How to check the hallmark and HUID on gold jewellery

Look for the BIS logo, a purity mark such as 22K916, and a six-character code. Type that code into the free BIS Care app under Verify HUID. If the app's details match the piece, the hallmark is genuine. If any of the three marks is missing, ask why before you pay.

The three marks

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) runs hallmarking in India. Since 1 July 2021, its FAQ says, a gold hallmark has three parts:

• The BIS logo. The standard mark of the Bureau. No logo, no hallmark.
• The purity. Carat and fineness together, for example 22K916 for 22 carat. The number is parts of gold per 1,000. Our guide to 916, 22K and 24K lists all six grades.
• The HUID. Hallmark Unique ID, a six-character mix of letters and numbers. Each hallmarked piece gets its own, which is what makes it traceable.

The marks are tiny, often on the clasp, the inside of a ring or the back of a pendant. A phone camera zoomed in, or the jeweller's loupe, makes them readable.

Decode what is stamped on your piece

Type the purity mark or the six-character code below. It tells you what the purity means and, for a code, what to do next.

Check the HUID in the BIS Care app

1. Install BIS Care, the official app of the Bureau of Indian Standards, from the Play Store or App Store. It is free.
2. Open Verify HUID and type the six characters exactly as stamped. Letters such as O and the number 0 are easy to confuse, so zoom in first.
3. Compare what the app shows with the piece in front of you: the type of article, its purity and the jeweller. A ring that comes back as a chain, or 18K when the tag says 22K, is a reason to stop.
4. Make sure the bill lists the item as hallmarked. The BIS FAQ says those details are needed for any complaint later, so keep the bill.

Do this in the shop, before paying. It takes less time than choosing the design.

Older jewellery without a HUID

The HUID is part of the hallmark only from 1 July 2021. A chain bought in 2015 may have a genuine BIS hallmark with older marks and no HUID, so Verify HUID cannot find it. That does not make it fake. If you plan to sell, exchange or pledge it, the buyer or lender will test it anyway; if you want certainty first, a BIS-recognised centre can test it for you (see below).

If something does not match

Ask the jeweller to explain first. Mistyped codes are common. If the answer does not satisfy you, the BIS FAQ says you can have hallmarked jewellery tested at a BIS-recognised assaying and hallmarking (A&H) centre. The charge is Rs. 200, using the fire assay method under IS 1418. BIS publishes the list of recognised centres on its website.

Hallmarking tells you the purity. It does not tell you the price is fair. For that, compare the gold rate on your bill with today's IBJA gold rate, and check that GST is worked out correctly with our GST and making charges guide.

Sources

• Bureau of Indian Standards: Hallmarking FAQ (bis.gov.in)
• BIS Care app on Google Play (published by the Bureau of Indian Standards)

Questions people ask