If you buy gold jewellery this Akshaya Tritiya, which falls on May 10, 2024, ensure its purity to avoid troubles later. Though hallmarking guarantees gold purity, one must know how to check the marking. Until June 16, 2021, hallmarking in gold jewellery and artifacts was optional. However, the government has made it mandatory to put a six-digit hallmark for gold trade.

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So, when buying gold, check the hallmark first to avoid being duped.

What Is Hallmarking?

As per the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), “Hallmarks are official marks guarantying purity or fineness of the precious metal. The objective of the hallmarking scheme is to protect the public against adulteration and obligate manufacturers to maintain legal standards of fineness.” The mark comprises three symbols, including the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID), a six-digit alphanumeric code. Also, check the BIS logo, which indicates it is certified by BIS, the official body responsible for standardisation, marking and quality certification in India. The HUID symbol shows purity, in terms of carat, and authenticity of the items. Until March 31, 2023, a four-digit marking was used, but from April 1, 2023, only six-digit hallmark items can be sold.

BIS also has an app to help check the authenticity of the hallmark.

BIS Care App: You can use the BIS Care app to check whether the six-digit number is authentic. You will need to feed the HUID number in the app. Then, it will show the details, such as its purity, item type, the hallmarking centre, the registration number, etc.
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How To Check: It is easy check gold purity with the help of the BIS Care App, even for the elderly people. For this, one must download the BIS Care app from Google Play or Apple Store and log in with personal details like phone number, email, and name. Click ‘Verify HUID’ option and fill the six-digit HUID number in the given box. The app will show the full details of the product. However, if it is an old item without hallmark identification, one can get the purity checked by the BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) for fee. The AHC will give the authentic details of the gold item. There are some 1,500 AHCs in India.