For the benefit of gold jewelry customers, Government Of India in 2021, updated the jewelry hallmarking scheme to fight off the menace of fake laser hallmarks.

BIS Hallmark now consists of 3 symbols which give you some information. In this, the first symbol is BIS logo, second symbol indicates purity and fineness and the third symbol is the HUID. Before buying any piece of gold jewellery one should look for all these 3 symbols. 

Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number is a six digit code consisting of numbers and letters. A unique HUID will be assigned and laser inscribed to every piece of jewellery at the time of hallmarking. This HUID, along with more details, are stored in BIS database for traceability. 

How to verify if a hallmark is true or fake?

A prospecting customer can download the govt sponsored BIS CARE app on his/her android phone and enter the 6 digit HUID to verify its authenticity before completing a purchase. Likewise, at a physical retail store, a customer should ask for a product's HUID and verify its ingenuity before proceeding towards purchase.

This new concept of hallmarking with a government maintained public HUID database almost eliminates the scope of fake hallmarking for an informed customer.

Here is an example:

Here is a zoomed in photo of the BIS Hallmark on one of our 22k Gold rings (GLR 072). The HUID can be read as "2JP8FC". The best way to read the laser inscription is to take a zoomed in photo on your camera phone. This 6 digit code can then we fed into the BIS CARE App to get the following result (3rd image)

• + How does the new assaying and hallmarking system help to prevent fake or fraudulent hallmarking?
  • Among Manufacturer, Wholeseller, Distributor and Retailer the one who has got the article hallmarked is responsible for penal action in case of failure of hallmarked sample. Also the Assaying and hallmarking centre who has hallmarked the article is equally responsible for penal action in case of failure of hallmarked sample
• + What are the provisions of penalty for misuse of Hallmark as per BIS Act 2016?
  • As per section 29 of BIS Act, 2016, any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-sections (6) or (8) of section 14 or section 15 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees, but may extend up to five times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark including Hallmark, or with both.
• + What are the provisions of compensation to the consumer for any shortfall in purity of the hallmarked articles?
  • As per section 49 of BIS Rules, 2018, in case of precious metal article not conforming to the relevant standards, such compensation to the buyer/customer shall be two times the amount of difference calculated on the basis of shortage of purity for the weight of such article sold and the testing charges.
• + What is the process of complaint registration in BIS?
  • BIS follows a well-established complaint redressal procedure. Complaints are recorded centrally at Complaints Management and Enforcement Department. Complaints can be made both offline and online. Online complaint can be made through BIS mobile app BIS CARE or by use of online complaint registration portal on www.bis.gov.in or by sending a mail to complaints[at]bis[dot]gov[dot]in . Personally contacting/writing to Public Grievance officer of the nearest Regional/ Branch office of BIS or directly to the Head (Complaints Management and Enforcement Department). On receipt of the complaint it is investigated and further actions taken for its redressal.
• + Who is responsible for penal action in case of failure of hallmarked sample?
  • Among Manufacturer, Wholeseller, Distributor and Retailer the one who has got the article hallmarked is responsible for penal action in case of failure of hallmarked sample. Also the Assaying and hallmarking centre who has hallmarked the article is equally responsible for penal action in case of failure of hallmarked sample
• + What would be the process of investigation and who will decide the verdict?
  • The customer can directly approach jeweler for compensation in case the hallmarked jewellery retested by him in any BIS recognized AHC is found of less than the declared purity. Further if complaint is made to BIS, BIS follows a well-defined complaint redressal procedure involving investigation at both complainant end and complainee end. Any action will be taken only after thorough enquiry.