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For imported gold jewellery bought in India, check the Indian seller’s BIS registration, the item’s BIS hallmark and six-character HUID, and an itemised invoice. Imported origin or a foreign certificate does not by itself replace the Indian hallmarking process: BIS says imported jewellery may be sold by a registered jeweller after testing and hallmarking at a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre.
1. Check the seller’s BIS registration
Ask whether the Indian jeweller is registered with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). BIS consumer guidance says the shop should display its BIS registration certificate and have a magnifier of at least 10× available so customers can inspect the hallmark. A magnifier can help you see the marks; it does not authenticate the gold.
BIS’s jeweller guidance says imported jewellery may be sold by a registered jeweller only after testing and hallmarking at a BIS-recognised centre. A foreign certificate alone is not a substitute for that stated Indian process.
2. Inspect and verify the hallmark
On a hallmarked item, look for the BIS mark, the purity expressed in caratage and fineness, and a six-character alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID). These are the current hallmark components described in BIS’s Hallmarking FAQ.
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- Find the HUID on the jewellery and read all six characters carefully.
- Open the BIS CARE app and use its “Verify HUID” feature to check the recorded item details.
- Compare the returned details with the article you are buying. If the code cannot be verified or the details do not match, ask the seller to resolve the discrepancy before paying.
The HUID check is an additional check of the item’s recorded details, not a replacement for a proper invoice. BIS says including the HUID on the invoice is currently voluntary, so its absence from the bill alone does not establish that the bill is deficient.
Check every article in a set
BIS consumer guidance says each article in a pair and each detachable jewellery part should have a hallmark. Inspect both earrings, for example, and any detachable components rather than assuming one mark covers the entire set.
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3. Check the invoice before paying
Ask for an authentic bill or invoice that identifies the items clearly. BIS says the sale invoice for hallmarked precious-metal articles should state:
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- A description of each article.
- The net weight of the precious metal.
- The purity in carat and fineness.
- The hallmarking charges.
Compare the invoice description, weight and purity with the jewellery and the details checked through HUID. Keep the bill: BIS identifies it as relevant to consumer complaint redressal. Its Common Consumer FAQ says these particulars need to appear on the bill or invoice for hallmarked articles.
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4. If the seller offers an unhallmarked item
BIS lists exemptions from mandatory hallmarking, including jewellery below two grams, specified special categories, and qualifying jewellers below the stated turnover threshold. Eligibility depends on the applicable rule and circumstances; imported origin alone is not evidence that an item is exempt.
Ask the seller to identify the exact exemption being relied on and provide that explanation in writing or on the bill. BIS jeweller guidance lists a turnover threshold of up to ₹40 lakh among exemptions for qualifying jewellers; do not assume that this or another exemption applies without the seller specifying the basis.
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5. Know what to do if purity is in doubt
You can take jewellery, or a sample, to a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre for testing on a chargeable basis and request an assay report. BIS consumer guidance describes compensation where hallmarked jewellery tests below its marked purity: twice the amount of the difference for the item’s weight, plus testing charges. Keep the invoice and assay report if you pursue a complaint. Details are set out in BIS’s consumer protection guidance.
Do you need customs or import papers as a retail buyer?
BIS’s consumer and jeweller guidance addresses hallmarking and invoice particulars; it does not establish that a retail buyer must receive import-entry or customs paperwork. This checklist is not customs, tax or legal advice. For a purchase, focus on the seller’s Indian BIS registration, the item’s hallmark and HUID, and the invoice particulars above.
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