Many people believe Indian artists never mass produce, that each piece is unique. This would solely depend on the definition of mass production. These aids are purchased and used by Indian artists interested in producing the maximum amount of pieces for trade. This process became illegal in the 1930s to protect the integrity of Indian art. 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.