The word "silver" covers everything in India from a ₹50 fashion bangle to a hallmarked heirloom. Some of it is nearly pure silver, some is sterling, and some contains no silver whatsoever. Knowing the terms protects you from overpaying and tells you what you can do with a piece later: resize it, repair it, sell it or hand it down.
What is the difference between sterling silver and pure silver?
The difference is the amount of silver and, as a result, the strength. Pure silver, also called fine silver, is 99.9 percent silver and marked 999. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent silver and marked 925; the other 7.5 percent is usually copper. That small addition of copper makes sterling much harder, so it holds its shape, takes a polish and grips stones.
Both are real silver. Neither is a lesser product; they suit different jobs.
| Type | Silver content | Used for | Can be BIS hallmarked? | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine silver (999) | 99.9% | Coins, bars, some traditional articles | Yes, grade 999 since IS 2112:2025 | Weight x silver rate, low making cost |
| Sterling silver (925) | 92.5% | Most silver jewellery | Yes, grade 925 | Weight x rate x purity, plus making charges |
| 800 and 835 silver | 80% and 83.5% | Anklets, articles and some imports | Yes, grades 800 and 835 | As above, less silver per gram |
| German silver (nickel silver) | 0% | Fashion jewellery, utensils, decorative items | No | Per piece, not by silver weight |
| Silver-plated | A thin surface layer only | Fashion jewellery, cutlery | No | Per piece |
| Oxidised silver | Depends on base metal | Darkened-finish jewellery | Only if the base is real silver | Depends on base metal |
India's revised silver hallmarking standard, IS 2112:2025, allows seven purity grades: 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990 and 999, according to the government release announcing silver HUID. Grades 958 and 999 were added in the revision; the older IS 2112:2014 list included 900 but not 958 or 999.
Why is 925 the standard for silver jewellery?
925 is the point where silver stays mostly silver but becomes tough enough to wear. Pure silver is so soft that a 999 ring would pick up dents from daily contact and a 999 chain would stretch. Setting a diamond needs metal that can be pushed over the edge of the stone and stay there, and fine silver does not hold that shape well.
Copper is the usual partner because it hardens silver without changing its colour much. The trade-off is that copper also reacts with air and sweat, which is part of why sterling tarnishes. For whether that trade-off suits you, see is 925 sterling silver good for men.
Why is 999 silver used for coins and bars?
999 silver is used where purity and simple pricing matter more than durability. A coin or bar is priced almost entirely by weight and purity, and it is not worn, so softness does not matter. Some traditional articles that are handled gently rather than worn are also made in high-purity silver.
If you are buying silver as a store of metal, higher purity means more silver per gram and lower making charges. If you are buying something to wear, 925 is the practical choice.
What is German silver, and is it real silver?
German silver is not silver. It is a copper, nickel and zinc alloy, typically around 60 percent copper, 20 percent nickel and 20 percent zinc, that looks silvery when polished. It is also called nickel silver or alpaca. It is widely used for fashion jewellery, utensils and decorative items because it is cheap and takes a bright finish.
There is nothing wrong with German silver as long as it is sold as German silver. The problem is when it is sold as "silver" at a silver price. Two further points:
- It cannot be BIS hallmarked, because BIS grades measure silver content and German silver has none.
- It contains nickel, a common cause of skin allergy, so it is a poor choice for anyone sensitive to nickel. See is sterling silver hypoallergenic.
What about silver-plated and oxidised silver?
Silver-plated means a thin layer of silver over a base metal such as brass, copper or German silver. The plating wears through with use, especially on rings and bracelets, revealing the metal underneath. Its value is in the piece, not the metal.
Oxidised silver describes a finish, not a purity. The surface is deliberately darkened, often with a sulphur compound, to create contrast in engraved or textured designs. The base can be sterling silver or it can be a cheaper alloy, so ask what it is made of and look for a hallmark.
Sterling silver vs silver price: what are you paying for?
With real silver, the price rests on weight and purity, plus making charges and tax. With German silver and plated pieces, the price rests on the design and the brand, because the metal itself is inexpensive.
| What you are buying | What drives the price | What it is worth as metal later |
|---|---|---|
| 999 coin or bar | Weight, silver rate, small premium | Close to silver value by weight |
| 925 sterling jewellery | Weight, silver rate, purity, design and making, stones | Silver content by weight; design and making are not recovered |
| German silver jewellery | Design and retail margin | Very little |
| Silver-plated jewellery | Design and retail margin | Very little |
A well-made 925 piece often costs more than its silver weight suggests, because hand-finishing, stone setting and design take time. Our guide to why 925 silver jewellery costs more breaks down where that money goes.
How to avoid being sold German silver or plated metal as silver
The simplest protection is a BIS hallmark with a purity grade and an HUID, written on the invoice. Silver hallmarking is voluntary in India, so you need to ask for it; since 1 September 2025, the BIS silver hallmark includes an HUID you can check in the BIS Care app.
- Ask the seller directly: "What is the silver purity, and is it BIS hallmarked?"
- Look for the BIS logo with the word SILVER, the grade number and a six-character HUID under a 10x loupe, then verify the HUID in the BIS Care app. A "925" stamp alone is only the maker's claim.
- Check the price. If "silver" jewellery costs less than the silver it would contain at today's rate, it is not sterling.
- Get the purity written on the bill.
- If in doubt, have it tested by a jeweller with an XRF machine or at a BIS-recognised hallmarking centre.
Our guide to the silver hallmark in India explains each mark and how to check it.
How AXIOM approaches this
Every AXIOM piece with a stated metal is 925 sterling silver, with 18K white gold offered as an option on three designs; nothing is plated. Sterling suits this work because it is strong enough to hold diamonds while remaining a precious metal that can be resized and repaired. You can see the range in the full collection and read how the pieces are made on our about page.
The practical takeaway
When someone says "silver", ask for the number. 925 means sterling, a real precious metal suited to jewellery. 999 means near-pure silver, better for coins than rings. No number, no hallmark and a very low price usually means German silver or plating, which is fine for fashion and poor for anything you want to keep.
