer.

The purity number indicates fineness, or the parts of pure silver per 1,000. So, 999 means 99.9% pure, 925 means 92.5% (sterling), and 800 means 80%. The rest is usually copper, which adds strength.

“BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) now recognises 800, 835, 900, 925, 958, 970, 990, and 999 for silver,” he added.

Currently, 925 and 800 make up nearly 90% of hallmarked items, with anklets the largest category and diyas next, generally in 800 and 925. The grade also affects the price. Higher purity costs more per gram, so compare the purity grade and the rate per gram, not just the total, he explained.