How to Check the BIS Hallmark and HUID on Gold Jewellery

Every piece of gold jewellery you buy from a jeweller in Hyderabad should carry a BIS hallmark. The hallmark tells you how pure the gold is, and the HUID number lets you check that the piece is registered. Here is how to read it and verify it yourself.

What is a BIS hallmark?

BIS stands for Bureau of Indian Standards, the government body that sets the purity standards for gold in India. A hallmark is a small mark laser-engraved on the jewellery after a BIS-recognised assaying centre has tested its purity. It is your proof that a piece sold as 22K really is 22K.

Hallmarking with HUID is mandatory for gold jewellery sold by jewellers in most districts of India, including Hyderabad.

The three marks you should see

1. The BIS logo, a small triangle-shaped mark.
2. The purity grade, written as karat and fineness together, for example 22K916. The number shows how many parts in 1,000 are pure gold.
3. The HUID, a 6-character alphanumeric code (letters and numbers) that is unique to that piece.

The marks are tiny. Ask the jeweller for a magnifying glass, or use your phone camera zoom.

Purity grades and what they mean

22K916 is the standard for traditional gold jewellery in Hyderabad. 18K750 and 14K585 are common for diamond and lightweight jewellery.

How to verify HUID on your phone

1. Install the official BIS CARE app on your phone.
2. Open it and choose Verify HUID.
3. Type the 6-character HUID from your jewellery.
4. The app shows the jeweller’s registration, the purity, and the type of article. Check that these match what you were told and what is on your bill.

Check the bill too

Your bill should mention, for each piece:

• The HUID number
• Gross weight, stone weight and net gold weight
• Purity (for example 22K916)
• Gold rate per gram used, wastage or value addition, making charges and stone value
• GST shown separately

Keep the bill safely. It helps when you exchange or resell the piece later.

What about my old jewellery without HUID?

Many families have old gold bought before HUID was introduced, or pieces with older hallmarks without HUID. You can still wear, sell or exchange this gold. When you exchange it, the jeweller tests its purity before giving a value. Ask to see the test result.

Questions people ask

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