Summary of this article
Silver is a popular Dhanteras purchase, but purity matters.
BIS hallmarking and HUID verification help buyers check silver purity.
Buyers may claim compensation if hallmarked silver falls below marked purity.
Silver is a popular purchase during Dhanteras, with many households buying coins, utensils, jewellery and religious idols as part of the festive tradition. Some buyers also purchase silver bars and coins as a way to hold the precious metal for the long term.
According to the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX), the price of 1kg silver today is Rs 1,96,308. The final retail price can differ depending on the prevailing local rate, the product and applicable charges.
Silver Hallmarking And Its Significance
Silver articles that look alike can contain different amounts of pure silver. Hallmarking provides information about the metal's purity and indicates that an article has been tested under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) hallmarking system.
The BIS, on September 1, 2025, introduced HUID-based hallmarking for silver jewellery and artefacts on a voluntary basis. Under this system, a hallmarked silver article carries the BIS Standard Mark with the word 'SILVER', the purity grade and a six-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code.
The HUID code provides a way to verify details associated with a hallmarked article. Since silver hallmarking is voluntary, however, not every silver item in the market will carry a hallmark.
Silver Verification Through BIS Care App
The BIS Care mobile app allows buyers to check the HUID of a hallmarked silver article. The app has a 'Verify HUID' option where the six-digit alphanumeric code can be entered.
The results can show details such as the article type, purity grade, hallmarking date, assaying centre and registered jeweller. This may be used by the buyers to verify that the information recorded in the HUID is consistent with the article. It is also important to keep the purchase invoice safe, because it not only contains details of the article's purity, price, weight, etc., but also provides proof of purchase in case of a dispute.
Silver Purity Grades
Silver purity is measured in fineness, which indicates how much pure silver is present in every 1,000 parts of the metal. Under the revised BIS standard, the recognised purity grades for silver jewellery and artefacts are 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990 and 999.
For example, 925 silver contains 92.5 per cent pure silver, while 999 silver contains 99.9 per cent pure silver. The rest consists of other metals or permitted constituents.
Different grades are used for different products. Jewellery may contain other metals to make it stronger, while silver bars and some coins are available in higher-purity grades. The purity grade indicates the proportion of silver in the article.
Compensation For Silver Below The Marked Purity
If a hallmarked silver article contains less pure silver than the grade marked on it, the buyer may be eligible for compensation under BIS rules.
The compensation is twice the value of the missing silver. The buyer can also claim the charges paid for testing the item. For example, if testing finds that an article contains less silver than promised, the compensation covers twice the value of the purity shortfall, along with the testing fee.
Silver articles can also be tested at BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres for a prescribed fee.
