About Hallmarking Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles. Hallmarks are thus official marks used in many countries as a guarantee of purity or fineness of precious metal articles. The principle objectives of the Hallmarking Scheme are to protect the public against adulteration and to obligate manufacturers to maintain legal standards of fineness. In India, at present two precious metals namely gold and silver have been brought under the purview of Hallmarking. Bureau of Indian Standards, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India is the agency that is implementing the BIS Hallmarking Scheme. The BIS certified jewellers can get their jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres. Consumer can get a jewellery/sample tested from any of the BIS Recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre. The Assaying and Hallmarking Centres undertake the testing of Jewellery/Samples of common consumers on priority on chargeable basis. The Assaying and Hallmarking centre is required to issue Assay Report giving proper identifications as marked on article. How to test the quality of gold/silver The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has implemented the Mandatory Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) for gold and silver. For silver, its with effect from 1 September 2025. HUID is a six-digit alphanumeric code laser-marked on each hallmarked gold/silver article, in addition to the BIS Standard Mark, purity grade for Gold and Silver and for Silver, the word SILVER. This unique identifier provides complete digital traceability of every hallmarked item. A consumer can check and authenticate hallmarked gold jewellery items with HUID number using ‘verify HUID’ in BIS CARE app which is available in both android as well as iOS. Testing in BIS certified AHCs Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has made provision to allow a common consumer to get the purity of their hallmarked/unhallmarked gold jewellery tested at any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs). The AHC shall undertake the testing of gold jewellery from common consumers on priority and provide a test report to the consumer. The test report issued to the consumer will assure the consumer about the purity of their jewellery and will also be useful if the consumer wishes to sell the jewellery lying with him. The charges for testing of gold jewellery upto 4 articles is Rs 200. For 5 or more articles, the charges are Rs 45 per article. The detailed guidelines on testing of gold jewellery of consumer and the list of recognized Assaying and Hallmarking centres can be accessed through the BIS website. The authenticity and purity of the hallmarked gold jewellery items with Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID) number, purchased by consumer, can also be verified by using ‘verify HUID’ in BIS CARE app which can be downloaded from play store/App store. Source : BIS website