Silver prices are experiencing a steady climb, with rates in Kolkata at Rs 242 per gram. The precious metal has seen a 5-7% price increase this year, with heightened buyer interest. Experts advise consumers to insist on hallmarking for silver items, even though it's not yet mandatory, to ensure purity. Investors are cautioned against impulse buying, recommending a planned, averaged approach to purchasing physical silver, digital silver, or ETFs due to the metal's volatility.