How to Buy Sterling Silver Jewellery Without Getting Scammed

Buying silver jewellery online is easy; buying real silver online takes a little know-how. The market is full of pieces sold as "silver" that are actually plated brass or low-grade alloy, and the difference only shows up weeks later when the shine rubs off. This guide shows you exactly how to tell genuine 925 sterling silver from a fake before you pay, so you never get caught out.

1. Look for the BIS hallmark

In India, the real proof of purity is the BIS hallmark — the mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards. It certifies that the piece genuinely contains the silver it claims to. A "925" number stamped on its own can be printed by anyone; a BIS hallmark is the certification behind it. If a listing can't confirm hallmarking, treat that as a red flag.

2. Understand what "925" actually means

"925" means the piece is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metal (usually copper) — the international standard for sterling silver. If a seller only says "silver" or "silver-plated" without a purity figure, you're almost certainly not looking at solid sterling silver. Plated pieces have a microscopically thin silver layer over a cheaper base that wears away.

3. Be wary of prices that are too good to be true

Silver has a real material cost, so a "sterling silver" necklace priced like a fashion trinket is usually exactly that — a fashion trinket. If the price is a fraction of what comparable hallmarked pieces cost elsewhere, assume it's plated or alloy until proven otherwise. Genuine value comes from a fair price on real silver, not an impossibly cheap one on a fake.

4. Check for nickel-free and lead-free

Good sterling silver is nickel-free and lead-free — which matters both for quality and for your skin. Cheap "silver" often contains nickel, the metal behind most jewellery allergies. If you have sensitive skin especially, look for a clear nickel-free claim (and read our guide on whether 925 silver is safe for sensitive skin).

5. Do the at-home tests

If you already have a piece and want to check it, a few quick tests help. Real silver is non-magnetic, so a piece that leaps to a strong magnet is mostly other metal. Rubbed gently with a soft white cloth, genuine silver leaves a faint black tarnish mark; many fakes leave nothing. And real silver is odourless — a strong metallic "coin" smell suggests high copper content.

6. Buy from a named, accountable seller

The single biggest protection is who you buy from. A real brand puts its name on the piece, offers a clear return policy, and backs its jewellery with a warranty or exchange. Anonymous marketplace listings with no brand, no certification and no returns are where most scams live. At Ornate, every piece is BIS-hallmarked, nickel-free and lead-free, made in our own factory and covered by a Lifetime Exchange — accountability you can hold us to.

Red flags to walk away from

• No mention of BIS hallmarking or purity.
• Described only as "silver" or "silver-plated," never "925 sterling silver."
• A price far below every comparable hallmarked piece.
• No brand name, no return policy, no warranty.
• Vague, copy-paste product descriptions with no material detail.

Get these right and buying silver online is genuinely safe. For the full picture, see our guide to hallmarked silver and our complete silver buying guide.