Today the mass production of jewelry created by non-Indians but in the image of native creations is prevalent everywhere. Silver is another issue to consider when purchasing a piece of Indian jewelry. At the turn of the 20th century jewelry was fashioned from melted down Mexican pesos gained in trade. In those days the pesos were made from a fine grade of silver, but in the 1940s the grade of silver was lowered making them less suitable for use. It is harder and less expensive than sterling silver, but is attractive.
Sterling is the most common material used in the creation of authentic Indian jewelry.
Sterling silver is actually an alloy made from 925 parts of pure silver and 75 parts copper. The addition of the copper is necessary because pure silver is too soft for most jewelry making. So, if you are buying a piece just because you like the way it looks that's fine. But if you are looking to buy a piece as an investment or heirloom, keep looking until you find something with the quality and guarantee necessary to protect your investment. IACA members are not obligated to sell only handmade Indian jewelry, but they are required to tell you whether or not the piece you like is authentic and if the turquoise used has been treated or stabilized and is not a pure art stone.