How to Check a Gold Hallmark and HUID Before You Buy Jewellery

Most of us buy gold a handful of times in our lives, usually at Dhanteras or before a wedding, and usually in a hurry. The hallmark is the one thing worth slowing down for. It takes about a minute to read and verify, and it settles the question that matters most: is this really 22 carat?

The three marks, and what each one tells you

Since 1 July 2021, hallmarked gold jewellery in India carries three marks, according to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). They are tiny, so ask for the loupe the counter keeps for exactly this. Like the BEE star label on an appliance, the hallmark is a government mark you can check yourself rather than take on trust.

• The BIS standard mark: the triangle-shaped logo of the Bureau of Indian Standards.
• Purity: carat and fineness together. "22K916" means 22 carat, at least 916 parts of gold per thousand.
• HUID: a six-character mix of letters and numbers, unique to that one piece.

BIS now allows seven purity grades. Anything else stamped on the piece is not a BIS hallmark.

Older pieces may show the jeweller's own mark and a year letter instead of a HUID. Those marks still count: BIS says a hallmark stays valid for the whole life of the jewellery. A shop, though, cannot sell you new stock without a HUID. Sales of gold jewellery without one have been barred since 1 April 2023, as Business Today reported from the consumer affairs ministry's announcement.

Check the HUID on your phone, at the counter

Install the free BIS Care app (Android or iPhone), open Verify HUID and type in the six characters. BIS describes this as the way to check purity before purchase. The result names the registered jeweller and the type of article, so a "ring" HUID on a necklace is a red flag. Since June 2026, BIS also records photographs and the weight of each hallmarked piece and makes them available in the app.

Do it before the piece is packed, not at home that evening. A mismatch is far easier to raise while you are still standing at the counter.

Where hallmarking is not compulsory

The rule has gaps, and some are worth knowing before you shop:

• Pieces under 2 grams, and kundan, polki and jadau jewellery, are exempt.
• It applies only in the 392 districts BIS has notified so far. Small-town buyers should ask, not assume.
• Jewellers with a turnover of up to ₹40 lakh a year don't have to register.

None of this stops you asking for a hallmarked piece. It only means the shop is not breaking the law if the piece isn't hallmarked.

What the bill should say

BIS's guidelines for jewellers require the invoice to describe each article separately, with its net weight of gold, purity in carat and fineness, and the hallmarking charge. It must also say that you can get the purity checked at any BIS-recognised testing centre. If stones are set in the piece, make sure the gold weight is listed apart from the gross weight, because the stones shouldn't be priced as gold.

On tax, the GST Council's FAQ for the trade puts GST at 3% of the total value, making charges included, "whether the making charge is shown separately or not". A separate 5% line for making charges on a retail bill is worth questioning.

If you think the gold is short

Take the piece and the bill to any BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. Under BIS's 2022 guidelines, centres charge consumers ₹45 per article, with a minimum of ₹200; confirm the current fee with the centre. If the gold is below the stamped grade, the jeweller who sold it must pay you twice the value of the shortfall, plus the testing charges. Complaints can be filed through the BIS Care app, and the National Consumer Helpline route in our returns and refunds guide works for jewellery too.

Shopping in a sale as well? Our guide to spotting fake discounts covers the online side.

Frequently asked questions

Is 916 gold the same as 22 carat?

Yes. 916 is the fineness, 91.6% gold, that goes with the 22K grade. Hallmarked 22 carat jewellery shows both, as 22K916.

Do I need to re-hallmark old jewellery before selling it?

No. BIS says you can sell old jewellery to a jeweller, hallmarked or not. Only the jeweller has to get it hallmarked before reselling it.

Can a HUID be faked?

A stamped code can be copied, which is why the app check matters. The record in the app should match the jeweller and the piece in front of you.

Sources

1. Brief on Hallmarking Scheme, Bureau of Indian Standards, updated October 2026.
2. Revised Guidelines for Jewellers, Bureau of Indian Standards, 2026.
3. Hallmarking: consumer protection, Bureau of Indian Standards, 2025.
4. Hallmarking: information for jewellers, Bureau of Indian Standards, 2025.
5. Mandatory hallmarking FAQs, Bureau of Indian Standards, accessed 2026.
6. Guidelines on testing of old gold held by consumers, Bureau of Indian Standards, 2022.
7. GST FAQs: gems and jewellery sector, GST Council, 2017.
8. No sale of gold jewellery without hallmark from April 1, Business Today, 2023.