The Hallmarking Scheme aims to safeguard consumers from fraudulent activities involving gold and silver that compromise their purity, and boost export competitiveness. Hallmarking of gold jewellery became mandatory on June 16, 2021. From April 1, 2023, the government said that jewellers cannot sell any gold jewellery unless it has a 6-digit Hallmark Unique Identification or HUID number.
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What is Hallmarking?
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.
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Old hallmarking
There will be old hallmarking signs on a customer's gold jewellery if they purchased it on or before June 30, 2021. On such hallmarked jewellery, there are two additional indications in addition to the purity/fineness sign and the BIS emblem. The jeweler's identification number and the assay center's identifying mark/number are these. On July 1, 2021, however, these two indications were replaced with the alphanumeric HUID code. The hallmark will be valid for the entire life-time of the hallmarked jewellery. Consumer can sell old un-hallmarked/hallmarked jewellery lying with them to the jewellers.
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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.
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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.
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Is it possible for the common man to get his/her hallmarked jewellery tested for purity from an A&H centre?
The common man to get his/her hallmarked jewellery tested for purity from an A&H centre 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.
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Charges for hallmarking
Hallmarking charges are paid per article irrespective of the weight of the article 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- o 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. o Lot - A lot shall be defined as set of articles having same fineness, type/design
