Dhanteras, the day that opens the five days of Diwali, falls on Friday, November 6, in the US this year, with Lakshmi Puja, the main night of Diwali, on Sunday, November 8. Buying metal on Dhanteras is a long tradition, and silver now costs far less than it did at January’s record. In the US, the choice usually comes down to a fine silver coin or bar and a piece of sterling jewelry, and each has its own stamp and is priced in its own way. Here is what to buy, what the marks mean, and how to check the price.
Key takeaways
- The dates: Dhanteras on Friday, November 6, and Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, November 8, in the US.
- To keep: a 999 fine silver coin or bar, priced close to the value of its metal.
- To wear: 925 sterling silver. Fine silver is too soft for jewelry worn every day.
- “German silver” contains no silver at all.
- Check the price by the gram: divide the day’s price per troy ounce by 31.1.
In this guide The dates The stamps Coin or jewelry The price Jewelry for him Care FAQ
Dhanteras 2026: the dates, and why silver
Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, falls on Friday, November 6, 2026, in the US, according to Drik Panchang, and Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday, November 8, according to Indian Eagle’s guide to Diwali in the US. Puja times vary by city, so check a calendar for yours.
The custom of buying metal on the day has a simple logic, which the mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik explained to The Quint: “all wealth, be it agricultural or mineral, comes from under the earth,” where Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is said to reside. Gold, silver, and utensils are the traditional purchases.
What the stamps mean
- 999, or .999 fine. Fine silver, the usual standard for silver coins and bars. It is soft enough to bend with your fingers and scratches at a touch, which is why jewelry is made in sterling instead, as our guide to what 925 means explains.
- 925, or STERLING. In the US, the FTC reserves “sterling” for silver that is at least 925 parts per thousand pure, our 925 guide notes. This is the standard for jewelry.
- 900, or coin silver. Ninety percent silver, found in older US coins and antique American pieces.
- “German silver,” “nickel silver,” or “alpaca.” An alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc with no silver in it, as our guide to German silver explains. It is fine for decorative pieces sold under that name, but it isn’t silver.
A coin or a piece of jewelry?
Both honor the day. The difference is what you do with the silver afterward.
| Fine silver coin or bar | Sterling jewelry | |
|---|---|---|
| The mark | Fine silver coin or bar999 or .999 FINE | Sterling jewelry925 or STERLING |
| Silver content | Fine silver coin or bar99.9% | Sterling jewelry92.5% |
| Best for | Fine silver coin or barKeeping, gifting, and the puja | Sterling jewelryWearing every day |
| How it wears | Fine silver coin or barSoft; scratches and bends easily | Sterling jewelryHarder; made to be worn |
| How it is priced | Fine silver coin or barClose to the metal’s value, plus a markup | Sterling jewelryMostly on design and making, well above the metal |
Checking the price
Silver is priced by the troy ounce, which is 31.1 grams. Divide the day’s price per ounce by 31.1 to get the price of a gram of pure silver, then multiply by the weight and the purity, as our guide to melt value shows. At, say, $50 an ounce, a gram of pure silver is worth about $1.61, so a 10-gram 999 coin holds about $16 of silver and a 10-gram sterling ring about $15.
Expect to pay more than that. Coins and bars sell above the value of their metal to cover minting and the seller’s margin, and jewelry sells far above it, because most of its price is design and making, as our guide explains. Silver has also fallen a long way from January’s record, as our guide to why silver prices are falling shows, so check the day’s price rather than relying on last year’s.
Silver jewelry for him
If the silver is for a man to wear, choose 925 sterling in a plain, solid design he can wear every day: a ring, a chain, or a bracelet. Size matters as much as the stamp, so check it first with our guides to US ring sizes, chain lengths, and bracelet sizes. With Dhanteras a week away, buy in person or order only where the seller gives a delivery date you can count on.
Keeping it bright
- Coins and bars: keep them in their capsule or sleeve and handle them by the edges. Toning doesn’t change how much silver they hold, so there is no need to polish them.
- Jewelry: wear it, which keeps it bright, and store it in a sealed bag when it isn’t on, as our tarnish guide explains.
- Check what you bought when you get home, using the stamp and the simple tests in our guide to telling if silver is real, and keep the receipt with the weight and purity on it.
FAQ
When is Dhanteras 2026 in the US?
Friday, November 6, 2026. Lakshmi Puja, the main night of Diwali, falls on Sunday, November 8.
Is it better to buy a silver coin or jewelry on Dhanteras?
A 999 coin or bar if you want to keep the silver, since it is priced close to its metal; 925 sterling jewelry if someone will wear it.
What does 999 silver mean?
Fine silver, 99.9 percent pure, the usual standard for silver coins and bars. It is too soft for jewelry worn every day.
Is German silver real silver?
No. German silver, also called nickel silver, is an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc with no silver in it.
Can a man wear a 999 silver ring every day?
He can, but it will bend and scratch quickly. A 925 sterling ring is made for daily wear.
How do I work out the price of silver per gram?
Divide the day’s price per troy ounce by 31.1. For sterling, multiply the result by 0.925 to get the value of the silver in each gram.
Bottom line
For Dhanteras on November 6, buy a 999 coin or bar if the silver is to be kept, and 925 sterling jewelry if it is to be worn. Read the stamp, walk past anything sold as German silver, check the price per gram against the day’s silver price, and keep the receipt with the weight and purity on it.
From the collection
Men’s sterling silver rings by Ronatelli
Eleven handmade 925 rings, $129 to $169, from a chain-link band to a black onyx statement ring. Every one is adjustable.
Related guides
US dates follow Drik Panchang and Indian Eagle; the meaning of buying metal on Dhanteras follows Devdutt Pattanaik as quoted by The Quint; purity marks, melt value, and German silver follow our own guides linked above, which draw on the FTC’s Jewelry Guides; and the price example is an illustration, not live market data. All were checked on October 30, 2026. Read our editorial policy.
