Neutral impactCommodity
Ahead of festive season, what is silver hallmarking? Here's how to spot and read the classifications
Mint 4 Sept·4 Sept 2026, 4:09 pm
Silver hallmarking is a certification process that verifies the purity of silver jewellery. It involves an independent authority testing the metal and affixing a mark, such as '916', which indicates that the item is 92.5% pure silver. This provides buyers with a guarantee of quality and helps them avoid counterfeit products. While this practice has been mandatory for gold since June 2021, it remains voluntary for silver. This means that not all silver jewellery in the market is currently hallmarked.
For investors, the voluntary nature of silver hallmarking creates a market segmentation. While it does not directly impact the price of silver bullion, it can influence the demand for certified silver jewellery. As consumer awareness grows, there is a potential for increased demand for hallmarked silver items, which could support the broader silver market. Investors should keep an eye on government policies and industry initiatives that may eventually make hallmarking mandatory for silver as well.
What to watch next is the potential for regulatory changes. If the government decides to make silver hallmarking mandatory, it could lead to a significant increase in the cost of production for jewellery manufacturers. This cost could be passed on to consumers, potentially affecting the demand for silver jewellery. Additionally, watch for any new guidelines or standards that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) might introduce to improve the hallmarking process.
Key takeaways
- Category: Commodity.
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