What 925 sterling silver actually means

The number 925 stamped on the inside of an anklet means the piece is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% alloy (almost always copper, sometimes a trace of zinc). That alloy ratio is the international standard for jewellery silver because pure silver, called fine silver or 999 silver, is too soft to hold its shape at the thickness of an anklet wire. 999 silver bends under finger pressure. 925 sterling silver holds.

In India, BIS hallmarking for silver became operational in 2024 with three accepted purity standards: 999 (fine), 925 (sterling) and 900. Most reputable silver jewellery shops in Nagpur sell only 925 because 900 is too dark and 999 too soft. ZIA sells 925 only.

How to read the stamp at the time of buying. Look on the inside curve of the anklet near the clasp or the toggle. The numerals should be machine stamped, not hand engraved. A real 925 stamp is crisp and uniform. A counterfeit stamp is often shallow and uneven. If the shop sales person tells you the stamp is on the box and not on the piece itself, walk out.

The Nagpur silver market and what to watch for

Nagpur has roughly three categories of silver retail. The first is the old town markets of Itwari and Mahal where unhallmarked silver still moves at low prices, often at 850 or 900 purity sold as "pure silver" because regulation enforcement is uneven. The second is the chain stores in malls that sell silver from outside Maharashtra at very high markups. The third is brand led specialist silver showrooms like ZIA where every piece is 925, anti tarnish treated and certified.

A 10 gram silver anklet pair at 925 purity should cost approximately 925 multiplied by the per gram silver price (about Rs 268 per gram for 925 sterling in Nagpur as of May 2026) plus making and GST. That math gives a baseline range of roughly Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,500 for plain designs and Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 for designs with charms, bells, or oxidised detail. If you are quoted Rs 1,500 for a 10 gram anklet pair, the silver is almost certainly not 925.

For the current Nagpur silver rate per gram see Londe Jewellers' Silver Price Today in Nagpur page, which is refreshed daily from the IBJA bullion benchmark.

Anklet styles to know before you walk in

Plain chain anklet

The everyday workhorse. A simple flat or rounded silver chain that sits at the ankle, usually 9.5 to 10.5 inches long with an adjustable clasp. Suited to office wear, jeans, and saree alike. Weight typically 8 to 12 grams per pair.

Charm anklet

A chain anklet with one or two small silver charms (a leaf, a star, a bead cluster). Slightly more expressive without crossing into traditional territory. Popular for birthday gifting. Weight 10 to 14 grams per pair.

Bell or ghungroo anklet

The classical sound anklet with small silver bells along the length. Best for traditional occasions, gatherings at home, or as a heritage piece for daughters before their wedding. Heavier at 18 to 25 grams per pair because of the bell mass.

Payal with toe ring connector

A traditional Maharashtrian payal that links the ankle chain to the toe ring (bichiya) with a delicate connecting chain. Worn at festivals, Gauri pooja, weddings as a guest. Weight 14 to 20 grams per pair.

Oxidised anklet

We have a separate position on oxidised silver. ZIA does not sell oxidised pieces because the oxidation finish wears off unevenly within twelve months and the under silver is often 900 grade. If you specifically want oxidised, ask any seller for a written guarantee on tarnish over twelve months in writing on the receipt. Without that, the price is not honest.

Will my anklet turn black

This is the second most common question we receive at ZIA Dharampeth, after "is it real 925". The honest answer in three parts.

Yes, all sterling silver tarnishes eventually because the 7.5% copper in the alloy reacts with sulphur in air, perfume, perspiration and lotions. That is chemistry, not a defect.

No, a properly anti tarnish treated 925 anklet from a specialist showroom should not blacken within 6 to 9 months of daily wear if the customer follows basic care.

Three care rules that prevent 90% of premature tarnish. First, take the anklet off before showering. Soap and shampoo residue accelerates the chemical reaction. Second, store the anklet in the small zip lock plastic pouch your jeweller gave you, not loose in a brass or wooden box where it picks up airborne sulphur. Third, after a sweaty day rub the anklet briefly with the soft cotton polish cloth ZIA provides with every piece. Thirty seconds of wipe down resets the surface.

If the anklet does darken from neglect, a free re polish at either ZIA showroom in Nagpur returns it to original finish in about 20 minutes. We do this for life on every ZIA piece, no purchase receipt needed if we billed it.

Sizing the anklet correctly

A wrongly sized anklet either falls off mid step or cuts into the ankle bone. Both are why so many customers stop wearing their silver anklets after a few weeks.

