Look for these four signs of purity while buying gold

While buying gold jewellery, you must ensure that the gold you are buying is pure and certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

To certify the purity of gold jewellery, BIS does hallmarking on the gold jewellery. BIS hallmarking consists of four components which are as follows:
a) BIS Mark;
b) Fineness number;

c) Assaying and Hallmarking Centre's Mark/Number;
d) Jeweller's Identification mark

Till January 1, 2017 BIS hallmarked comprised of five components. However, with effect from 01.01.2017, BIS hallmarking comprises of four components above mentioned. The fifth component which is not included anymore in BIS hallmarking is year of making.

• BIS Mark

Gold jewellery, which is hallmarked by the BIS, will bear the BIS mark indicating that its purity is verified in one of the licensed laboratory of BIS. BIS is the only agency in India which is approved by the government to hallmark the jewellery to ensure its purity, as per its website.

However, BIS hallmarking scheme is voluntary therefore, not all jewellers offer hallmarked BIS jewellery. Some jewellers offer their in-house hallmarking of jewellery which is not verified by the BIS. Do keep in mind that hallmarking for gold jewellery will be mandatory from June 16, 2021. As per the press release issued by Minsitry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Distribution, jewellers with annual turnover of Rs 40 lakh will be exempted from mandatory hallmarking. Further, gold items of additional carats 20, 23 and 24 will be allowed for hallmarking.

Also Read: Gold hallmarking becomes mandatory from June 16, 2021

• Fineness number

Fineness number represents how pure the gold is. Purity of gold is measured in Karat (KT). Here one should not confuse Karat with Carat as the latter is used to measure the weight of diamond.

Effective from January 1, 2017, BIS hallmarking is done only for three levels of gold purity.

Gold Purity	Fineness Number
22KT	22K916
18KT	18K750
14KT	14K585

Source: BIS website

The fineness number and BIS hallmarked on the piece of jewellery indicates that the BIS has certified that particular piece of jewellery to be of the fineness level/purity that is embossed on the jewellery piece as part of the hallmark.

Jewellery is not normally available in 24KT purity. This is because 24KT gold is too soft to be made into jewellery without mixing other metals such as zinc, copper etc. Till December 2016, BIS used to hallmark for 23KT, 17KT and 9KT as well.

• Assaying and Hallmarking Centre's Mark/Number

The laboratory where your gold jewellery is assessed to check its purity is also required to put their logo on the jewellery. These laboratories are licensed by BIS to check the purity of gold. One can check if hallmarking centre is licensed by the BIS on their website. Click here to check the logo of hallmarking centre on your jewellery.

Four signs of gold purity

• Jeweller's Identification mark

The jewellery shop from where you are buying your gold jewellery will also put its identification mark. This mark can be of BIS certified jeweller or jeweller manufacturer.

BIS on its website, has put out a list of jewellers that are certified by the BIS. The list can be accessed here. The list offers for both gold and silver jewellers, certified and licensed by the BIS. The list offered on the website provides the name and address of jeweller and date till their licence with BIS is valid.

Important points to know

• There are charges that have to be paid to get jewellery hallmarked. As per the BIS website, Rs 35 plus taxes are charged per gold item. For a consignment, a minimum of Rs 200 plus taxes are charged.
• Hallmarking is not done instantly. It may take approximately five to six hours to get the purity of gold checked before it is hallmarked.
• In case of any complaint regarding your hallmarked jewellery, one can contact BIS by sending email at complaints@bis.org.in / icare@bis.org.in or by telefax at 011-23235069.