Jewellery Hallmarking

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is preparing to scale up testing of silver jewellery as demand shifts from gold amid a spike in prices, a senior BIS official said, adding that referral and assay laboratories for silver will expand nationally within two years. Silver hallmarking has been voluntary since 2005, and from September 2025 onwards, hallmarked silver articles carry a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, enabling buyers to verify purity. "Last year, we introduced HUID for silver jewellery as well, and demand is increasing. We have taken stock of the requirements and are ready to take up silver jewellery testing in a big way in our laboratories," BIS Deputy Director General (Laboratories) Nishat S Haque told PTI. "We will be able to handle the requirement within our own labs for roughly the next two years. Within that period, we will be expanding referral and assay laboratories across the country," she said. The number of silver jewellery articles hallmarked ros

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is examining the regulatory framework and infrastructure readiness required to make hallmarking of silver jewellery and artefacts mandatory, Director General Sanjay Garg said on Thursday. Silver hallmarking has been voluntary since 2005 and from September 2025 onwards, hallmarked silver articles carry a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, enabling buyers to verify purity. "Silver hallmarking is far more complex than gold, not in terms of process but the kind of market it has," Garg told PTI on the sidelines of a Ficci event here. Unlike gold, silver jewellery and artefacts are sold across both small and large stores, and the category even extends to silver furniture, he noted. "We are studying the implementation process," he said. According to Garg, the entire hallmarking operation within BIS is run by just five people, with the rest of the workforce either private or outsourced. "Operating hallmarking centres with the help of privat

The government now allows 9 carat gold to be officially hallmarked from July 2025, making jewellery more affordable and regulated as prices near ₹1 lakh per 10g

Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should consider implementing mandatory hallmarking for silver and silver artifacts following consumer demands. "There is a demand from consumers for hallmarking of silver. You (BIS) can deliberate and take a call," Joshi said at the 78th BIS Foundation Day event. The government currently mandates hallmarking only for gold jewellery and artifacts, aimed at protecting consumer interests and ensuring product authenticity. The existing hallmarking system includes a unique six-digit alphanumeric code (HUID), which certifies gold purity. The potential extension to silver hallmarking would mark a significant expansion of India's precious metals quality control measures.

BIS encourages consumers to verify the authenticity and purity of the hallmarked gold jewellery items with HUID numbers

The standards authority has also increased the number of referral labs from 4 to 7 in FY23

A large number of tour operators have dovetailed their itinerary with this event

The price of the gold depends on the karat which is a measurement of the purity of a piece of gold

There are two ways in which you can get your ornaments hallmarked in order to make them marketable

Industry wants relaxations to be notified at the earliest

The Centre on Monday said there was "no impact" of a nationwide strike called by a "very small section of jewellers" against gold hallmarking rules.

Analysts expect hallmarking, recovery to aid market share gains for the jewellery retailer

As on 31 December, 892 hallmarking centres have been approved by the BIS

Gold is the third-most popular investment choice, with 46% of all global retail investors choosing gold products - next only to saving accounts (78%) and life insurance (54%)

Act giving powers made effective from Oct 12; jewellers call it their own 'RERA moment'