The right method. Wrap a measuring tape around the narrowest part of your ankle, where the ankle bone meets the heel. Add half an inch for comfort. For most women in Nagpur this gives a 9.5 to 10.5 inch anklet length. If the anklet has a sliding adjustable clasp, two sizes will fit nicely. If the anklet is a fixed length design (especially traditional payal styles), go up half an inch rather than down half an inch. You can always tighten with a small silver bead extension but cannot stretch silver longer.

At ZIA both showrooms keep adjustable measuring tapes at every consultation desk. Walk in any time during opening hours (11 AM to 9 PM) for a free fitting.

Anklet gifting in Nagpur — what works for which occasion

Birthdays for daughters, sisters, friends

Plain chain anklet or charm anklet, 9 to 12 grams per pair. Comfortable price range Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,500. ZIA's Silver Gifts Under Rs 2,500 Nagpur collection has curated picks at this price tier. Visit ZIA Silver Gifts Under 2,500.

Raksha Bandhan for sisters

A charm anklet pairs beautifully with a 925 silver Rakhi for a brother sister pair gift. See the ZIA Silver Rakhi Gifts Nagpur page for full Raksha Bandhan curated sets.

Anniversary

A heavier payal or a bell anklet (18 to 25 grams) carries more presence and works as a "wear once a month" heirloom piece. Price range Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000.

Daughter's pre wedding gift

Traditional payal with toe ring connector. Many Vidarbha families gift the silver payal as a family tradition before the wedding day. Price range Rs 5,000 to Rs 9,000 in 925 sterling.

Friendship Day, Diwali, Bhau Beej, festive small gifts

Plain chain anklets in matched pairs (one for you, one for the friend) work especially well and stay under Rs 5,000 for the pair of pairs.

Care and re polishing

Every anklet bought at ZIA comes with:

• A printed authenticity certificate listing the 925 sterling silver purity, weight in grams, and the piece's unique product code.
• An anti tarnish zip lock pouch for storage.
• A soft cotton polish cloth.
• A lifetime promise of free re polishing and re plating at either ZIA Nagpur showroom.

What we do not include and what nobody else should either. We do not give you a "tarnish proof for life" verbal promise. No silver alloy on earth is tarnish proof for life. Anyone who tells you otherwise is hiding either the actual purity or the actual lifespan of the anti tarnish coating.

Frequently asked questions

Is silver anklet allowed for working women in Indian office wear?

Yes. A plain or simple charm anklet under a saree, kurta or trouser is appropriate for any office in Nagpur, including corporate offices in Civil Lines or Mihan IT companies. The Indian tradition of women wearing payal at the ankle predates modern formal wear and is widely understood as personal jewellery, not statement adornment.

Why does ZIA not sell oxidised silver?

Because we have seen the customer complaints firsthand. Oxidised silver in the Nagpur market is usually 900 grade or lower under a black surface treatment, and the surface treatment wears off within 12 to 18 months. Customers come back asking why their "antique silver" turned light grey. We choose to sell only 925 sterling with an honest finish.

Can I gift one anklet from a pair as a single gift?

Traditionally Indian anklets are gifted as a pair (the Sanskrit term itself, payal, is singular but always paired in practice). For non traditional gifting, a single charm anklet works fine and is increasingly common for friendship gifts in younger Nagpur circles.

Does ZIA do exchange or upgrade on silver?

Yes. ZIA accepts ZIA branded silver back at 75% of the current 925 silver rate for upgrades within the same year of purchase. Bring the original certificate and box. We do not accept silver from other shops because we cannot verify the original purity without re testing, and the testing cost would erode the credit.

Can I see the silver anklet collection before buying?

Yes. Walk in to either ZIA Nagpur showroom any day, 11 AM to 9 PM. ZIA Dharampeth (opposite Roop, beside Samsonite store, West High Court Road) and ZIA Pratap Nagar (Pratap Nagar Main Road, near Durga Mata Mandir, below Kotak Mahindra Bank). Phone numbers +91 77589 50520 (Dharampeth) and +91 77589 43238 (Pratap Nagar).

Where to go from here

If you have a specific occasion in mind, walk in to either ZIA showroom and ask the consultant for the anklet style closest to that occasion. We are not on commission, so the consultant has no reason to push the heaviest piece in the cabinet. The free polish cloth, the free re polish for life, and the authenticity certificate are standard with every ZIA piece, not premium adds.

For browsing online before the store visit start with the ZIA silver anklets collection and the daily wear range. For Raksha Bandhan specific picks visit the Silver Rakhi Gifts Nagpur page. For under Rs 2,500 gifting visit Silver Gifts Under Rs 2,500 Nagpur.

For the day's live silver rate per gram in Nagpur visit our parent brand's Silver Price Today in Nagpur page. For BIS hallmarking standards for silver in India see BIS hallmarking authority.