How to Check the Quality of Imitation Jewellery: Plating, Stones, Clasps and Finish

You can check the quality of imitation jewellery in about thirty seconds at a counter: turn the piece over, look at where the plating meets the metal, press one stone with your thumb and open the clasp once. Quality in fashion jewellery comes down to four things, and price is not one of them: even plating, secure stone setting, strong clasps and clean finishing. Zewar-e-Noor sells gold plated, oxidised, kundan, temple and American diamond finishes from ₹250, so here is what to check before you order on WhatsApp.

What Actually Decides the Quality of Imitation Jewellery?

Four things decide it: the base metal and how evenly it is plated, the way the stones are fixed, the strength of the clasps and jump rings, and how cleanly the piece is finished. Price tells you very little on its own. A neat finish and a shut jump ring matter more than a high tag.

Start with the back. Front-facing photos hide everything that matters: the thickness of the plating at the edges, the solder marks where the pendant meets the chain, and whether the stone setting sits level. Ask the seller for a photo of the back and the clasp before you pay.

Finish names tell you what to expect. Gold plated pieces are going for a polished gold tone. Oxidised pieces are darkened on purpose, so a dull grey patch is a design choice up to a point, but a patchy grey-black is not. Kundan pieces sit stones in a frame with a gold-coloured foil behind them. American diamond pieces depend on the cut and the setting, not the size of the stone.

Then check the weight in your hand. Very light pieces with large stones usually mean a hollow frame, and hollow frames bend easily. A little weight at the clasp and the frame is a better sign than a heavy-looking front.

How Do You Check Plating and Finish Before You Pay?

Look at the plating at the edges and the back, not the front. Rub the piece with a soft cloth and check whether the colour lifts or a dull line appears at the corners. The inner curve of a bangle and the back of a pendant are the spots where thin plating shows first.

The edge test

Run your eye along every edge and corner. Good plating holds its colour right up to the rim. If you can see a different, greyer metal at the edge, the plating is thin and will wear through at exactly that spot.

The cloth test

Rub the piece firmly with a dry soft cloth for a few seconds. A small amount of colour on the cloth is common on new plated jewellery. A grey or green stain is not a good sign.

The water test

Do not soak anything. Wipe a damp cloth over one hidden spot and dry it immediately instead. If the finish dulls straight away, keep that piece away from sweat and rain, and store it in a zip pouch after every wear.

How Should Stones and Kundan Setting Feel in Your Hand?

Press each stone gently with your thumb. A well-set stone sits flush and does not rock. If a stone moves, the glue or the prongs are doing very little work. On kundan pieces, the stone should sit level with the frame, not sunk below it.

Check the stones at the edges first, because they take the most knocks, especially on earrings and maang tikka. Hold the piece at arm's length. If one stone is a different shade from the rest, it will look worse in daylight than it does under shop light.

Pearls need a different check. Roll one gently between your fingers. On a set like the Noor Pearl Kundan Set (₹1499), the pearls are hand-strung, so a single loose pearl does not undo the whole row. That set is a wedding pick, with layered kundan stones and hand-strung pearls.

Temple jewellery has one more detail to inspect: the motifs. On the Shahi Temple Necklace Set (₹1199), the Lakshmi motifs and ruby stones are the focal point, so look for even spacing and stones that sit at the same height. It is listed for wedding and festive wear.

Why Do Clasps, Hooks and Jump Rings Matter Most?

Clasps take the daily wear, so they fail first. Open and close the hook once before buying. A fish hook should spring back into shape, a screw back should turn without grit, and every jump ring should be closed tight, with no gap you can catch a fingernail in.

Check the links on layered pieces. Fine links look delicate but catch on dupattas and hair. Give the necklace a gentle tug at two points along the chain. If it stretches or the links separate, it will not survive a sangeet night.

Earring backs matter as much as the earring. Look for a straight post and a back that grips. On heavier jhumkas, a wider disc at the back spreads the weight better than a thin one.

For a pair that works in class and at a festive dinner, the Zoya AD Drop Earrings (₹299) keep American diamond drops light on the ear.

Which Finish Suits Your Outfit and Occasion?

Match the finish to the outfit first, then to the occasion. Oxidised and gold plated finishes sit well with cotton kurtis, jeans and office wear. Kundan and temple finishes need silk, brocade or a lehenga. American diamond works with almost anything, which makes it the easiest finish to buy when you are unsure.

For a festive outfit that is not a full lehenga, the Sitara AD Pendant Set (₹749) is light enough for college and office days and still shines at a Diwali dinner.

If you want one piece that does three jobs, the Trio Charm Layered Necklace (₹300) from Zewar-e-Noor has three fine link chains, a cream teardrop pendant, a white faux pearl in a gold frame and a shell charm at the bottom. Wear it over a plain tee, a kurta, or a deeper neckline for brunch.

Browse necklace sets and earrings in the same finishes, or add bangles and a maang tikka if you are dressing for a wedding.

How Do You Care for Imitation Jewellery So It Lasts?

Keep it dry, wear perfume first, and store each piece in its own zip pouch. Wipe with a soft cloth after every wear. Never use toothpaste, vinegar or a silver dip on plated or oxidised pieces, because those take the finish off instead of cleaning it.

Order of dressing matters. Perfume, hairspray and lotion go on first and dry down before the jewellery goes on. Sweat is the other enemy, so take off necklaces, bangles and rings before the gym or a long commute.

For a daily wear piece you can be less precious about, Zewar-e-Noor's oxidised necklace at ₹250 does the job.

Store sets flat or hanging, not in a jumbled box. Chains tangle and stones chip against each other. One zip pouch per piece, or a compartment box, keeps the plating from rubbing against itself.

What Should You Ask Before Ordering on WhatsApp?

Send five questions and you will know more than any product photo shows. Is the plating even at the edges? How are the stones set? Can you send a photo of the clasp and the back? What is the return or exchange policy? And which finish suits the outfit I described?

Sellers answer quickly when the questions are specific. Tell them the outfit colour, the neckline and the occasion, and ask for one photo in daylight rather than studio light. Daylight shows the true finish on oxidised and gold plated pieces.

If you are still deciding between kundan and AD, read our guide to choosing a kundan jewellery set before you order.