How to check Hallmark on Gold: All Methods Explained

By Team Gullak

Apr 7, 2025

3 min read

Want to know the authenticity of your Gold? This article provides a detailed overview of how to check Hallmark on Gold.

India's annual gold demand typically ranges around 750-800 tonnes, making it one of the largest consumers of gold in the world. With such massive volumes being purchased every year, ensuring the authenticity and purity of gold becomes absolutely crucial. That’s where hallmarking comes in—a trusted system to certify the fineness of gold.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to check Hallmark on Gold, so you can confidently verify the gold you buy or already own.

What is Hallmark on Gold?

A hallmark is an official stamp or mark on gold that certifies its purity and authenticity. In India, this is governed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Hallmarking has been made mandatory across many states, and it's widely recognised as a crucial safeguard for consumers. Every hallmarked gold item includes several important identifiers that confirm its quality. Knowing how to read and verify these can protect you from fraud and ensure you're buying genuine gold.

The procedure was introduced to prevent adulteration of precious metals and protect people against fraud. As of today, 2 metals are Hallmarked - Gold and Silver. Certified jewellers can get their ornaments Hallmarked at any of the BIS recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres.

Why you should buy Hallmarked Gold Jewellery

Hallmark on Gold can have multiple benefits. From peace of mind while buying jewellery to gold loans, Hallmark on Gold can help you with everything you'd possibly think of doing with your gold.

If your Gold is Hallmarked, you're getting the true value for money. It gives immense peace of mind to buyers when they know that the composition of their Gold is true to what the label says.
High Resell value: When selling Hallmarked jewellery, you can sell your gold at the real market value. The Hallmark stamp serves as mark of trust even for jewellers when buying gold from customers
Gold Loans: As per RBI, people can get a loan amount upto 75% of the value of the jewellery. However, if your jewellery doesn’t have the Hallmark stamp, you won't get a high-value loan against it.

Components of a Hallmarked Gold Jewellery Piece

To check how to check Hallmark on Gold, look for the following components stamped on the piece:

1. BIS Logo: A triangle-shaped symbol representing the Bureau of Indian Standards.

2. Purity/Fineness Grade:

22K916 → 22 Carat, 91.6% purity
18K750 → 18 Carat, 75.0% purity
14K585 → 14 Carat, 58.5% purity

3. Assaying/Hallmarking Centre ID: Unique code of the BIS-recognised hallmarking centre.

4. Jeweller's Identification Mark: The registration number of the jeweller who sold the product.

5. HUID: A 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification number.

6. Hallmarking Fee: Typically ₹35, this fee is charged and reflected on your invoice.

How to Check Hallmark on Gold: 5 Easy Methods

1. Physically Inspect the Hallmark Symbols: Use a magnifying glass or inspect the gold piece under good lighting to spot the hallmark details engraved on the inner side of rings, clasps of chains, or the back of pendants.

Pro tip: Don't just look for the karat (e.g., 22K)—check all 4 components, especially the BIS logo and HUID.

2. Use the BIS Care App (Most Reliable Way):

The BIS CARE mobile app is a simple, official tool to check the HUID and verify gold purity.

Steps to use the BIS CARE app:

Download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Register using your name, mobile number and email id. Verify using OTP.
On the home screen, select the "Verify HUID" option.
Enter the 6-digit alphanumeric code on your jewellery.
The app will show details like carat, fineness, jeweller, and hallmarking centre. If the details don’t match your item, it may be counterfeit—report it through the app immediately.

3. Check the Invoice/Bill:

Your invoice should contain: Gold purity (e.g., 22K916), Weight, HUID number, Hallmarking fee (typically ₹35). A valid and transparent invoice from a BIS-registered jeweller acts as an added layer of authenticity.

4. Verify Weight Consistency

Compare the stamped weight and purity with the actual weight of the jewellery. If the piece feels significantly lighter than expected, it could indicate that it’s not genuine or contains impurities.

5. Look for Quality Stamp & Marking Date

Besides the hallmark, genuine gold jewellery often includes, Fineness mark (916, 750, etc.), Maker’s mark (jeweller’s ID), Assay office mark, Date letter indicating the year of marking. These marks work together to validate the item’s origin and gold content.

Other Factors to check

While Hallmarking is a practice used to ensure authenticity of your Gold, there'd could be other issues that might be prevalent even with a Hallmark in place. Here's how to detect them:

Unauthentic Hallmark sign - Check if the Hallmark sign is blurred or uneven to detect this
Unauthentic Hallmark sign- In many cases, the Hallmark sign could be different from that of the actual stamp. Compare the stamp on the jewellery to determine the authenticity of the mark
Missing elements- Check for all the components of a hallmark on the jewellery(mentioned in section 3)

Note: Today, apart from BIS, other jewellers are also authorised to issue Hallmark stamps. However, a BIS Hallmark sign is the most reliable authenticity stamp.

Types of Hallmark stamps on Gold

There are 2 types of Hallmarks:

Old Method - Stamps: This is how Hallmarking was done previously. The cons with this approach were that it would cause the jewellery piece to deform or wear down if the jewellery was delicate/hollow/old.
Laser: Uses laser to mark the jewellery. This approach solves for all the cons the previous method had. There's no deformation in the jewellery.

Note: One of the cons of Hallmarking is that if you're getting a sizing change on the jewellery, it needs to returned to the Hallmarking office to renew the stamp

Final Thoughts

With India’s deep cultural and financial connection to gold, knowing how to check hallmark on gold is no longer optional—it’s essential. Whether you're buying a small gold coin or an elaborate bridal set, taking a few minutes to verify the hallmark ensures peace of mind and protects your investment.

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