BIS to launch hallmarked silver

Close on the heels of hallmarked gold, the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has initiated the process of hallmarking silver ware and articles.

About 75 per cent of the 120 tonnes of silver consumed in the country annually was used to manufacture silver ware and articles.

"We will grant licences to manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers for dealing in hallmarked silver. We are also strengthening the BIS approved centres across the country to develop silver testing facilities," a BIS official said.

Silver jewellery items are likely to be kept outside the purview of hallmarking. Jewellers said it would be difficult to maintain the purity standards as the technology for soldering silver was still very backward.

The BIS standards for silver were based on internationally established norms for 'sterling' silver (92.5 per cent pure) and 'pure' silver (99 per cent pure).

"Globally, soldering is done with powder or paste to make its melting point lower than that of silver.

Neither the technology nor resources to use this method are present," a member of Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), said.

A leading manufacturer said the 'sterling' and 'pure' standards could be established easily. Presentation articles, like glasses, tea sets and jars were the most popular silver items.

The challenge before producers using silver was to convince consumers to pay extra amount for hallmarked silver items. More than two years after introduction of hallmarking, only 2 per cent of gold jewellery sold in India was hallmarked.

"We are confident of selling hallmarked silver items as people are becoming conscious about the quality and they are not unwilling to shell out extra money," the manufacturer added. But it would take some time to make hallmarking popular.

The government could look at laws for sale of hallmarked items. Shops selling such item could be restrained from selling non-hallmarked gold and silver, he pointed out.

In actual practice, shop owners generally displayed hallmarked items first and then the less expensive non-hallmarked items to customers. Many bought the cheaper stuff. "This actually hurts the promotion and sale of hallmarked items," the manufacturer pointed out.