Gold Hallmarking in India: What BIS 916 Means and Why It Matters

What Is Gold Hallmarking?

Hallmarking is the official certification that a piece of gold jewelry meets a declared level of purity. In India, hallmarking is managed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and has been mandatory for gold jewelry sales since June 2021.

Before mandatory hallmarking, buyers had to trust the jeweller's word about purity. Now, every piece of gold jewelry sold in India must carry a BIS hallmark — a government guarantee that the gold is as pure as claimed.

How to Read the BIS Hallmark

Since July 2021, the hallmark has been simplified to three symbols:

1. BIS Logo (Triangle)

A small triangular logo indicating the piece was tested at a BIS-recognised assaying centre.

2. Purity Grade

A three-digit number indicating gold fineness:

| Stamp | Karat | Purity | |-------|-------|--------| | 999 | 24K | 99.9% pure gold | | 916 | 22K | 91.6% pure gold | | 750 | 18K | 75.0% pure gold | | 585 | 14K | 58.5% pure gold | | 375 | 9K | 37.5% pure gold |

In Kerala, the vast majority of jewelry is 916 (22K). If you see this number on your ornament, it means 91.6 grams out of every 100 grams is pure gold, with the rest being copper, silver, or zinc for strength.

3. HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification Number)

A six-digit alphanumeric code unique to each piece of jewelry. This is the most important change in the new system. Every single hallmarked item in India has its own HUID — like an Aadhaar number for your gold.

You can verify any HUID on the BIS Care app or the BIS website to confirm:

• The purity of the gold
• The jeweller who registered the piece
• The assaying centre that tested it

Why HUID Matters for Kerala Buyers

Before HUID, a dishonest jeweller could stamp "916" on a 18K piece and the buyer had no easy way to verify. Now:

• Every HUID is traceable to a specific assaying centre
• The jeweller's registration is linked to the HUID
• If a piece fails purity on re-testing, the trail leads back to the responsible parties

This is especially important when exchanging old gold. If your ornament has a valid HUID, the jeweller can verify its purity instantly — which often means a smaller melting loss deduction.

What About Old Jewelry Without Hallmarks?

Jewelry bought before June 2021 may not have BIS hallmarks. This does not make it fake — it just means it predates the mandatory system. You might see older stamps like:

• KDM — Refers to cadmium-soldered gold, common before 2021. Not a purity mark.
• Jeweller's name/logo — Some reputed jewellers stamped their own mark.
• Old BIS format — Earlier hallmarks had 4–5 symbols including the assaying centre's logo and year code.

If you plan to exchange old unhallmarked jewelry, the jeweller will test it using XRF or touchstone methods and apply a purity deduction based on their assessment. Check our Old Gold Exchange Calculator to estimate the value after deductions.

How to Verify Hallmarking

At the Time of Purchase

1. Ask the jeweller to show you the hallmark on the piece
2. Note the HUID number on your bill
3. Open the BIS Care app (available on Android and iOS) and scan or enter the HUID
4. Confirm the purity matches what you paid for

After Purchase

If you suspect your gold is not the declared purity:

1. Visit any BIS-recognised assaying centre (there are several in Kochi, Thrissur, and Trivandrum)
2. Pay the testing fee (₹200–500 depending on the item)
3. If the purity falls short, you can file a complaint with BIS, and action will be taken against the jeweller

Common Misconceptions

"Hallmarked gold is more expensive." No. Hallmarking adds roughly ₹35–45 per piece in assaying costs. This is negligible on any piece of jewelry.

"Only branded jewellers sell hallmarked gold." Since June 2021, all jewellers — chains and locals — are required to sell only hallmarked gold jewelry. Small jewellers with turnover below ₹40 lakh were initially exempt, but the threshold has been progressively tightened.

"916 gold is the purest you can buy as jewelry." In terms of mainstream jewelry, yes. Some jewellers sell 24K items (coins, bars) which are purer but not suitable for wearing.

The Bottom Line

When buying gold in Kerala:

• Always check for the 916 stamp and HUID
• Verify the HUID on the BIS Care app before leaving the shop
• Keep the bill with HUID recorded — it is your proof of purity for future exchange or resale

For today's verified 22K (916) gold rate in Kerala, visit LiveGold Kerala. We track the same board rate that every hallmarked piece is priced against.