BIS Hallmark Verification Guide
What is BIS Hallmark?
BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) Hallmark is a certification that guarantees the purity of gold jewelry. It's your protection against fraud and ensures you get the gold purity you pay for. Hallmarking is now mandatory for all gold jewelry (14K and above) sold in India.
3 Hallmark Components (Current System)
Since July 2021, BIS simplified the hallmark from 5 marks to 3. The HUID now replaces the old year code, assaying centre mark, and jeweller identification mark.
BIS Logo
Triangle symbol — Bureau of Indian Standards certification mark
Purity / Fineness Grade
999 (24K), 916 (22K), 750 (18K), or 585 (14K)
HUID (Hallmark Unique ID)
6-character alphanumeric code — unique to each piece, verifiable on BIS Care app or bis.gov.in
Old jewelry note: Gold hallmarked before July 2021 may carry the older 5-mark system — BIS logo, purity grade, assaying centre mark, jeweller's mark, and a year letter code. Both systems are valid. If your piece has 5 marks, it was simply hallmarked under the old system.
Gold Purity Standards
How to Verify Hallmark
- 1
Ask to see the hallmark
Jeweller must show it before purchase
- 2
Check all 3 marks are present
Use a magnifying glass — BIS logo, purity number, and HUID should be clearly visible
- 3
Verify the purity number
916 for 22K, 750 for 18K, 585 for 14K, 999 for 24K
- 4
Verify HUID online
Download BIS Care app (Android/iOS) or visit bis.gov.in and enter the 6-character HUID code
- 5
Get the hallmarking certificate
Ask for a certificate with HUID details on your invoice
Red Flags to Watch For
- ✕ Jeweller refuses to show hallmark before purchase
- ✕ Missing marks — all 3 components (BIS logo, purity, HUID) are mandatory
- ✕ Hallmark looks tampered, scratched, or unclear
- ✕ Purity claimed verbally differs from the hallmark number
- ✕ "Old gold doesn't need hallmark" excuse — all new sales must be hallmarked
- ✕ Pressure to buy immediately without time to verify
- ✕ No proper invoice with hallmark and HUID details
Legal protection: Hallmarking is mandatory for gold jewelry sold in India. You can file a complaint with BIS if sold unhallmarked gold. Visit bis.gov.in or call the BIS helpline.