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To check Indian gold jewellery, look for three marks: the BIS logo, a purity mark showing caratage and fineness (such as 22K916), and a six-character alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code. Enter the HUID in the official BIS Care app’s Verify HUID feature, then confirm that the returned purity, article description and jeweller or manufacturer details match the item and its invoice.
If a mark is missing, unreadable or inconsistent with the BIS Care result, do not rely on appearance or weight. Preserve the evidence and take the article to a BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre for chargeable testing and an assay report.
What a BIS hallmark means
BIS defines hallmarking as “the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles.” A hallmark is therefore an official purity or fineness mark, not merely a stamp that a retailer applies to jewellery. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs describes the system as third-party assurance of gold purity.
For jewellery covered by the HUID system, BIS says that, since 1 July 2021, a hallmark consists of three marks. You should be able to identify all three on the article, although very small pieces may require a loupe or other magnification:
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| Mark | What it tells you | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| BIS logo | The article is represented as part of the BIS hallmarking system. | The logo is visibly present and legible. |
| Caratage and fineness | The stated gold grade, expressed both in karats and parts per thousand. | The notation agrees with the seller’s description and invoice. |
| Six-character alphanumeric HUID | A unique traceability code assigned to the hallmarked article. | The code can be retrieved through BIS Care’s Verify HUID function. |
A matching HUID is a strong consumer check, but it does not eliminate the need for professional testing when the physical article, invoice and database record disagree.
How to verify a hallmarked item step by step
1. Inspect the article under good light
Use a bright, neutral light and, if necessary, magnification. Locate the BIS logo, the caratage-and-fineness mark and the HUID. Photograph each mark before handling or cleaning the item. A piece showing only a karat number and no HUID needs further checking, particularly when it is being sold as jewellery covered by the post-1 July 2021 HUID system.
Do not reject an older article solely because it lacks a HUID: the HUID system was introduced on 1 July 2021, and older hallmarked stock may predate it. For an older piece, retain its existing marks and use an assay centre if its history or purity is disputed.
2. Retrieve the HUID in BIS Care
- Open the official BIS Care app.
- Choose Verify HUID.
- Enter the six-character alphanumeric code exactly as marked on the article.
- Review the result returned by BIS.
The result should identify the article’s purity and article type and provide jeweller or manufacturer information. Record a screenshot or other durable copy of the result. If the code is rejected, unreadable, duplicated or associated with a different item, treat that as a discrepancy rather than trying multiple interpretations of the mark.
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3. Compare the database result with the physical item
Check three sets of information side by side:
- Physical article: the design, item type, marks and HUID.
- BIS Care result: purity, article description and jeweller or manufacturer details.
- Invoice: the seller’s identity, article description, stated caratage or fineness and recorded weight.
For example, a HUID result describing a bangle should not be used to authenticate a ring merely because both carry the same apparent purity. A purity mismatch, an article-type mismatch or a jeweller detail that does not fit the transaction requires escalation.
4. Record the weight separately
BIS jeweller guidance specifies a weighing balance accurate to 0.01 gram for jewellery or artefact weight verification. A 0.01 g precision jewellery scale can document the article’s weight before professional testing. Photograph the display with the item visible and note whether stones, threads or other non-gold parts remain attached.
Weight is a recordkeeping aid, not a fineness test. Two items with the same weight can contain different proportions of gold, and a scale cannot validate a BIS mark or HUID.
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Do not rely on visual inspection alone if the HUID is absent, illegible, duplicated or returns details that do not match. Keep the article in its current condition and take it to a BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre. Ask the centre to test the marked article and issue an assay report identifying it.
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6. Preserve an evidence file
Keep these records together:
- The original invoice and any receipt or order confirmation.
- Clear photographs of every mark and the complete article.
- The BIS Care HUID result, including the date you checked it.
- The weight record, if you made one.
- The assay report and payment record from the recognized centre.
- Messages or written statements from the seller about purity, exchange or refund.
This file helps establish what was sold, what BIS records showed and what an independent test found if you need to make a complaint or seek compensation.
How to read a mark such as 22K916
The first part is caratage. Pure gold is treated as 24 karats, so 22K means 22 parts gold out of 24 parts in the karat system. The second part is fineness: 916 means a stated 916 parts of gold per 1,000 parts of the alloy. 22K916 therefore identifies 22-karat gold with a stated fineness of 916.
BIS requires the purity to appear in both caratage and fineness. A single number without the corresponding BIS logo and HUID does not provide the complete post-1 July 2021 hallmark set. The purity notation also does not identify the specific article; that traceability function belongs to the HUID.
