BIS Hallmark & HUID
What the small marks stamped on Indian gold jewellery mean, how to check them, and what to write down in your register.
This guide is about India. Other countries stamp their own hallmarks, but the purity numbers (916, 750, 585) mean the same everywhere. See Karat & Purity.
What a hallmark is
A hallmark is an official stamp showing that an independent assaying and hallmarking centre recognised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has tested the metal. The jeweller's word alone isn't a hallmark. Hallmarking of gold jewellery became mandatory in phases from 23 June 2021, starting with 256 districts, and has been extended to more districts since.
The three marks on today's jewellery
Since 1 July 2021, a hallmark on gold jewellery has three parts:
| Mark | What it looks like | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| BIS standard mark | A triangle-shaped logo | The piece was tested at a BIS-recognised centre. |
| Purity grade | e.g. 22K916, 18K750, 14K585 | Karat and fineness together. 22K916 means 91.6% pure gold. See Karat & Purity. |
| HUID | A 6-character code of letters and numbers, e.g. AB12C3 | The Hallmark Unique ID for this one piece. No two pieces share a HUID. |
From 1 April 2023, jewellers may only sell gold jewellery that carries a 6-digit HUID. The marks are tiny, usually on the clasp, hook or inner surface. A jeweller's loupe or your phone's camera zoom will help.
Older jewellery (before July 2021)
Older hallmarked jewellery usually has four or five marks: the BIS logo, the purity/fineness, the hallmarking centre's mark, the jeweller's identification mark, and on older pieces a letter for the year of marking. If you own old hallmarked jewellery, it's still valid. The HUID rule applies to what jewellers sell, not to what households already own.
How to check a HUID
- Install the official BIS CARE app (Android and iOS).
- Open Verify HUID and type in the 6-character code from the piece or from the bill.
- The app shows the type of article, its purity, the hallmarking centre, the jeweller's BIS registration, and when it was hallmarked.
If the article type or purity doesn't match what you have in hand, a necklace listed as a ring for example, raise it with the jeweller. You can also complain through BIS CARE.
Got a doubt about purity? Any BIS-recognised assaying & hallmarking centre will test a hallmarked piece for a small fee. If a hallmarked piece turns out to be below the marked purity, BIS rules give you a right to compensation from the jeweller.
What's not hallmarked
- Gold articles weighing under 2 g.
- Some traditional work, such as kundan, polki and jadau, is exempt from compulsory hallmarking.
- Silver: hallmarking to IS 2112 (grades 999, 990, 970, 925, 900, 835, 800) exists but is voluntary for silver jewellery.
- Gold coins and bars from banks and refiners usually come with their own assay certificate or tamper-evident packaging. Keep it.
What to record in Tijori
For each piece, go to Details & location and fill in:
- HUID: the single most useful identifier. It ties this physical piece to the jeweller and the hallmarking record.
- Purity: as marked, e.g. 22K916.
- BIS hallmark / certifying lab: for older pieces, write down the centre's mark and jeweller's mark if you can read them.
- A close-up photo of the hallmark, taken with the camera inside Tijori so it stays out of your gallery.
Rules and dates here are summarised from BIS notices for general information. Always check with BIS for the current rules.