Silver Hallmark
The metals silver and gold are deeply valued in our culture. Being one of the top buyers of silver in the world, India places great significance on this precious metal, whether in jewellery or other forms. Hence, it is essential to ensure the purity of the metal that we purchase.
There are many ways to ensure the purity of silver, and the practice of hallmarking is the major one by which the purity of the silver is determined. Read on to learn more about silver hallmarking in this article.
Silver Hallmark-The History
The silver hallmarking, the sign that indicates the purity of silver, is a concept that dates to 400 AD. This shows the long-standing tradition and significance of this practice. When it comes to the history of silver hallmarks, Britain has a pivotal role in establishing the hallmarking system. It was in the year 1238 that the ruler at the time, Henry III attempted to regulate the standards of silver. He wanted a few chosen goldsmiths to oversee the craft.
However, the first major effort to hallmark silver happened during the reign of Edward I in 1300. He issued a statute to prevent goldsmiths from committing fraud by assigning the ‘Guardians of the Craft’ to apply the leopard’s head mark on sterling silver (92.5% pure silver). Gradually the hallmarking practice, which was previously confined to London, spread to other regions of the nation and became standard. Subsequently, it was adopted by other nations around the world. Many modifications have been made to the silver hallmark identification system over the centuries. In 1972 Vienna, the International Convention on Hallmarking was established, with 21 signatories. It is an international treaty aimed at facilitating cross-border trade of precious metals, including silver, and at setting standards for hallmarking.
Silver Hallmark in India
The hallmark system to identify pure silver in India is managed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It was established on 1 April 1987. It implements policies, conducts audits, and sample tests to ensure the purity of silver rate in India. This corporate body has the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution as its president.
Classifications of Silver
According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, there are six different standard grades for silver. They are:
- Grade 990: This is the purest grade of silver. This grade contains 99% pure silver and is considered fine silver. This type of silver is the softest, thus making it least suitable for making jewellery.
- Grade 970: This grade indicates the silver is 97% pure and contains 3% of other metals.
- Grade 925: This is the hallmark silver, also known as sterling silver. This contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals.
- Grade 900: This grade of silver is also known as coin silver. This type of silver can be found in antique collectibles.
- Grade 835: This type of silver is known as German silver and has 83% silver content.
- Grade 800: This grade of silver indicates 80% pure silver. This is one of the lowest grades of silver.
Purpose of Hallmark Signs
The hallmarking of precious metals serves many purposes. First and foremost, the hallmark signs are used to indicate the purity of silver. It helps assure buyers of the purity of silver and prevents fraud. The hallmark signs show the authenticity of the metal. It can also indicate the date of manufacture and other information about the piece. Though it is not mandatory to hallmark silver in India, jewellers can opt to do it on their own. They can mark the purity of their silver according to the grades set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
How to Spot a Silver Hallmark?
To ensure the purity of a piece of silver that you are going to purchase, you can look for these components:
- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Mark: The BIS mark indicates that the silver is properly tested and meets all the regulatory standards of India. The logo of BIS includes a dot inside a triangle.
- Year of Making: This denotes the year in which the silver piece was manufactured.
- Grade: This shows the grade to which the piece of silver belongs. This allows the buyer to understand the purity level of it.
- Jeweller’s ID Mark: This refers to the specific ID mark of the jeweller.
FAQs on Silver Hallmark
- What is the silver hallmark?
A silver hallmark refers to the sign that indicates the purity of silver. Each country has its own set of standards for certifying silver purity.
- What is the significance of BIS?
The Bureau of Indian Standards is an organisation that sets the regulatory standards and hallmark grades for silver in India.
- How many grades are there for silver hallmarking in India?
There are six grades for silver hallmarking in India according to BIS. They are 990, 970, 925, 900, 835, and 800.
- Is grade 990 silver the purest?
Yes, the 990-grade silver is considered the finest silver with 99% pure silver content.
- Is hallmarking for silver mandatory in India?
No, hallmarking silver is not mandatory in India like it is for gold.
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