The understanding of the BIS hallmarking framework by the entrepreneurs and its significance in the jewellery business is significant. It highlights the regulatory requirements, ensuring jewelers operate within national standards and enhance brand credibility and consumer trust. It identifies key business benefits and challenges, guiding better decision-making. Ultimately, it allows growing jewellery businesses and established brands to comply with global quality and purity standards.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced a hallmarking system that certifies the purity and fineness of gold jewellery. The BIS system of hallmarking of gold jewellery began in April 2000. Hallmarking ensures authenticity for consumers and compliance for jewellers. Hallmarks are thus official marks used in many countries as a guarantee of purity or fineness of precious metal articles. The BIS Hallmarking Scheme has been aligned with International criteria on hallmarking. As per this scheme, Registration is granted to the jewelers by BIS under Hallmarking Scheme. The BIS certified jewellers can get their jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognised ‘Assaying and Hallmarking Centres’ (A&HC).
Hallmarking is the scientific determination and official recording of the purity of precious metal articles. It guarantees that a piece of jewellery or artefact contains the claimed amount of gold or silver — tested and certified under BIS supervision. In India, hallmarking is governed by the BIS Act, 2016, the BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018, and the technical standard IS 1417:2016, a standard by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that defines the grades of gold for hallmarking and specifies the marking requirements for gold jewellery and artifacts.
Any jeweler willing to obtain Certificate of Registration for Selling Hallmarked Jewellery/artefacts shall apply online at the Manakonline portal www.manakonline.in of BIS with necessary details along with a list of retail outlets to be covered in the Certificate. The registration is then granted instantly in general and the jewellers become eligible to submit their articles for hallmarking at any BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (A&HC).
The hallmarking process is carried out through BIS-recognised Assaying & Hallmarking (A&H) Centres. These centres are approved after a detailed assessment of infrastructure, testing facilities, qualified staff, and compliance with BIS inspection criteria. Jewellers registered with BIS submit their ornaments to these A&H Centres, where they are tested. Once the purity is verified, the jewellery is laser-engraved with official hallmark marks.
| Carat | Fineness (ppt or part per Thousand) | Gold (%) |
| 14K | 585 | 58.50% |
| 18K | 750 | 75.00% |
| 20K | 833 | 83.30% |
| 22K | 916 | 91.60% |
| 23K | 958 | 95.80% |
| 24K | 995 | 99.50% |
| E.g. If 24 carat conforms to 100 % purity, then 18 carat will represent (18/24) × 100 = 75% purity. | ||
On the outside of the sales outlet, the registered jeweller shall display the logo of BIS with the wording “Hallmarked Jewellery available for sale”. The certificate of registration issued by the BIS for sale of hallmarked articles shall be displayed prominently in the sales outlet. Each outlet shall have a magnifying glass of minimum 10 X magnification and a balance of accuracy 0.01 gm, capable of weighing the jewellery.
BIS hallmark specifies basically three symbols that verify the gold’s authenticity.
iii. Six-Digit Alphanumeric ID: This is called the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number which is unique to every piece of jewellery.
Customers can verify the alphanumeric HUID code of their jewellery with the help of ‘BIS Care App’. By selecting the ‘Verify HUID’ option, they can instantly check the authenticity and purity details of the hallmarked jewellery.
For jewellery business owners, hallmarking brings numerous benefits:
– Consumer Confidence – certified purity builds loyalty
– Market Access – mandatory for trade and export
– Brand Reputation – represents credibility
– Reduced Risk – fewer disputes on purity
– Regulatory Compliance – avoids penalties
BIS Gold Hallmarking has elevated transparency and customer trust across the jewellery trade. However, entrepreneurs still face challenges in compliance costs, testing logistics, and timely certification. In smaller towns, limited hallmarking infrastructure adds to operational delays. At the same time, the rise of digital hallmarking and real-time verification offers vast efficiency gains. Government efforts to expand A&H Centres are opening new business avenues. Thus, hallmarking today represents both a compliance responsibility and a growth opportunity for the gold industry.
BIS Hallmarking has emerged as a cornerstone of trust and transparency in India’s jewellery industry. It safeguards consumers by guaranteeing the purity and authenticity of every gold item sold. For jewellers as business entrepreneurs, it enhances trust, regulatory adherence, and competitive advantage. Despite operational hurdles, hallmarking is driving the industry toward higher quality standards. The integration of digital verification has made purity validation simple and accessible. As awareness and infrastructure continue to expand, hallmarking will strengthen India’s position in the global gold trade. Truly, BIS hallmarking stands as a mark of purity, integrity, and enduring trust.
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