How To Check Hallmark On Gold Jewelry

With the wedding season in full swing, purchasing gold jewelry is an unspoken must in many Indian cultures. If you’re planning to purchase gold jewelry, becoming aware of the way it is hallmarked is crucial. 

The Government of India has made it mandatory to sell hallmarked gold jewelry in around 256 districts of the country with at least one Assaying and Hallmark Centre. As a general rule of thumb, there are three hallmark signs you should know and verify before purchasing any gold jewelry. Here’s a deep dive into understanding more about how to check the hallmarks on gold jewelry. 

What Is Hallmark on Gold Jewelry

The name “Hallmark” itself indicates some kind of a mark or a sign specifically on your gold jewelry. It is a mark that is affixed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recognized entity to assure its customers of the purity and fineness of their gold jewelry. So, whenever you purchase a gold ornament or an item make sure to check the hallmark to steer clear of cheating. 

Consumers often are not aware of the purity of the yellow metal and in most cases trust their local jewelers when it comes to buying gold jewelry. This can mislead them in purchasing less quality and purity of gold jewelry. This is where the hallmark comes in place, it protects the consumers from any cheating or fraud. It guarantees the purity of the physical gold.  

Types of Main Hallmarks on Gold Jewelry

There are two main types of hallmarks on gold jewelry: stamp and laser. Let us understand the types:

Stamps: Stamps are the traditional type of hallmarking on gold jewelry. The hallmark was stamped into the gold jewelry which in many cases is not ideal. For instance, if the gold item is delicate or hollow in nature, the stamp can actually cause the item to become slightly deformed. In some cases, if your gold ring is old, the metal wears down over a period of time and the hallmark stamp becomes obvious from the outside too. 

Laser: Now, most manufacturers choose the laser hallmark. With the popularity of stone sets, wedding rings and intricately designed jewelry, the laser hallmark does not disfigure the jewelry and in most cases, is subtle and visible using a loupe. The drawback to this is if a ring has a laser hallmark and requires sizing, the hallmark can be polished out and if this occurs during the sizing process the gold item needs to be returned to the assay office to have it restored and no one else can legally register it. 

How to Check Hallmarks on Gold

When buying any gold jewelry, it is necessary to check that your product is hallmarked by the BIS. The BIS hallmark certifies the purity and fineness of gold. Moreover, the central government of India has made the hallmark logo on gold mandatory as of 2021. This means any Indian jeweler should sell gold jewelry that bears the BIS hallmark to ensure the purity of gold. 

BIS hallmark consists of three symbols to verify gold authenticity. The first symbol is the BIS logo, the second symbol is for purity and fineness and the third symbol is a six-digit alphanumeric code. As a consumer before buying any gold item, you should check all three symbols. 

Let us understand each symbol in detail:

BIS Logo

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) logo is the first thing you need to know and check to verify your gold jewelry. The logo resembles the shape of a tiny triangle. The logo indicates the BIS involvement. 

Purity/Fineness Symbol

The purity of gold jewelry is a very important part as it is based on the degree of purity of gold. The second symbol indicates the purity or fineness of the gold jewelry. Pure gold is very soft while in some ornaments other metals are mixed with gold jewelry. Currently, you will get to witness the purity in one of the following:

22K916 – 22-carat gold and the jewelry has 91.6% gold.

18K750 – 18-carat gold and the jewelry has 75% gold.

14K585 – 14-carat gold and the jewelry has 58.5% gold. 

Six-Digit Alphanumeric Code

The six-digit alphanumeric code is the last symbol you need to check before purchasing gold jewelry. The code is unique for every jewelry article. 

What are the Signs of Genuine Gold Hallmarking?

Consumers should always check the below components of hallmarked gold jewelry to check its authenticity.

• The BIS mark is symbolized by a triangle.
• Key an eye out for a jeweler’s mark or identification number.
• Requesting a bill breakup to check the cost of hallmarking on the bill is comparable to the price set by the Assay and Hallmarking Centers (AHCs). 
• Checking for the carat (22K915) is important as it guarantees karat fineness and purity.
• According to the BIS guidelines, consumers must verify the address of their store listed on the jeweler’s license. 

Read More: How to Check if Gold is Real

Why Should You Buy Hallmarked Gold Jewellery?

Hallmark gold jewelry reflects confidence among the consumers as the jewelry bought promises purity as written on it. Since the hallmarked gold guarantees purity, you can get a proper rate while selling that gold jewelry anywhere in the country. 

The banks may sanction loans for you on better terms if you offer hallmarked gold items as mortgages. On the other hand, if you purchase un-hallmarked jewelry then you may not get a proper rate when you sell the piece. 

Bottom Line

For all the BIS-registered jewelers, the hallmark cost of gold jewelry is INR 35 per piece. But, a minimum fee of INR 200 is charged for a consignment. Consumers cannot apply to the BIS-recognized AHCs to get a hallmark on gold jewelry but surely can check the purity at any BIS-recognized AHCs. Download the BIS care app to verify the purity and fineness of your gold jewelry.