Everything stamped on a piece of hallmarked gold — what each mark means, and how to verify it.
A hallmark is a contract — between the maker, the assayer and you.
Hallmarking is third-party certification of gold purity by a BIS-recognised assaying and hallmarking centre. Since it became mandatory for gold jewellery across notified districts in India, a compliant piece carries a fixed set of marks laser-stamped in a discreet place — inside a bangle, on a clasp, or behind a pendant bail.
The BIS triangle confirms the piece was tested at a BIS-recognised centre. It is the anchor mark: purity numbers without the BIS logo are a jeweller's own claim, not certification.
'916' means 22K — 91.6% pure gold, the South Indian standard for bridal and traditional work. '750' is 18K (75%), harder and better for stone-set or daily pieces. '585' is 14K. You may also see the mark written as 22K916.
This identifies which recognised centre tested the piece. It matters because it makes the test traceable to an accountable third party rather than to the seller.
Identifies the BIS-registered jeweller responsible for the piece — for our jewellery, Ambaa Gold. Registered jewellers can be looked up on the BIS website.
Every hallmarked piece carries a six-character alphanumeric HUID unique to that item. It links the piece to its assay record, so purity can be confirmed independently of any invoice or verbal assurance.
Download the BIS Care app, choose 'Verify HUID', and enter the six-character code from the piece. The app returns the jeweller, the hallmarking centre and the declared purity. If the details don't match the piece in your hand — different purity, different jeweller — stop the purchase and raise a complaint through the same app.
Accepting a purity stamp without the BIS logo; accepting a certificate but never checking the HUID on the metal; assuming gross weight is gold weight when stones are set; and not asking for the itemised invoice that separates net gold weight, making charges and stone value. Each of these is a place where value quietly leaks.
Every Ambaa Gold and Ziva piece leaves the workshop BIS hallmarked with a HUID, invoiced with net gold weight, purity, making charges and any stone value shown separately, and eligible for fair-value exchange against the prevailing rate.
916 means 22 karat gold — 91.6% pure gold by weight. It is the standard purity for South Indian bridal and traditional gold jewellery.
The BIS logo, the purity mark (916, 750 or 585), the assaying and hallmarking centre mark, the jeweller's identification mark, and a six-character HUID.
Install the BIS Care app, select 'Verify HUID', and enter the six-character code stamped on the piece. The app shows the registered jeweller, the hallmarking centre and the certified purity.
Yes — BIS hallmarking is mandatory for gold jewellery sold in notified districts, and jewellers must be BIS-registered to sell hallmarked pieces.