Planning to buy gold or silver jewellery?
Have you noticed a tiny mark on your jewellery?
Do you know what it is?
Let’s find out.
It is BIS Hallmarking.
We all know, buying gold and silver ornaments in India is not just for show; it is an investment for the future.
We often connect emotions with gold and silver as a cultural value. These are bought at the time of auspicious rituals such as weddings.
Purity is an important factor when buying gold and silver.
Now, the question is, how can you be sure whether the jewelry is pure or not?
This is where BIS hallmarking comes in.
Whether you are buying jewellery for weddings, festivals, or long-term investment, knowing about hallmarking is the first line of defence against fraud.
Let me walk you through what BIS hallmarking is, how it works, and why it matters so much when you buy gold and silver in India.
BIS hallmarking is a quality certification system by the government of India, which determines the purity of gold and silver jewellery sold in India. It is operated by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), hence the name.
Hallmarking is an official stamp that certifies the purity of the metal (Gold/Silver), the identity of the jeweller, and the authenticity of the testing centre. (Yes, it’s all in the tiny details)
It is a government-regulated system designed to protect consumers like you and me from being misled about gold and silver purity. (for instance, 22k/18k gold jewellery)
The Govt of India has made gold hallmarking in India mandatory for most gold jewellery. This move was brought to bring transparency and standardisation in the jewellery market, because trust alone is not enough fora lifetime commitment.
Today, hallmarked gold jewellery can legally be sold (of course, with a few exemptions, like items that weigh less than 2 grams, pens, watches, or items that are used in medical or scientific purposes, etc.).
This is to make sure that quality standards remain the same across India, customers are satisfied with purity, and jewellers don’t sell under-karat gold.
When you see a BIS hallmark on gold jewellery, it means that the product has been tested at a BIS-recognised laboratory and meets purity standards.
A standard BIS hallmark includes:
| Description | Importance |
| BIS Logo | It is the official symbol of certification and affirms that a purity check took place at authorised labs. |
| Purity/Fineness Mark | These are the numbers that tell us how pure gold or silver is. (i.e., 916 means 22K gold, 750 means 18K gold) |
| Assaying & Hallmarking Centre Mark | Proof that the jewellery was checked by a qualified third-party lab. It also tells you where the purity check happened. |
| Jeweller’s Identification Mark | The jeweller's identity. It says where you bought your jewellery from. |
| HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification Number) | A unique 6-digit alphanumeric (combination of letters and numbers) code for the exact jewellery piece. |
The HUID system has made gold purity certification even more transparent. Each piece of hallmarked jewellery now has a unique code that can be verified on the BIS care app.
When a jeweller offers BIS certification for gold, it means the gold has been independently tested and verified for purity.
As we all know, gold purity is measured in karats:
Without proper certification, you cannot be sure whether the gold you’re buying is 22K or less. All looks visibly the same.
It is not advisable to buy expensive gold jewellery without certification. It carries chances of being duped (for instance, paying 22K price for 20K purity), difficulty during resale or exchange, and a lack of trust and transparency.
Choosing BIS-certified gold is not just about safety; it’s about financial protection.
While we pay most of our attention to gold, BIS certification for silver is equally important. Especially when silver prices skyrocketed in recent times.
Silver purity is usually measured as:
Many buyers assume silver is always pure, but impurities can reduce value significantly. So, make sure you always buy hallmarked silver. It is the only way to know silver’s accurate purity, fair pricing, and better resale value.
If you are investing in silver coins, utensils, or jewellery, always ask for hallmark certification.
The importance of a hallmark goes far beyond just a small stamp on jewellery. There is a reason the Govt of India had to step in and secure the interests of all involved parties.
A few points to be noted here are:
What about tax? Don’t worry, you won’t be taxed upto 500 grams of gold.
Gold purity certification follows a strict testing process. Let’s understand it step-by-step for better understanding.
Step 1: After making the piece, the jeweller sends the jewellery to a BIS-approved Assaying & Hallmarking Centre.
Step 2: The jewellery is tested using scientific methods. Paying attention is a must, as slight mishaps can fluctuate the price by thousands.
Step 3: If purity matches the declared standard, the hallmark is applied.
Step 4: After the hallmark is applied, HUID is generated and engraved on the piece to make it unique. It’s like giving the jewellery its own Aadhaar Card number.
This whole process makes sure that there is third-party verification, not just the jeweller’s claim that the jewellery piece is pure.
A certified gold refinery plays an important role in maintaining quality standards in the gold supply chain. If the foundation is weak, the whole building collapses. Jewellers don’t have a system in place to purify the gold. They rely on refineries for that.
Refineries purify raw gold, maintain metal consistency, and supply standardized bullion to jewellers.
When gold originates from trusted and certified sources, the chances of adulteration are significantly reduced. As stated above, jewellers don’t have a system in place to purify or downgrade the quality of gold.
When you go for buying BIS certified gold and silver, don’t forget to check the following boxes:
You can even verify the HUID through official BIS channels like the BIS care app.
If you want to understand the detailed process and standards, you can explore more about gold hallmarking in India.
Not all gold items are automatically hallmarked. But most jewellery categories now fall under mandatory hallmarking.
BIS Certified Gold Products:
Products that do not always require BIS Certification:
FYI, silver jewellery and artefacts are also increasingly being hallmarked under BIS guidelines.
Reality: Hallmarking starts from as little as ₹45/piece. You are paying for the accurate purity.
Reality: Even trusted jewellers rely on certification for transparency. What if the jeweller himself is unaware of purity? Hallmarking helps both parties involved in the sale.
Reality: Silver purity affects resale and long-term value, too. If it’s not certified, you won’t find out until you go for resale.
Any positive action from the government works like a domino effect. It not only limits its effect to the particular sector but also improves other sectors and the quality of life, too.
Mandatory hallmarking has directly increased consumer awareness, improved credibility of jewellery, standardized quality across India, and reduced unfair practices, AKA fraud.
If we see the indirect effects, the trust factor encouraged people to buy more gold and improve their savings. Subsequently, it made them financially secure and gave them the power to spend on other things that subsequently provided livelihood to many other people in many other sectors.
Not only for you and me, but this reform has also strengthened even India’s position as one of the world’s largest and most trusted gold markets.
Gold and silver purchases are not just emotional decisions; they are financial commitments. Without proper verification, you risk paying more for less purity and subsequently less value.
BIS hallmarking ensures transparency, accountability, and protection. Whether it is BIS certification for gold or BIS certification for silver, always insist on certified products.
Before making your next purchase, remember to:
“In the world of precious metals, knowledge is your strongest safeguard.”
When it comes to jewellery, NEVER compromise. Always, always choose certified quality and genuine purity. It is for our own good.
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