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What each verification method can and cannot establish
| Method | Authority | What it measures or confirms | Limit | Evidence produced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual mark inspection | Informal observation | Whether the expected BIS logo, purity notation and HUID appear on the item. | Cannot establish that a mark is genuine or that the metal matches it. | Photographs and your notes. |
| BIS Care HUID lookup | BIS record | Traceability details, including recorded purity, article type and jeweller or manufacturer information. | It is a database check; a physical article that does not match the returned record still needs testing. | App result or screenshot. |
| 0.01 g precision scale | Instrument measurement | Article weight. | Weight does not prove gold fineness or authenticity. | Weight reading and photograph. |
| Assaying & Hallmarking Centre test | BIS-recognized testing centre | Metal composition and the purity of a submitted hallmarked or unhallmarked sample. | Testing is chargeable and the centre determines the testing method; ask about any sampling before authorizing work. | Formal assay report identifying the article. |
| Invoice comparison | Seller’s transaction record | What the seller represented, including description, purity and weight. | An invoice is not a laboratory measurement. | Original invoice or receipt. |
For a routine purchase, the non-invasive sequence is visual inspection followed by the free BIS Care HUID check and an invoice comparison. The recognized-centre assay is the evidentiary step when those records conflict or when a purity dispute cannot be resolved.
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What to do when the HUID is missing or unreadable
The article is newly purchased and has no HUID
Ask the seller to explain the omission and to provide documentation showing when and under which rules the article was hallmarked. Do not accept a verbal assurance as a substitute for a verifiable code. If the article is represented as a current hallmarked item and the explanation is unsatisfactory, pause the transaction or request an independent assay.
The code cannot be read
Try better lighting and magnification without polishing, scratching or altering the mark. Photograph the best view you can obtain. If the code remains unreadable, have a recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre examine the article; guessing characters in the app can lead to a false mismatch.
The code appears on more than one article
A HUID is intended to be unique to each hallmarked article. A duplicate or reused code is a traceability warning. Save photographs of every item carrying the code, record the purchase details and request a formal test rather than relying on the seller’s explanation.
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Stop treating the item as verified if any of these conflicts occurs:
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- The app reports a different purity from the mark or invoice.
- The app describes a different article type.
- The jeweller or manufacturer information does not fit the transaction.
- The HUID is valid in the app but is attached to an article whose physical marks or design do not correspond.
- The code is rejected, already associated with another item or cannot be read reliably.
Document the conflict, notify the seller in writing and request a remedy while keeping the article and packaging unchanged. If the seller does not resolve it, obtain a chargeable assay report from a BIS-recognized centre. The report gives you an independent purity finding tied to the marked article instead of an argument based on appearance.
Assaying and the compensation remedy
BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centres test hallmarked and unhallmarked samples and issue assay reports. Ask the centre to identify the article in the report and keep the receipt for testing charges. The centre’s procedure determines how the sample is examined, so ask what will happen to the article before you authorize the test.
If hallmarked jewellery is found to have lower purity than the mark, BIS consumer guidance says the customer is entitled to compensation equal to twice the amount of the calculated purity shortage for the article’s weight, plus the testing charges. The calculation depends on the measured shortage and the article’s weight; retain the invoice, weight record and assay report so the basis of a claim is clear.
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When mandatory hallmarking and HUID rules apply
Mandatory hallmarking for 14-, 18- and 22-carat gold jewellery and artefacts began on 23 June 2021 in 256 districts, according to BIS and Ministry of Consumer Affairs material. District coverage, exemptions and operating requirements are governed by subsequent orders and amendments, so check the current BIS notices for a new purchase rather than assuming that the original 256-district list is unchanged.
The HUID system followed on 1 July 2021. That date matters when assessing older jewellery: the absence of a HUID can reflect an earlier hallmarking regime, but it also means you have less direct app-based traceability. An assay is the appropriate way to settle a purity question about an older or altered article.
The system expanded substantially during its first reported year. BIS’s 2023 annual report, covering April 2021 through March 2022, recorded 8.72 crore gold and silver jewellery or artefact articles hallmarked. In the same period, registrations rose from 34,647 to 1,37,315 and recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centres increased from 945 to 1,079. These figures describe that reporting period; they are not a guarantee of current district coverage or centre availability.
Quick Recap
A practical checklist before you pay
- Ask to see the BIS logo, purity mark and HUID on the actual article, not only in a catalogue photograph.
- Read the purity in both formats, such as 22K916, and make sure it matches the invoice.
- Enter the HUID in BIS Care’s Verify HUID feature before completing the purchase when possible.
- Compare the app’s article type and jeweller or manufacturer information with the item and seller.
- Check that the invoice identifies the article, stated purity and weight.
- Photograph the marks and retain the app result and invoice.
- If anything conflicts, postpone payment or request an assay instead of relying on a scale, magnet, colour or other informal test.
Common mistakes that produce false confidence
- Checking only “22K”: the complete HUID-era hallmark also requires the BIS logo, fineness and HUID.
- Treating a seller’s stamp as a BIS hallmark: hallmarking is an official determination and recording of precious-metal content.
- Assuming weight proves purity: a 0.01 g reading documents mass but says nothing conclusive about fineness.
- Accepting a valid HUID without comparing the item: the app result must fit the article, purity and transaction.
- Discarding an old article solely because it lacks HUID: HUID began on 1 July 2021; older pieces require context and, when disputed, an assay.
- Failing to keep records: without the invoice, photographs, HUID result and assay report, it is harder to prove what was sold and what testing found.
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