What is BIS Hallmark?

The BIS Hallmark is a certification given by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to gold, silver, and platinum jewelry to indicate that it meets specific standards of purity and quality. The Hallmark acts as a guarantee for consumers that the precious metal in the jewelry conforms to the required legal standards and is not adulterated with other metals or alloys.

Key features of BIS Hallmark:

Purity Certification: The hallmark certifies the purity of the metal, such as 22K, 18K, 14K, or 24K for gold, or the equivalent standards for silver and platinum.

Symbol: The BIS Hallmark consists of several components:

• BIS Logo: A symbol of the Bureau of Indian Standards.
• Purity Mark: Represents the purity of the metal (e.g., 22K for 22 karat gold).
• Assaying and Hallmarking Centre's Identification Number: A unique mark of the facility that tested and certified the jewelry.
• Year of Marking: The year when the jewelry was hallmarked.

Legal Requirement: In India, it is voluntary for jewelers to hallmark their products, but in recent years, there has been a push for making it mandatory, especially in major cities.

Consumer Trust: The BIS Hallmark provides assurance to consumers about the quality and authenticity of their jewelry, helping protect against fraud and ensuring that they get the value they pay for.

Types of Hallmarking:

• Gold: Assessed based on purity and weight (e.g., 22K gold, 24K gold).
• Silver: A purity of 92.5% is standard for sterling silver, often marked as 925.
• Platinum: Purity standards for platinum range from 85% to 95%, with common marks like 950.

The BIS Hallmark is recognized as a hallmark of quality in the Indian jewelry market and is increasingly popular in consumer-driven markets due to the increasing awareness of product authenticity.