Indian gold hallmarks are official marks stamped on gold jewellery to certify its purity. They are issued under the authority of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), India’s national standards body. These hallmarks provide buyers with assurance of quality and authenticity.
What Does a BIS Gold Hallmark Include?
Since 2021, BIS hallmarking has been made mandatory in many parts of India for gold jewellery and artefacts. A standard BIS hallmark contains the following:
BIS Logo – A triangle with a tick mark inside, signifying BIS certification.
Purity/Fineness Mark – Indicating the gold content:
22K (22ct) = 916
18K = 750
14K = 585
Assaying & Hallmarking Centre’s Mark – A unique code that identifies the certified centre where the gold was tested.
Jeweller’s Identification Mark – A code registered with BIS, representing the brand or store that sold the piece.
Example of a 22ct BIS Hallmark:
BIS Logo — 916 — AHC Code — Jeweller Code
Why It Matters:
Hallmarking is especially important in India due to the high cultural and financial value of gold. It ensures you’re getting the correct purity, not under-karated gold passed off as 22ct or 24ct.
In the UK (including at PureJewels):
Gold is hallmarked by the London Assay Office, and while Indian hallmarks are respected, UK law requires local hallmarking for resale or new manufacture. If you bring Indian gold to the UK, it may need to be re-assayed to meet British standards.
