A hallmark is the government-backed guarantee that your gold is the purity you paid for. In India, hallmarking is done by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) recognised assaying centres, and every hallmarked piece now carries a unique HUID code. Here is how to read it and check it.
The three marks to look for
- The BIS logo — a triangle-shaped mark showing the piece was hallmarked under the BIS scheme.
- The purity grade — the karat and its fineness, for example 22K916 (91.6% gold), 18K750 (75%), 14K585 (58.5%) or 9K375 (37.5%).
- The HUID — a six-character code of letters and numbers that is unique to that one piece of jewellery.
How to verify a HUID
- Install the official BIS CARE app on your phone.
- Open Verify HUID and enter the six-character code from the piece or its bill.
- The app shows the jeweller’s registration, the article type and its purity. These should match what you were told and what is on your bill.
On Srevia, the HUID is listed in each gold product’s details, so you can check it before you buy. At the Shyam Jewellers showroom you can also see the hallmark on the piece itself.
Signs to be careful about
- A piece sold as hallmarked gold with no HUID.
- A HUID that the BIS CARE app does not recognise, or that shows a different article or purity.
- A bill that does not mention the purity, weight and HUID.
Hallmarking tells you purity; it does not set the price. To see how a fair price is built from purity and weight, read how gold jewellery prices are calculated.
Frequently asked questions
What does 22K916 mean on gold jewellery?
It means the piece is 22 karat gold with a fineness of 916 — 91.6% pure gold. 18K750 is 75% gold and 14K585 is 58.5% gold.
How many characters is a HUID?
A HUID is a six-character alphanumeric code, unique to each hallmarked piece of jewellery.
How do I check a HUID?
Enter the code in the Verify HUID section of the official BIS CARE app. It shows the jeweller, the article type and the purity recorded for that piece.