BIS hallmark

The BIS hallmark is a hallmarking system for gold as well as silver jewellery sold in India certifying the purity of the metal.[1][2] It certifies that the piece of jewellery conforms to a set of standards laid by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the national standards organization of India. India is the second biggest market for gold and its jewellery.

XRF machine for gold purity testing
XRF Machine being used in the hallmarking center for the analysis of gold purity
BIS hallmark
The BIS corporate logo which is a component of the hallmark format
Standards organizationBureau of Indian Standards
Certifying agencyAccredited 'Assaying & Hallmarking Centres'
Effective regionIndia
Effective since2000 for Gold jewelry, 2005 for Silver jewelry
Product categoryGold jewelry, Silver jewelry
Websitebis.org.in

India imports in excess of 1000 tons annually (including unofficially smuggled gold) with negligible local production.[3] The annual gold imports are around 50 billion US$ next only to crude oil imports widening the trade deficit.[4]

Gold

The BIS system of hallmarking of gold jewellery began in April 2000. The standard specifications governing this system are IS 1417 (Grades of Gold and Gold Alloys, Jewellery/Artefacts), IS 1418 (Assaying of Gold in Gold Bullion, Gold alloys and Gold Jewellery/Artefacts), IS 2790 (Guidelines for Manufacture of 23,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,14 and 9 carat Gold Alloys), IS 3095 (Gold solders for use in manufacture of jewellery).[5]

The BIS hallmark

BIS hallmark for gold jewelry consists of several components:

  • The BIS logo
  • Purity of Gold either one of this 22K916 Corresponding to 22 Carat, 18K750 Corresponding to 18 Carat and 14K585 Corresponding to 14 Carat.
  • Logo of the assaying center.
  • Logo/code of the jeweler.

Silver

BIS introduced hallmarking for silver jewelry in December 2005 under IS 2112, the standard specification for 'Hallmarking of Silver Jewellery/Artefacts'.

Assaying & Hallmarking Centres

The testing of the jewelry as well as the marking is done in approved Assaying & Hallmarking Centres across the nation. These are private undertakings approved as well as monitored by the BIS.

The mandatory status of hallmarking gold jewelry sold in India, although declared, is yet to be implemented. It will mandatory across the country from January 15, 2021.[6] But it has a wide acceptance among consumers. This often leads to fake hallmarking of jewelry which is under the regular scrutiny of the bureau.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Bureau of Indian Standards. Official website. 'BIS Certification Scheme For Hallmarking Of Gold Jewellery'". Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  2. National Institute of Open Schooling. 'Wise Buying.' Archived 2010-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Gold demand by country". Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  4. "Gold imports - Social evil". 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  5. "Bureau of Indian Standards. 'HALLMARKING OF GOLD JEWELLERY IN INDIA'". Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  6. The Hindu. 'Hallmarking of gold made mandatory'.
  7. The Hindu. 'Hallmarked gold under BIS scanner'.
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