925 silver is 92.5% silver, also called sterling silver. BIS hallmarks silver in seven grades, from 800 to 999. Hallmarking silver is voluntary, but a piece that is hallmarked must now carry a HUID, which you can check in the BIS Care app before you buy.
What 925 means
Like gold, silver purity is counted in parts per 1,000. 925 is 925 parts silver and 75 parts other metal, usually copper, which makes it hard enough for jewellery that gets worn every day. Pure 999 silver is softer and is used mostly for coins and bars.
The seven silver grades, priced today
The revised Indian Standard has seven purity grades. The usage notes come from BIS hallmarking data published in December 2025.
| Grade | Silver content | Per gram today | Per kg today | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 999 | 99.9% | ₹194 | ₹1,94,410 | Highest grade, added in the latest revision |
| 990 | 99.0% | ₹192 | ₹1,92,466 | Most hallmarked silver coins |
| 970 | 97.0% | ₹189 | ₹1,88,578 | Less common in hallmarking data |
| 958 | 95.8% | ₹186 | ₹1,86,245 | Grade added in the latest revision |
| 925 | 92.5% | ₹180 | ₹1,79,829 | Sterling silver: bracelets, idols, plates, finer jewellery |
| 835 | 83.5% | ₹162 | ₹1,62,332 | Less common in hallmarking data |
| 800 | 80.0% | ₹156 | ₹1,55,528 | Most payal (anklets), waist chains, many diyas |
Latest IBJA rate, checked 25 October 2026, 6:21 pm IST. IBJA 999 silver rate scaled to each grade, before GST and making charges.
The silver HUID
Silver hallmarking in India started as a voluntary scheme in October 2005, and it is still voluntary. What changed on 1 September 2025 is that every silver article hallmarked by BIS must carry a HUID, a six-character code laser-marked on the piece. A hallmark now has:
- the BIS standard mark and the word SILVER,
- the purity grade, such as 925,
- the six-character HUID.
Type the HUID into the free BIS Care app. It shows the purity, the type of article, the jeweller who submitted it and the hallmarking centre. A piece hallmarked before 1 September 2025 may not have a HUID; that alone does not make it fake. The gold system works the same way, as our gold HUID guide explains.
Work out a piece's silver value
Pick the grade and type the weight to see the silver in it at today's rate, with 3% GST.
| 50 g of 925 silver (92.5% pure) | ₹8,991 |
|---|---|
| GST 3% | ₹270 |
| Metal value with GST | ₹9,261 |
Today's IBJA 999 silver rate scaled to the grade. Making charges are extra and vary by piece.
Buying silver: what to check
- Ask whether the piece is BIS hallmarked. If it is, find the HUID and verify it.
- Match the grade on the tag and bill to the grade on the hallmark.
- Check the rate per gram or per kg against today's silver rate, scaled to the grade.
- Ask for the making charge as a figure. On light pieces like anklets it can be a large share of the price.
Sources
- Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Update on Mandatory HUID for Silver Jewellery, 4 December 2025 (pib.gov.in)
- Voluntary Based Silver Hallmarking Begins from 1 September 2025 (pib.gov.in)
Questions people ask
What is the meaning of 925 silver?
925 silver is 92.5% pure silver, mixed with other metals for strength. It is also called sterling silver and is one of the BIS silver hallmark grades.
Is silver hallmarking mandatory in India?
No. Silver hallmarking is voluntary. But since 1 September 2025, any silver article that is hallmarked by BIS must carry a HUID.
How do I check the HUID on silver?
Enter the six-character HUID in the BIS Care app. It shows the purity, the type of article, the jeweller who submitted it and the hallmarking centre.
Which silver purity is used for anklets?
Mostly 800. BIS data reported in December 2025 showed about 90% of hallmarked silver payals were 800 grade.
What are the BIS silver purity grades?
Seven grades: 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990 and 999. Grades 958 and 999 were added in the latest revision of the standard.