At one end of your jewellery box, there's probably a ring that turned your finger green within a week. At the other, there are gold or diamond pieces you own but rarely wear because they feel too precious to risk outside a wedding or formal dinner.
Most women have both. Few people have a name for what sits in between.
The three tiers, plainly explained
Jewellery generally falls into three functional categories. Understanding this changes how you shop.
Fashion or costume jewellery uses base metals (brass, copper, zinc) with a thin metal plating on top. It costs under Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500. The plating wears through at contact points within weeks to months, exposing the base metal underneath, which oxidizes on contact with skin and moisture. This is what causes skin discoloration.
Fine jewellery is 18k or 22k gold, platinum, or natural diamonds. Built to last generations. In India, a plain 22k gold bangle starts at Rs. 35,000. Most women who own fine jewellery keep it in lockers and bring it out for weddings and festivals.
Demi-fine jewellery is the segment between them. 925 sterling silver, solid gold vermeil, and lab-grown gemstones. Price range: roughly Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 15,000. Quality that holds up to daily wear without the anxiety of losing something irreplaceable.
Why this category exists and why it's growing in India
India's demi-fine jewellery market is part of a global category where Asia Pacific holds 36.64% of market share, with India as a primary growth driver (Fortune Business Insights, 2025). Among D2C jewellery brands targeting urban Indian women, this is the fastest-growing product category.
BW Businessworld research found 49% of Indian jewellery consumers now prefer lightweight, minimalist jewellery over heavy ornate sets. This preference is concentrated in the 22-38 age group, specifically among urban working women.
Brands built around this thesis have validated the market. Palmonas, co-founded with Shraddha Kapoor, built their entire product range on 925 silver and lab-grown stones, targeting the self-purchasing urban professional. By 2023, they had expanded to offline stores. Titan entered the lab-grown everyday jewellery market in December 2025 with their "beYon" line. When India's largest institutional jewellery retailer makes that move, it confirms the demand has reached scale.
What 925 sterling silver actually is
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver with 7.5% alloy metals, usually copper. The "925" hallmark certifies this exact ratio. This standard has been in use since 13th-century Britain and remains the global benchmark for silver jewellery.
The copper isn't filler. Pure silver (99.9% fine silver) has a Mohs hardness of roughly 2.5, which is too soft for daily wear. At 925 composition, hardness increases to approximately 3.5 on the Mohs scale. For comparison, 18k gold has a Mohs hardness of around 2.75. Sterling silver is actually harder than 18k gold. It holds the fine details of settings better and resists denting under daily use.
The tarnish that silver develops over time is silver sulfide (Ag2S), which forms when the metal contacts sulfur compounds in air, humidity, and sweat. It is not rust. It is not corrosion. It is a surface-level reaction that is fully reversible with a soft cloth or mild soap and water.
There's a counterintuitive fact worth knowing: silver that is worn daily tarnishes less than silver stored in a drawer. Regular friction from wearing polishes the surface continuously. Pieces that sit in boxes for months collect more tarnish than pieces worn to work every day.
What lab-grown moissanite adds to the category
Sterling silver is a strong base metal. What makes demi-fine jewellery genuinely competitive on quality is the stone.
Moissanite (silicon carbide) scores 9.25 on the Mohs scale, harder than sapphire, harder than ruby, harder than every gemstone except diamond. Its refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69 exceeds diamond's 2.42, meaning it bends light more intensely and produces more sparkle. Its fire (dispersion value 0.104) is 2.4 times that of diamond.
In a 925 silver setting, a moissanite stone produces the kind of light return you'd associate with fine jewellery, because the optical properties genuinely are premium. The price difference comes from the supply chain, not the performance.
A 2024 peer-reviewed study in Nature's Humanities and Social Sciences Communications found that lab-grown gemstones produced with clean energy generate 0.028 grams of greenhouse gas emissions per carat, compared to 57 kilograms per carat for mined diamonds. The environmental argument for lab-grown stones is not positioning. It's physics.
Four pieces that cover most of your daily life
The practical case for demi-fine is that a small number of well-chosen pieces handles most situations.
Small studs or hoops. These work from morning meetings to dinner without changing. A moissanite stud or hoop in 925 silver is the highest utility piece you can own for daily life.
A simple pendant. Layered or worn alone, a pendant handles everything from casual to smart casual. Can sit on its own or layer with a longer chain for more complex styling.
A thin ring or band. Low profile, stackable, daily-wear. Works alone or alongside occasion pieces when you want to layer.
A bracelet that doesn't need attention. A clean tennis bracelet or thin chain you put on and don't have to think about until you take it off.
These four pieces, well-made, cover the range. They don't require a locker, don't require risk assessment before wearing, and don't require explanation.
Frequently asked questions
Is demi-fine jewellery actually good quality or is it a marketing term?
It describes a material category: 925 sterling silver or solid gold vermeil with genuine gemstones. That is measurably different from fashion jewellery in metal composition, stone hardness, and longevity under daily wear. Whether a specific piece is well-made depends on the manufacturer. The category itself is real and well-defined.
Will 925 silver jewellery last?
With basic care, yes. Sterling silver pieces can last decades. The tarnish that forms is a surface reaction, not structural degradation. A soft cloth or mild soap restores the surface. Regular wear is actually the best maintenance.
Is moissanite in a silver setting less valuable than moissanite in gold?
The stone's properties don't change based on the setting metal. Moissanite in 925 silver performs identically to moissanite set in 18k gold in terms of hardness, brilliance, and durability. The price difference reflects the metal, not the stone.
How do I know if my 925 silver jewellery is genuine?
Look for the 925 hallmark stamped into the metal, usually on the inside of a ring band, the clasp of a bracelet, or the back of a pendant. Under India's BIS hallmarking system, genuine 925 silver should carry a BIS hallmark alongside the 925 mark. Ask your jeweller for documentation if it isn't visible.
What makes demi-fine jewellery better than gold-plated jewellery?
Gold-plated jewellery uses a base metal (usually brass or copper) with a thin gold layer on top. When the plating wears through at friction points, the base metal underneath oxidizes. With 925 sterling silver, the precious metal goes all the way through. If the surface tarnishes, polishing restores the actual silver underneath. There is no base metal exposure.
Myraé's everyday collections sit in the demi-fine category: 925 sterling silver with certified moissanite stones. If you want to see what well-made daily wear jewellery looks like in practice, the Ananya collection is the place to start.