Buying Gold? Check These 3 Hallmark Details Before You Pay

A recent inspection by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) at a jewellery store in Chennai resulted in the seizure of 804 grams of gold jewellery reportedly lacking the required hallmark. The incident has once again highlighted the importance of checking hallmark details before buying gold. Hallmarking is a system developed by BIS to certify the purity of precious metal jewellery, and consumers should carefully verify the markings on a gold ornament before making a purchase.

There are three key details buyers should check: the BIS Standard Mark, the purity grade and the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number. The BIS mark indicates that the jewellery has undergone the required assessment, while purity markings such as 22K916, 18K750 and 14K585 indicate approximately 91.6%, 75% and 58.5% gold purity respectively. The six-character HUID is unique to each hallmarked jewellery item. Buyers can verify it through the BIS Care app by selecting ‘Verify HUID’ and entering the code stamped on the jewellery. The resulting details, including the assaying and hallmarking centre and purity information, can then be checked against the jewellery and purchase bill.