Before you hand over real money for fine jewellery, learn to read what you're holding. A couple of stamps and a few quick checks will tell you most of what you need to know — whether it's solid precious metal or a clever imitation.
Start with the stamps
- 925 means sterling silver — 92.5% pure. It's the global standard for fine silver.
- 750 / 18K is gold that's 75% pure. 585 / 14K is 58.5%.
- GP, GF or EP stands for gold plated, gold filled or electroplated. Useful to know, but it is not solid gold.
The BIS hallmark, if you're in India
Genuine hallmarked gold here carries the BIS standard mark. Modern hallmarking pairs the BIS logo with the purity grade (say, 18K750) and a unique HUID — a Hallmark Unique Identification number you can actually verify. Any seller worth your money will talk you through all three without flinching.
Three checks you can do yourself
- The magnet test. Gold and silver aren't magnetic. A strong pull means there's base metal in the core.
- Heft. Solid precious metal feels noticeably denser than a plated or hollow piece of the same size.
- The wear points. On plated jewellery, edges and high spots eventually show a different colour underneath. Solid metal is the same all the way down.
Treat these as signals, not proof — only an assay test is the final word. The real safeguard is buying from someone who hallmarks and stands behind their work.
The shortcut
Buy from a transparent source and most of this takes care of itself. Every AXIOM piece is solid 18K gold or 925 sterling silver, never plated, made at the Bharat Diamond Bourse and guaranteed for life. Anything you're unsure about, our FAQ and our team are a message away.
