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Before paying for BIS-hallmarked gold jewellery in India, do three things: verify the HUID in the BIS CARE app, get an itemized quote and invoice, and save the jeweller’s return or exchange terms in writing. Hallmarking can help verify stated purity; it does not set a standard making charge or guarantee that a shop will accept a return.
How do I check gold purity before buying?
- Inspect every article and detachable part. Ask the jeweller to show the hallmark and fineness details on each piece, including both articles in a pair and detachable components. BIS guidance says each should carry the relevant marks because parts may be replaced. Ask to view them through the shop’s magnifying glass.
- Verify the HUID in the BIS CARE app. Use the app’s “Verify HUID” feature and check that the result matches the jewellery’s identifying and purity information. Visual inspection or a photograph alone does not authenticate a hallmark. BIS’s consumer guidance, last updated November 26, 2025, says the feature can be used to verify jewellery purity information before purchase: BIS Consumer Protection.
- Check the shop’s inspection aids. BIS consumer guidance says a jeweller should display BIS registration, provide customers access to a magnifying glass of at least 10X, and display the relationship between fineness and caratage. BIS’s January 2024 jeweller guidelines specify a weighing balance accurate to 0.01 g. These are India-specific guidance; check BIS for any later amendments.
- Keep the HUID and bill together. Retain the invoice and written quote, along with the HUID details, in case you later need to raise a concern.
A 10x jeweller’s loupe can make small marks easier to see, but it is only an aid to viewing. Use the BIS CARE app to verify the HUID.
What should be on a gold jewellery bill?
BIS says an invoice for a hallmarked precious-metal article should identify each article and state its net precious-metal weight, purity in carat and fineness, and hallmarking charges. BIS describes an authentic invoice as necessary for dispute, misuse, or complaint redressal. Check the bill before leaving and keep it.
For a useful price comparison, also ask the seller to show the gold rate used, the net weight of precious metal separate from stones or other non-gold components, any making and wastage charges, applicable taxes, and the final payable amount. Ask whether making charges are fixed, charged per gram, or calculated as a percentage. These are practical details to request; BIS does not prescribe a universal making-charge formula.
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Are making charges and hallmarking charges the same?
No. BIS states that hallmarking charges do not include making charges or wastage charges. Hallmarking charges relate to the hallmarking process; making charges are a seller’s charge for making the jewellery. Do not treat the hallmarking line as an all-in craftsmanship charge.
BIS’s January 2024 jeweller guideline lists ₹45 per gold article and ₹35 per silver article. These are the amounts printed in that dated guideline, not a guarantee of current charges. Check the current amount with the jeweller and BIS, and make sure the invoice shows hallmarking charges separately.
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How should I compare quotes from different jewellers?
Compare equivalent items and the final payable amounts, not just the displayed gold rate or making-charge figure. Use the same basis for each quote:
- Purity or fineness, with HUID details that match the piece.
- Net precious-metal weight, separated from stones and non-gold components.
- Gold rate used and the full itemized total, including making charges, wastage charges, taxes, and hallmarking charges.
- How making charges are calculated: fixed amount, per gram, or percentage.
- Written return, exchange, resizing, or cancellation terms.
Can I return gold jewellery after buying it?
There is no universal return period established by the BIS guidance cited here. Return, exchange, resizing, and cancellation terms depend on the particular seller, transaction, and applicable consumer rules. Before paying, ask the jeweller to state the following in writing:
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- Whether returns, exchanges, resizing, and cancellations are allowed, and the deadline for each.
- Any deductions, fees, or limits on refunds or exchanges.
- How the policy treats stones, custom-made work, and damaged or missing packaging.
- What proof is needed, such as the invoice, tags, or original packaging.
Save the policy with the quote and invoice. Do not assume that an in-store purchase, a custom order, and an online transaction have the same terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if a hallmarked item tests below its marked purity?
BIS says a consumer may have jewellery or a sample tested for a charge at a BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre. The centre should issue an assay report identifying the article as marked. BIS also states that if purchased hallmarked jewellery is found below its marked purity, compensation is based on twice the value difference calculated for the purity shortfall and the article’s weight, plus testing charges. Check current BIS rules and complaint channels for the applicable process and case handling: BIS Consumer Protection.
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