Buying gold jewellery on Dhanteras, Diwali? How to check purity of gold, Hallmark details on BIS care app

Gold buying on Dhanteras & Diwali 2023: It’s the festive season again and buying gold and gold jewellery is considered auspicious. If you are planning to buy gold jewellery this Dhanteras or Diwali, take note of this very important detail - verify the hallmark details before you make the purchase. Hallmarking of gold jewellery is mandated by the government and it is sign of the purity of the gold jewellery that you are buying. Hence it is crucial that you make an informed decision, especially if you are buying gold jewellery from any local jeweller. We take a look at how you can check the purity of gold and hallmark details on the government’s BIS care app. Here is a step-by-step guide: (Image by Sketchepdia)

When purchasing gold jewellery, the initial step is to verify its purity. The most reliable method for this is to identify the hallmark on the jewellery piece. The hallmark indicates the official gold proportion used and is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the authorized agency for gold jewellery certification in India. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure that the gold you buy is BIS-certified. (Image by Sketchepdia)

Hallmarking is the official process of precisely determining and recording the proportionate content of precious metal in articles. It involves the use of official marks, known as hallmarks, which serve as a guarantee of the purity or fineness of precious metal items in India. (Image by Sketchepdia)

Gold jewellery can be hallmarked in six categories: 14K, 18K, 20K, 22K, 23K, and 24K. The hallmark will be displayed as 22K916, 18K750, 14K585, etc. For instance, if a gold jewellery piece has the stamp 22K916, it signifies that the piece contains 91.6% gold, with the remaining 8.4% composed of other metals such as zinc, etc. (Image by Vecstock)

What is HUID? The Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, as detailed on the Department of Consumer Affairs website, is a six-digit alphanumeric code assigned to each piece of jewellery during hallmarking. The numbers are unique to each piece and are manually stamped onto the jewellery at the Assaying & Hallmarking Centre. This HUID system serves as third-party assurance, guaranteeing customers that they are receiving the accurate purity of gold or silver for the price paid, thereby ensuring value for money.

Gold hallmark checking: You can easily download the government’s BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) care app from the Google Play store or from the Apple Store. This app comes in very handy when checking the hallmark details of any gold jewellery that you are looking to purchase.

BIS care app: After downloading the BIS care app on your mobile phone, open it to see a display of various facilities that you can avail. Some of these are; Verify License details, Verify HUID, Know your standards, products under compulsory certification and complaints. You have to click on “Verify HUID”.

HUID number in BIS care app: Once you click on “Verify HUID”, you are directed to a screen where you can type in the HUID of the gold jewellery that you are looking to purchase. As stated above, the HUID is a six-character alphanumeric code that is inscribed on the gold jewellery. After typing the HUID number, click on search.

Gold jewellery HUID details: The BIS care app will then display all the HUID details related to the gold jewellery. These details include the jeweller’s registration number, the assaying and hallmarking centre, AHC registration number, AHC address, the article type (necklace, finger ring etc.), the date of hallmarking and the purity.

Once you have verified the HUID details of the gold jewellery, you can be assured that the claims made by the jeweller are authentic. Hallmarking of jewellery has been made compulsory by the government and one should never purchase gold jewellery that is not hallmarked. (Image by Sketchepdia)