Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles (as per IS 15820). Hallmarks are thus official marks used in India as a guarantee of purity or fineness of precious metal articles.
2.Which precious metals are hallmarked in India?
In India, at present two precious metals namely gold and silver have been brought under the purview of Hallmarking.
3.What are the Indian Standards on Hallmarking?
- IS 1417: 2016 Gold and Gold Alloys, Jewellery/Artefacts-Fineness and Marking- Specification
- IS 2112:2014 Silver and Silver Alloys, Jewellery/Artefacts-Fineness and Marking- Specification
- IS 15820: 2009 General Requirements for establishment and operation of Assaying and operation of Assaying and Hallmarking centres.
- IS 1418: 2009 Determination of gold in gold bullion, gold alloys and gold jewellery/artefacts-cupellation( Fire Assay) Method
- IS 2113: 2014 Assaying Silver in Silver and Silver Alloys-Methods.
- IS 17278:2019 Refined Gold and Silver Bars for Good Delivery — Specification
4.What are the grades permitted for hallmarking of Gold/Silver jewellery/Artefacts?
- IS 1417:2016 permits hallmarking of six caratage (fineness in ppt) of gold jewellery/artefacts, viz. 14K(585), 18K(750), 20K(833), 22K(916), 23K(958) and 24KS(995).
- IS 2112 : 2014 permits hallmarking of of six grades(fineness in ppt) of silver jewellery/artefacts, viz. 800(800.0), 835(835.0), 900(900.0), 925(925.0), 970(970.0) and 990(990.0)
5. What are the objectives behind instituting Hallmarking Scheme?
Objectives of Hallmarking scheme are to protect consumer against malpractices in gold/silver related to purity, to develop India as a leading gold market centre in the World and to develop export competitiveness.
6. What are the benefits to Customer from purchasing hallmarked jewellery?
Hallmarked jewellery provides third party assurance and satisfaction that customer gets right purity of gold/silver for the given price (value for money).
7. How will the jewellers benefit from getting registration/certification from BIS ?
It will provide clear indication of his capability, strong evidence of commitment to quality and assurance of consistency in purity and quality of gold/silver jewellery.
8. What is HUID in the hallmarked gold jewellery?
HUID is a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number and it is one of the components of hallmark. It is a six-digit alphanumeric number which is unique for each hallmarked item and is traceable. Customer can also verify the HUID number in the BIS Care App using the ‘Verify HUID’ feature.
9. What does hallmark on gold jewellery consist of?
Since the introduction of HUID (i.e. 1st July 2021) hallmark consists of 3 marks viz, BIS logo, purity of the article in caratage as well as fineness and six-digit alphanumeric HUID number.
10. Who operates the Hallmarking Scheme?
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Standing Committee on Gold and Precious Metals, identified Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in the year 2000 as the sole agency to operate the Hallmarking Scheme in India, and entrusted BIS with the task of implementing hallmarking scheme to protect the consumer against malpractices and develop export competitiveness and make India a leading market for gold jewellery in the world. BIS through its network of Regional/ Branch offices all over the country operates the Hallmarking Scheme for gold and silver jewellery.
11. How much does it cost to get a gold/silver article hallmarked?
i) Following hallmarking charges are applicable for gold articles:
» Rs. 45/- per article
» Minimum charges for a consignment shall be Rs. 200/- (Services Tax and other levies as applicable shall be extra)
ii) Following hallmarking charges are applicable for silver articles:
» Rs. 35/- per article
» Minimum charges for a consignment shall be Rs. 150.00. (Services Tax and other levies as applicable shall be extra)
Note-
• Consignment – A consignment shall be collection of articles/artifacts of same fineness from which a sample shall be drawn and assayed to determine conformance with the acceptable criteria. There may be different lots in a consignment.
• Lot – A lot shall be defined as set of articles having same fineness, type/design
12. Does Hallmark charges include making charges and wastage charges?
13. Are the hallmarking charges dependent on weight of jewellery?
No, hallmarking charges are paid per article irrespective of the weight of the article.
14. Is it necessary to take authentic bills/invoice for the hallmarked article from retailer/jeweller?
Yes, it is necessary to take authentic bills/invoice of the hallmarked article from retailer/jeweller.
15. Is it necessary to have details of hallmarked articles in the bill/invoice issued by jeweller/retailer?
Yes, it is necessary to have details of hallmarked articles in the bill/invoice issued by jeweller/retailer for any dispute/misuse/complaint redressal.
16. What should be looked at in a jewellery shop while purchasing the hallmarked jewellery?
On the outside of the sales outlet, the registered/certified jeweller shall display the logo of BIS with the wording “Hallmarked jewellery available for sale”. Certificate of registration issued by BIS shall be displayed by the jeweller in a jewellery shop. Jeweller shall have magnifying glass of minimum 10X magnification to show hallmark to customer in the hallmarked jewellery. Relation of fineness with caratage shall be displayed by the jeweller.
17. What control BIS has on registered/certified Jewellers and Recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres?
BIS carries out regular surveillance audit of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres as well as draws market samples from registered/certified jewellers for testing in BIS referral assay labs (RALs).
18. What are the permissible sizes(height) of hallmark on gold/silver articles?
The permissible sizes (height) of the hallmark are :
| For Gold(mm) |
For Silver(mm) |
| 1.5 |
4.0 |
| 1.0 |
2.0 |
| 0.75 |
1.5 |
| 0.5 |
1.0 |
| – |
0.75 |
19. Is it necessary to have hallmark on both the articles/jewellery in pairs and on all detachable parts?
Yes, each article in pair and all detachable parts should have hallmark with different HUIDs. Customer should look for hallmarking and fineness details in each article to prevent any misuse w.r.t fineness/purity.
20. What is the detachable part in jewellery?
Detachable part in jewellery is any part which can be easily removed or replaced.
21. Can an artisan or common man directly approach the A&H centre for hallmarking of the jewellery?
No, only BIS registered/certified jewellers can approach the A&H centre for hallmarking of the jewellery.
22. Where can a common person get information on hallmarking?
All the information regarding hallmarking in detail has been provided at BIS website: www.bis.gov.in under hallmarking section. The information includes general information on hallmarking, hallmarking regulation, mandatory hallmarking orders, procedure and guidelines for Jewellers and hallmarking centres, all the forms and list of registered jewellers as well as hallmarking centres etc.
23. Where can one get the list of BIS Registered jewellers?
24. Where can one get the list of BIS Recognized Assaying and Hallmarking centres?
25. Is it possible for the common man to get his/her hallmarked jewellery tested for purity from an A&H centre?
Yes, after paying testing charges of Rs. 200(for testing by fire assay method as per IS 1418) to any of BIS recognized A&H centre. The list of BIS recognized A&H centre is available at BIS website www.bis.gov.in under the hallmarking section.
