Hallmarking refers to the precise assessment and official certification of the purity level of precious metals in manufactured items.
Presently, the hallmarking scheme in India includes two precious metals: gold and silver. These are subject to standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to ensure purity and consumer protection.
No, the charges for hallmarking are applied per item, regardless of the article’s weight. This simplifies the cost structure and ensures uniformity in pricing.
Buyers should look for several key details:
- The BIS logo, along with a visible notice stating “Hallmarked jewellery available for sale”, should be displayed prominently outside certified retail outlets.
- The jeweller must exhibit the official registration certificate issued by BIS within the store premises.
- A magnifying lens of at least 10X should be available to help customers inspect hallmarking details.
- An informative chart showing the relationship between caratage and fineness should also be displayed for consumer reference.
The HUID is a distinctive six-character alphanumeric code assigned to each individual hallmarked item. It serves as a traceable identifier, allowing verification of the article’s authenticity and hallmarking details through the BIS Care mobile application, using the “Verify HUID” feature.
No, the facility to hallmark jewellery is restricted to jewellers who are formally registered with BIS. These authorized businesses are permitted to submit articles to certified centres for hallmarking.