New Delhi, Dec. 23 -- Whether silver is bought as an investment, a wedding gift or for everyday wear, purity often matters more than price alone. Yet many buyers discover too late that what looked like a bargain was actually low-grade or even silver-plated. Understanding silver grades - and knowing how to verify them - can help consumers avoid disappointment and make confident, informed purchases.

The grade of silver refers to how much pure silver is present in an item. Because pure silver is naturally soft, it is usually mixed with small amounts of other metals, most commonly copper, to improve strength and durability.

Silver purity is measured in parts per thousand. Marks such as 999 or 925 indicate how much of the metal is genuine si...